Suggested rewrite: Led a cross-functional initiative that improved [business outcome] by [measurable result], demonstrating experience relevant to this role...
Commercial Counsel
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- Remote from
- USA
- Salary
- USD 140k–180k / yr
- Department
- Legal & Compliance
- Employment
- Full Time
- Experience
- Open level
- Published
- Apply before
- 29 Nov 2026
- Listing views
- 13
- Application actions
- 0
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The role, at a glance.
Socket is hiring a US-remote Commercial Counsel to manage a meaningful share of a high-volume SaaS contracting practice, with the lean legal team handling roughly 60 contracts each month. The role partners with sales early in deal cycles, negotiates directly with enterprise customers and counsel, and keeps agreements within approved risk positions. Core expertise includes commercial SaaS terms, liability, indemnities, intellectual property, data protection, and payment provisions. This counsel will work with substantial independence, escalate true exceptions to the CEO, and use AI and automation to improve contracting throughput. The position suits an experienced licensed attorney comfortable operating quickly in a security or technology environment.
Role DNA
A quick view of the complexity, pace, ownership and collaboration implied by the job description.
Pace & Pressure
5/5Autonomy Level
5/5Communication Load
5/5Salary analysis
Estimated compensation compared with the broader US market for similar roles.
Core skills
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Sample interview questions
I engage sales early to understand the commercial objective and identify potential legal issues before redlines. I distinguish between terms that can be traded pragmatically and non-negotiable risk boundaries, then provide concise options with business consequences so the team can make informed decisions quickly.
I first assess the service, customer profile, data involved, deal value, and likely risk allocation. I use the company's playbook to establish a defensible baseline, explain the rationale clearly to opposing counsel, and seek balanced alternatives such as scoped indemnities, exclusions, or tailored caps when a standard position will not close the deal.
I would analyze contract volume, turnaround time, escalation reasons, and recurring redline patterns to identify bottlenecks. I would then strengthen templates and playbooks, implement intake triage and self-service guidance for routine requests, and use AI-assisted review or automation with appropriate quality controls.
In a difficult negotiation, I would clarify the customer's underlying business concern rather than focusing only on their proposed language. I would develop alternatives that address that concern, such as a narrower obligation, defined process, or limited remedy, and communicate the trade-offs clearly so both sides can reach a workable agreement.
I explain the commercial impact in plain language, identify the probability and potential consequence, and recommend a specific path forward. Rather than providing an abstract legal lecture, I present clear options, the risk associated with each, and the information needed for a timely decision.
About this role.
About Us
Socket helps devs and security teams ship faster by cutting out security busywork. Thousands of orgs use Socket to safely find, audit, and manage open source code. Our customers – from Anthropic to xAI, and Figma to Vercel – love Socket (just check out their tweets to see for yourself!)
Founded by Feross Aboukhadijeh, a long-time open source maintainer with software downloaded over a billion times a month, Socket has raised $125M in funding from top angels, operators, and security leaders.
About the Role
Socket is looking for a Commercial Counsel to substantially increase our commercial contracting outcomes. You’ll join a lean legal team handling around 60 contracts a month, and you’ll be the person sales pulls in to get deals done: fast, collaborative with customers, and always within Socket’s risk positions. You’ll operate with high agency and minimal direction, use AI and automation to multiply your output, and set a new benchmark for what commercial counsel looks like at Socket.
What You’ll Do
Partner closely with sales from early in the deal cycle, shaping terms before redlines arrive and helping the team win
Own a meaningful share of Socket’s commercial contracts, driving faster turnaround and fewer deals stalled or escalated in legal
Negotiate directly with customers and their counsel in a way that’s fair, responsive and relationship-building
Keep deals within Socket’s approved risk positions, and escalate genuine exceptions to the CEO with a clear recommendation
Use Socket’s existing contracting systems, AI tools and automation to handle more volume and reduce reliance on contractors
Find creative deal structures that unblock stuck negotiations
What You’ll Bring
Required:
Licensed attorney with substantial experience working in a high-velocity environment working with SaaS or technology company contracts
Proven track record of delivering timely outcomes with excellent service and communication
Sound, commercially grounded risk judgement across liability, indemnities, IP, data protection and payment terms
Ability to operate with high agency and minimal direction
Clear, concise communicator who can explain legal trade-offs to sales and business colleagues.
Preferred:
Experience at a security, developer tools or infrastructure company
Hands-on use of AI and automation tools to increase legal productivity
Experience negotiating directly with enterprise customers and their counsel
Our Interview Process
Phone Screen with our Talent Team
Virtual f2f with the Hiring Manager
Presentation
Virtual f2f with a few members of the team
Final call with our Founder
References
Offer
Hiring is a big decision on both sides. Read more about our Hiring Philosophy and how we approach the process at Socket.
Benefits: Our benefits are crafted to support you and your family, so you can take care of what matters most and thrive in and outside of work. We offer:
Market competitive salary bands
Meaningful equity program
Comprehensive health benefits for you and your family (99% coverage)
Flexible time-off, holidays, and winter shutdown to rest & recharge
Paid parental leave
Remote-first, with quarterly team off-sites
At Socket, we
Pursue Excellence: We set ourselves apart by consistently delivering work of exceptional quality and distinction.
Move with urgency and focus: We prioritize swift, decisive action.
Think rigorously: We care about being right and it often takes reasoning from first principles to get there. We value alternative perspectives and have constructive discussions.
Trust and amplify: We overtrust, always assume good intent, and give specific feedback to help each other improve.
Feel a strong sense of ownership: We wear many hats and feel a strong sense of overall ownership of the company and we’re non-territorial regarding our nominal domains.
Are customer obsessed: We relentlessly prioritize the needs of our customers, striving to exceed their expectations and delight them at every interaction.
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