Sr. Legal Counsel
Quick facts
- Pay
- $260,000 - $300,000 USD
- Type
- Full-time
- Location
- Mountain View, CA
- Background
- JD / attorney
- Skills
- Legal
- Industry
- Legal — 38 open jobs
- Visa in listing
- H-1B, OPT
- Apply
- Free to apply — never pay anyone for a job offer or visa sponsorship
Job description
About the Role
Be an early, foundational member of DensityAI's legal team — the commercial and technology counsel who structures and closes the deals that power our AI-accelerator business. Reporting to the General Counsel, you'll own complex commercial and technology transactions end-to-end, from technology and software licensing and strategic partnerships to the semiconductor supply-chain, foundry, and contract-manufacturing agreements at the heart of the company. You'll come in with the confidence to operate independently — and, over time, help build and lead the Tech Trans legal team.
What You'll Do
- Lead complex commercial and technology transactions — technology/software licensing, strategic partnerships, business development, and sales & distribution deals
- Own the legal work behind our silicon supply chain — foundry, OSAT, and contract-manufacturing agreements (MSAs, MPAs, NDAs, SOWs, capacity/pricing, NRE/tooling)
- Advise on intellectual-property strategy and technology-transaction structuring (IP licensing, ownership, joint development)
- Guide export-control compliance (EAR/ITAR), other regulatory matters, and data privacy
- Be a practical, trusted partner to business, supply chain, engineering, and GTM — unblocking deals while managing risk
- Build scalable contracting processes, templates, and playbooks as the company grows
- Help grow and lead a Tech Trans legal team over time
What We're Looking For
- JD and active membership in good standing of at least one U.S. state bar (CA preferred)
- 15+ years of commercial/technology transactional experience, in-house and/or at a top law firm
- Deep expertise in technology and software licensing, strategic partnerships, and complex commercial deals
- Direct experience in the semiconductor ideally with semiconductor tools and IP vendors, supply chain, foundry (TSMC), OSAT, or contract-manufacturing transactions
- Strong technical fluency and technology-transaction ("tech trans") expertise; engineering or science background is a plus
- Working knowledge of export controls (EAR/ITAR), regulatory compliance, and data privacy
- A confident, hands-on operator who runs deals independently in a fast-moving startup and brings structure and efficiency
Compensation
Final offers depend on level, location, and skills relevant to the role. Additional compensation: equity grant per company guidelines; medical / dental / vision; 401(k); standard PTO.
Visa Sponsorship
DensityAI sponsors qualified candidates for H-1B, O-1, TN, E-3, and other employment-based visas, and we welcome applicants on F-1 OPT and STEM-OPT. Work authorization is required at start; we provide immigration support to secure or transfer status.
Equal Opportunity
DensityAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (40+), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by law. We comply with the California CROWN Act and provide reasonable accommodations on request.
Full compensation packages are based on candidate experience and relevant certifications.
California pay range
$260,000 - $300,000 USD
Compensation
Final offers depend on level, location, and skills relevant to the role. Additional compensation: equity grant per company guidelines; medical / dental / vision; 401(k); standard PTO.
Visa Sponsorship
DensityAI sponsors qualified candidates for H-1B, O-1, TN, E-3, and other employment-based visas, and we welcome applicants on F-1 OPT and STEM-OPT. Work authorization is required at start; we provide immigration support to secure or transfer status.
Export Controls
Aspects of this role may involve access to information subject to U.S. export controls (EAR/ITAR). We may discuss licensing or scope adjustments during the interview.
Equal Opportunity
DensityAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (40+), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by law. We comply with the California CROWN Act and provide reasonable accommodations on request.
Full compensation packages are based on candidate experience and relevant certifications.
Visa sponsorship record
No public sponsorship records foundWe didn't find H-1B, H-1B1, E-3 or green card (PERM) filings under the name DensityAI in the Department of Labor and USCIS data. That doesn't mean the job can't be sponsored — the company may file under a different legal name, be new to sponsorship, or sponsor a visa that isn't in these datasets (for example H-2B or J-1).
Tip: ask the recruiter early, in writing, which visa they sponsor and whether they cover the legal and filing fees.
Which visas can work for this job
Occupation: Lawyers (SOC 23-1011).
- Mentioned in the listing
H-1B, OPT
- H-1B cap-exempt employer
Regular cap-subject employer — a new H-1B needs to win the lottery in March (unless you already hold cap-counted H-1B status).
- TN (citizens of Canada and Mexico)
This kind of role may fit the USMCA profession “Lawyer” — it depends on the actual duties. No lottery, no cap; you need the matching degree or license.
- E-3 (Australia) and H-1B1 (Chile, Singapore)
Same degree requirement as H-1B, but no lottery and a separate quota that is rarely filled.
- O-1 (extraordinary ability)
For candidates with awards, publications, press, a high salary or critical roles at distinguished organizations. No cap, no lottery; the employer files a petition.
Salary vs prevailing wage
Level II (qualified)Lawyers · San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA. Annual prevailing wages set by the Department of Labor (OFLC).
| Level | Prevailing wage | H-1B lottery odds* |
|---|---|---|
| Level I | $151,986 | ~15% |
| Level II | $220,147 | ~31% |
| Level III | $288,309 | ~46% |
| Level IV | $356,470 | ~61% |
This job pays $260,000–$300,000 a year — that's Level II (qualified). In the wage-weighted H-1B lottery a Level II registration gets 2 entries; estimated selection chance about 31%.
* Odds are DHS projections for the FY2027 wage-weighted lottery (actual results vary by year and employer). Since the FY2027 cap season the H-1B lottery is weighted by wage level: Level I = 1 entry, II = 2, III = 3, IV = 4. The level is set by the offered wage against the prevailing wage for the occupation and worksite. Separately, a $100,000 fee for new H-1B petitions for workers outside the US was announced in 2025; as of September 2026 a federal court ruling keeps it unenforceable while appeals continue — check the current status.
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor OFLC disclosure data (H-1B/H-1B1/E-3 LCA, PERM), OFLC prevailing wage data, USCIS H-1B Employer Data Hub, E-Verify participating employers. Data loaded: LCA FY2024–FY2026, PERM, USCIS Data Hub, OFLC wages; updated 2026-10-03. Employers are matched by name, so records of companies with similar names can occasionally be mixed up. This is general information, not legal advice — talk to an immigration attorney about your case.