VP Legal, Strategic Transactions

Cerebras Systems; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 250,000 - 420,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Breakthrough platform

Open source research

Fast AI compute

Startup vitality

Inclusive culture

Job summary

Cerebras Systems, a leader in AI compute, seeks a Vice President of Legal, Strategic Transactions, to quarterback complex deals, including M&A, strategic investments and data center transactions. You’ll guide structuring, manage external counsel, and advise the executive team on high-impact transactions.

The role requires 12–18 years of direct experience, JD and bar admission, with a track record of leading sophisticated, cross-functional negotiations in fast-paced environments.

Qualifications

• 12-18 years of direct experience with M&A, strategic investments and complex transactions.
• Proven track record of quarterbacking cross-functional, high-complexity deals.
• Willingness to learn real estate and data center transactions.
• Able to distill complex legal issues into clear, actionable agreements.
• Fluent in due diligence, regulatory issues and dispute resolution.
• Adaptable to fast-paced environments and changing scopes.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end legal strategy for corporate transactions, including M&A and asset acquisitions.
• Drive organizational structuring, including foreign expansion, in support of acquisitions.
• Manage outside counsel relationships and cross-functional risk.
• Collaborate across teams to align customer and vendor relationships with legal risk.

Skills

M&A experience

Strategic investments

Cross-functional deals

Plain English drafting

Due diligence

Regulatory issues

Fast-paced environment

Leadership in deals

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Bar admission

Law firm & in-house experience

Job description

Cerebras Systems builds the world's largest AI chip, 56 times larger than GPUs. This architecture allows Cerebras to deliver industry-leading training and inference speeds; over 10 times faster than GPU-based hyperscale cloud inference services.
This order of magnitude increase in speed is transforming the user experience of AI applications, unlocking real-time iteration and increasing intelligence via additional agentic computation.
Cerebras works with the leading model labs, global enterprises, and cutting-edge AI-native startups. OpenAI recently announced a multi-year partnership with Cerebras, to deploy 750 megawatts of scale, transforming key workloads with ultra high-speed inference.

About the Role

Cerebras has built a breakthrough architecture that is unlocking new opportunities for the AI industry. Following its IPO, Cerebras is focused on scaling its infrastructure to bring its ultra-fast compute to all users. As VP Legal, Strategic Transactions, you will quarterback and drive to close a variety of deals to scale our business and operations, including M&A, strategic investments, asset acquisitions, digital infrastructure and data center real estate transactions, and related equity and debt financings. You will also handle corporate structuring matters relating to such transactions. You will work closely with a fast-paced finance and infrastructure acquisition team, and advise the company’s c-suite on our largest and most impactful transactions.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end legal strategy and execution on a variety of corporate transactions, including M&A, strategic investments, asset acquisitions and real estate transactions, including a focus on data center procurement and financing.
• Drive corporate organization and structuring, including foreign expansion, in support of acquisition activity.
• Manage a variety of outside counsel relationships.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to manage interdependencies and risk across customer and vendor relationships.

Skills & Qualifications

• 12-18 years of direct experience with M&A, strategic investments, equity and debt transactions, asset purchases, and other types of complex corporate transactions.
• Demonstrated track record of quarterbacking sophisticated, high-complexity and cross-functional deals.
• Ability and desire to learn different types of transactions, including real estate and data center transactions.
• Ability to distill complex legal issues into plain English, and translate technical concepts into legal agreements.
• Fluency with due diligence, regulatory issues and dispute resolution.
• Strong ability to quickly learn other practice areas, and agility and desire to work in a fast-paced environment where the scope of work is constantly changing.
• Can-do attitude and strong work ethic; no task is beneath you and no problem is unsolvable.
• Juris Doctor (J.D.) and bar admission required.
• A mix of leading law firm and in-house experience required.

The compensation range for this position will depend on the candidate’s level of experience, and will include a bonus and significant equity.

Why Join Cerebras

1. Build a breakthrough AI platform beyond the constraints of the GPU.

2. Publish and open source their cutting-edge AI research.

3. Work on one of the fastest AI supercomputers in the world.

4. Enjoy job stability with startup vitality.

5. Our simple, non-corporate work culture that respects individual beliefs.

Find out more about what it's like to work at Cerebras here!

Cerebras Systems is committed to creating an equal and diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate different backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We believe inclusive teams build better products and companies. We try every day to build a work environment that empowers people to do their best work through continuous learning, growth and support of those around them.

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