Technology Counsel

Zof AI; San Francisco, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 190,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Zof AI, a San Francisco-based enterprise AI company, seeks a Technology Counsel to own the legal and governance foundation for scalable AI systems. You will manage IP, data rights, customer contracts, and EU AI Act compliance, while shaping an auditable, practical compliance program.

The role emphasizes translating complex risk into actionable guidance, collaborating with product and engineering, and leveraging AI tools to run a lean, verifiable legal function in a fast-paced startup environment.

Qualifications

• Qualified attorney with commercial or technology law experience.
• Working knowledge of AI regulation, incl. EU AI Act.
• Experience with IP, data rights and tech contracts.
• Ability to translate legal risk into practical product guidance.
• Comfort operating solo in an early-stage environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• High judgment and discretion.
• Willingness to use AI tools deeply in legal work.

Responsibilities

• Own commercial contracts: customer, partner, and vendor agreements.
• Own IP strategy and data-rights posture across the product.
• Own compliance with the EU AI Act and emerging AI regulation.
• Build the AI governance and assurance program, aligned to standards like ISO/IEC 42001.
• Support enterprise security and compliance reviews with engineering.
• Own privacy posture and data processing agreements.
• Advise product and leadership on risk with practical, buildable guidance.
• Use AI tools to run a lean, leveraged legal function.

Skills

Commercial/Tech law

AI regulation knowledge

IP & data rights

Contract negotiation

Risk translation

Solo operator

Communication skills

Judgment & discretion

AI tooling in legal work

Job description

Zof AI is seeking a Technology Counsel to own the legal and governance foundation an enterprise AI company needs: IP and data rights, customer contracts, EU AI Act and emerging AI regulation, and the assurance posture enterprise buyers ask about, aligned to standards like ISO/IEC 42001. This role also carries the AI audit and assurance mandate: making our compliance story verifiable, not just asserted. We are open to a fractional arrangement early with a path to full-time. The ideal candidate advises concretely because they understand how the systems actually work.

Legal · Senior · Full-time · On-site · San Francisco, CA

Responsibilities

• Own commercial contracts: customer, partner, and vendor agreements.
• Own IP strategy and data-rights posture across the product.
• Own compliance with the EU AI Act and emerging AI regulation.
• Build the AI governance and assurance program, aligned to standards like ISO/IEC 42001.
• Support enterprise security and compliance reviews with engineering.
• Own privacy posture and data processing agreements.
• Advise product and leadership on risk with practical, buildable guidance.
• Use AI tools to run a lean, leveraged legal function.

Requirements

• Qualified attorney with relevant commercial or technology law experience.
• Working knowledge of AI regulation, including the EU AI Act.
• Experience with IP, data rights, and technology contracts.
• Ability to translate legal risk into practical product guidance.
• Comfort operating solo in an early-stage environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• High judgment and discretion.
• Willingness to use AI tools deeply in legal work.

Nice to have

• Experience with AI governance standards such as ISO/IEC 42001 or the NIST AI RMF.
• Experience supporting enterprise sales through legal and compliance review.
• In-house experience at a startup or technology company.
• Policy or regulatory affairs experience.

Must understand how AI systems are built and deployed well enough to advise on them concretely