Hiring: Senior Counsel, Commercial Company: Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies Location: Palo Alto, CA Job Posted Time: 2026-09-10 11:57:08 Employment Type: Full-time About the job Experience: •7+ years of relevant legal experience, preferably gained within a leading law firm and a dynamic in-house legal department. Required Skills: •Lead the drafting, review, and negotiation of complex commercial and vendor agreements to protect company interests while accelerating business objectives. •Serve as the first point of contact for our procurement team, providing practical, responsive legal support across large and fast-moving purchasing processes for our U.S. entity and its subsidiaries. •Work closely with engineering and procurement teams to integrate legal best practices into their workflows and deliver engaging training programs. •Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate potential legal risks by developing forward-looking strategies that enable business success. •Oversee external counsel to ensure we receive high-quality, cost-effective legal services. •Design, implement, and maintain a robust suite of standard contract templates •Stand up foundational legal intake, tracking, and approval processes to streamline contract lifecycle management as the organization scales. •Draft clear negotiation playbooks, risk tolerance frameworks, and standard fallback positions to empower business teams and accelerate deal execution. Qualifications: •Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school and admitted to practice in at least one US state, preferably California. •A minimum of 7+ years of relevant legal experience, preferably gained within a leading law firm and a dynamic in-house legal department. •Demonstrated capacity to communicate complex legal concepts clearly and concisely to both legal and non-legal audiences. •Strong negotiation and drafting skills. •A proactive, pragmatic approach to legal counseling with a focus on business enablement and a passion for the future of the automotive industry. •Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment where the road isn't always mapped out. •Operational familiarity with the automotive and/or tech industry and their unique legal and regulatory challenges. •Hands-on experience implementing, configuring, or optimizing Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) systems—specifically Ironclad—to automate legal intake, workflow approvals, and repository management. Compensation: •$237,200 - $326,150 / year •Competitive benefits and rewards package •In addition to a competitive base salary, full-time positions may be is eligible to participate in our annual company performance bonus program Interested candidates, please apply directly through the job posting on company's career page or try via AI auto apply on this platform. Don't miss this opportunity to join a forward-thinking team!