Job Overview
Location
San Francisco
Job Type
Full-time
Category
Software Engineering
Date Posted
February 25, 2026
Full Job Description
đź“‹ Description
- • As a key member of OpenAI's Legal team, you will play an instrumental role in shaping the commercial legal strategy and execution for our rapidly expanding infrastructure portfolio. This is a high-impact, cross-functional position that demands a proactive and strategic approach to navigating the complex legal landscape of cutting-edge AI infrastructure.
- • You will be the primary legal partner for our procurement, supply chain, partnerships, finance, and product teams, guiding them through the intricate process of structuring, negotiating, and managing the critical transactions that underpin OpenAI's ambitious long-term infrastructure goals. Your expertise will be vital in ensuring these agreements align with our business objectives, risk tolerance, and compliance obligations.
- • We are seeking an experienced infrastructure transactions lawyer who not only thrives in environments characterized by ambiguity but also possesses a strong desire to help define the commercial playbook for infrastructure development in the burgeoning AI era. This role offers a unique opportunity to build foundational legal frameworks and processes that will scale with OpenAI's growth.
- • Your responsibilities will encompass owning the commercial legal strategy and robust risk management for all OpenAI infrastructure transactions. This includes proactively identifying potential legal and commercial risks and developing mitigation strategies to protect OpenAI's interests.
- • You will be responsible for drafting, meticulously reviewing, and expertly negotiating a wide array of complex agreements. These will include contracts with infrastructure suppliers, hardware manufacturers, key distributors, and strategic technology partners, ensuring favorable terms and robust protections.
- • A significant aspect of this role involves supporting and advising on strategic partnerships that are integral to our AI infrastructure and hardware supply chains. This requires a deep understanding of the interplay between legal agreements and business strategy in these critical areas.
- • You will take the lead in developing scalable and efficient frameworks for procurement, licensing, and collaboration across the entire infrastructure ecosystem. This includes establishing best practices and standardized approaches to streamline contracting processes.
- • Close collaboration with our finance and operations teams will be essential to ensure that all contract terms are harmonized with overarching business objectives, financial considerations, and stringent compliance requirements. This partnership will be key to operationalizing our legal strategies.
- • You will work hand-in-hand with our policy and regulatory colleagues to address and navigate complex issues impacting global supply chains, export controls, and manufacturing processes. This cross-functional collaboration is crucial for ensuring compliance with international laws and regulations.
- • A core objective will be to build and implement scalable, efficient contracting processes that empower OpenAI's infrastructure development to proceed at speed while rigorously managing associated risks. This involves optimizing workflows and leveraging technology where appropriate.
- • This role demands a forward-thinking mindset, anticipating future legal needs and challenges in the rapidly evolving AI infrastructure space and proactively developing solutions.
- • You will contribute to the continuous improvement of our legal playbooks and standard contract forms, ensuring they remain relevant and effective in a dynamic environment.
- • The position offers the chance to work on some of the most challenging and innovative legal issues in the field of artificial intelligence, contributing directly to OpenAI's mission.
- • You will be instrumental in fostering strong relationships with external legal counsel and vendors, ensuring alignment and effective collaboration.
- • Ultimately, you will be a trusted advisor, providing clear, concise, and actionable legal guidance to internal stakeholders, enabling informed decision-making and successful execution of our infrastructure strategy.
🎯 Requirements
- • Minimum of 10 years of legal experience, with a significant and demonstrable focus on technology transactions and commercial contracting.
- • A well-rounded background that includes a combination of experience gained at a top-tier law firm and in-house at a technology company.
- • Proven expertise in negotiating complex agreements specifically within the infrastructure domain, including hardware, data centers, or related technology.
- • Familiarity with global supply chains, the intricacies of infrastructure projects (both from a procurement and development perspective), and manufacturing transactions.
- • Demonstrated ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy, exercise sound judgment, and navigate ambiguity in highly technical and fast-moving environments.
- • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to distill complex legal concepts into clear, actionable, and business-aligned guidance for diverse audiences.
- • Experience advising on cross-border transactions and a solid understanding of global regulatory frameworks relevant to technology and infrastructure.
- • Prior experience with infrastructure-specific agreements, complex supply chain contracts, joint ventures, or other sophisticated commercial deals within hardware-intensive industries is a strong plus.
🏖️ Benefits
- • Competitive salary and equity compensation package.
- • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
- • Generous paid time off and holidays.
- • Relocation assistance for new employees moving to San Francisco.
- • Opportunities for professional development and continuing education.
- • A dynamic and collaborative work environment at the forefront of AI innovation.
Skills & Technologies
DevOps
Junior
Hybrid
About OpenAI, Inc.
OpenAI is a San Francisco-based artificial intelligence research and deployment company founded in 2015. It develops large-scale AI models such as GPT, DALL-E, and Codex, providing cloud APIs and consumer applications like ChatGPT. Originally established as a non-profit, it later created a capped-profit subsidiary to attract capital while maintaining its mission to ensure artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity.
