Sr Compliance Counsel

Hydra Host; United States; On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote role in the U.S.

Travel as needed for team meetings

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Hydra Host is seeking a Senior Compliance Counsel to lead data privacy and AML/BSA programs, designing risk-based policies and embedding them across the business. You will influence executive decisions and help scale a global compliance function for a fast-growing AI technology company.

The role requires JD with active U.S. license, 5+ years in complex compliance areas, and the ability to translate complex regulations into practical operations.

Qualifications

• JD with active license in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 5+ years of experience in complex compliance areas (BSA/AML, privacy, trade, government contracting, anticorruption, or antitrust).
• Strong ability to translate regulatory requirements into clear policies and operational processes.
• Comfort working autonomously in a fast-moving, remote-first environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead data privacy program design, implementation, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee AML/BSA program design, CDD/EDD, SARs, and regulatory reporting.
• Develop scalable policies, training, and monitoring across multiple compliance domains.
• Partner with Finance, Product, Engineering to embed controls in processes and product features.
• Lead investigations, audits, and regulator interactions as needed.
• Build and mentor the compliance team and report to Head of Compliance.

Skills

Regulatory analysis

Policy drafting

Communication

Autonomy

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

J.D. with active U.S. license

Job description

Hydra Host is a fast-growing technology company delivering cloud infrastructure, developer tooling, and data services to enterprise and government customers worldwide. Our global footprint spans complex and evolving regulatory regimes across trade compliance, financial services, data privacy, security, and more. We are building a world-class compliance program and are looking for an experienced compliance attorney to help lead it, supporting across a range of compliance areas impacting an AI technology company.

Position Overview

The Senior Compliance Counsel is a senior leadership role on Hydra Host's Legal & Compliance team, serving as the lead for areas such as data privacy and/or Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and anti-money laundering (AML) compliance while also helping build and run other areas of our global compliance program. You will design and operate risk-based policies, procedures, and controls, and partner closely with Legal, Finance, Sales, Engineering, and Product to embed compliance into the business. Beyond these core areas, you may take ownership of, or provide meaningful support across, trade compliance, government contracting, anti-bribery and corruption, competition, and security compliance as the program and your interests evolve. Responsibilities will be divided with the Head of Compliance and other team members based on experience, needs, and interests, but flexibility and adaptability will be critical to success. This is a senior role reporting to the Head of Compliance, with significant autonomy, high visibility with executive leadership, and real opportunity to shape the compliance function as Hydra Host scales.

Key Responsibilities

Data Privacy Program Development

• Serve as Hydra Host's lead for data privacy compliance, owning the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the privacy program.
• Draft and maintain relevant policies, procedures, and risk assessments, and lead periodic reviews to reflect regulatory change and business growth.
• Serve as Hydra Host's lead for Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and anti-money laundering (AML) compliance, owning the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the AML/BSA program.
• Build and maintain a risk-based AML program, including customer due diligence (CDD) and enhanced due diligence (EDD), suspicious activity monitoring, and recordkeeping and reporting obligations.
• Draft and maintain AML/BSA policies, procedures, and risk assessments, and lead periodic reviews to reflect regulatory change and business growth.
• Partner with Finance, Product, and Engineering to ensure AML controls are embedded in payment flows, customer onboarding, and platform features.

Monitoring, Investigations & Reporting

• Oversee transaction monitoring and screening processes, escalation workflows, and suspicious activity report (SAR) filings, where applicable, in coordination with outside counsel.
• Lead AML-related investigations and manage relationships with regulators, auditors, and law enforcement as needed.
• Ensure timely completion of independent AML testing and audits, and manage remediation of findings.

Cross-Functional Compliance Coverage

• Take ownership of, or provide substantive support across, other compliance areas including privacy, trade compliance (export controls, sanctions, imports, boycott), government contracting, anti-bribery and corruption, competition/antitrust, and security, based on your experience and organizational need.
• Advise business partners on compliance risk in new products, markets, and partnerships spanning these areas.
• Build scalable policies, training, and monitoring programs, adapting your existing subject-matter expertise to new domains as the compliance program matures.

Program Building & Governance

• Contribute to the design of Hydra Host's overall compliance governance structure, risk assessment methodology, and reporting to executive leadership and the Board, as appropriate.
• Help build and mentor a growing compliance team, and serve as a substantive backup and thought partner to the Head of Compliance.
• Track regulatory developments across covered areas and translate changes into updated policies and operational requirements.

Training & Culture

• Design and deliver training on BSA/AML and other compliance topics for relevant teams, tailoring content for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Serve as a visible, approachable resource so employees feel comfortable raising compliance questions and concerns.

Required Qualifications

• J.D. and an active license to practice law, in good standing, in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 5+ years of experience in complex areas of compliance, such as BSA/AML, privacy, trade compliance, government contracting, anti-bribery and corruption, or competition/antitrust, ideally with experience involving technology, financial services, or other regulated companies.
• A strong track record in at least one other complex compliance area listed above, with a demonstrated ability to learn new regulatory domains quickly and independently.
• Genuine interest in continuing to build breadth across compliance disciplines as the role and program evolve.
• Ability to independently read, analyze, and translate complex regulatory requirements into clear, practical policies and operational processes.
• Sound judgment operating with a high degree of autonomy in a fast-moving, remote-first environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain nuanced legal and regulatory requirements to non-expert audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

The following are not required but will distinguish candidates:

• Direct experience with FinCEN regulations, the Bank Secrecy Act, and related AML regulatory guidance and enforcement trends.
• Experience working with regulators, banking partners, or payment processors on AML matters.
• Additional experience in two or more of the following: privacy, trade compliance, government contracting, anti-bribery and corruption, competition/antitrust, or security compliance.
• Prior experience building or scaling a compliance function at a high-growth technology company.
• Experience managing or mentoring compliance team members.

What We Offer

• A high-impact leadership role at a company building a world-class, global compliance program from the ground up.
• Direct partnership with the Head of Compliance and Executive leadership on consequential regulatory and business decisions.
• The opportunity to shape and expand your scope across multiple areas of compliance as the program and your expertise grow.
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits.
• A fully remote role, with flexibility to work from anywhere in the U.S. and occasional travel as needed for team meetings.
• A collaborative environment that values deep subject-matter expertise, sound judgment, and operational excellence.

Hydra Host is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds.