Senior Counsel, Commercial

About the role

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is seeking a proactive Senior Counsel, Commercial to join its legal team in Palo Alto. Reporting to the General Counsel, you will act as a high‑impact generalist handling a large volume of commercial contracts and providing legal support to the procurement function for the U.S. entity and its subsidiaries.

Key responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial and vendor agreements to protect company interests while advancing business goals.
• Serve as the primary legal liaison for the procurement team, delivering responsive support throughout fast‑moving purchasing processes.
• Collaborate with engineering and procurement groups to embed legal best practices into their workflows and conduct training sessions.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal risks by developing forward‑looking strategies that enable business success.
• Oversee external counsel to ensure high‑quality, cost‑effective legal services.
• Create and maintain a suite of standard contract templates and establish robust contract intake, tracking, and approval processes.
• Develop negotiation playbooks, risk‑tolerance frameworks, and fallback positions to accelerate deal execution.

Required profile

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Significant experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, preferably in technology or automotive sectors.
• Proven ability to work closely with cross‑functional teams, especially procurement and engineering.
• Experience managing external counsel and implementing contract management systems.

Required skills

What we offer

• Competitive compensation package.
• Flexible work schedule with three days a week on‑site in Palo Alto.
• Opportunity to shape legal frameworks for next‑generation electric‑vehicle technology.