Senior Counsel at Linear, a product development platform. First in-house legal hire managing commercial agreements, corporate governance, and AI/privacy implications as the company scales globally.
At Linear, we're building the product development system for teams and agents. AI is fundamentally changing how software gets built, and we’re shaping the tools this new era requires.
Founded in 2019, Linear has become the platform of choice for more than 25,000 companies (including OpenAI, Coinbase, and Ramp) to plan, build, and ship their products. Today, our team is distributed across North America and Europe, and we’re continuing to grow internationally. What unites us is relentless focus, fast execution, and a deep care for software craftsmanship.
As Linear continues to scale globally and work with larger customers, we are looking for our first Senior Counsel. This is a foundational, generalist role designed to move us to a proactive legal posture that supports our high-velocity culture.
As our first in-house legal hire, you will be a pragmatic, hands-on partner across commercial, product, and operational legal matters. You will own the legal roadmap, manage outside counsel, and provide the support we need to ship quality products quickly. You will work closely with our founders and leadership to support Linear’s global growth. You’ll draft, review, and negotiate agreements, advise managers, and take the lead on deciding when we need to call on outside counsel and when we don’t.
Location & work mode:
Linear is a remote-first company. This role is open to candidates based in North America. You can work from anywhere within this region. We value deep focus and async collaboration, with intentional moments to connect in person through team off-sites, optional co-working, and occasional travel.
What you’ll do
Own core legal areas, including commercial agreements, trademarks, and corporate governance/equity, with support from outside counsel as needed
Develop the legal foundation/frameworks for new products and initiatives
Work closely with our product teams to navigate the legal implications of AI, including data privacy and model usage
Lead negotiations for our most complex enterprise MSAs and DPAs, focusing on high-leverage issues like liability caps and indemnification
Partner with Product and Engineering during feature design and development to identify legal and regulatory implications early—including privacy-by-design, AI data handling, and enterprise compliance requirements—so that legal considerations are built in, not bolted on
Act as the primary interface to outside counsel, ensuring that they are used effectively and cost-efficiently
Advise our People and Talent teams on HR matters across multiple states/countries as we continue our international expansion
Give clear legal guidance that teams can use without constant escalation
Help identify risks early and frame them clearly, enabling leadership to make informed decisions
What we’re looking for
5+ years of legal experience, ideally both law firm and in-house
Experience supporting a scaling, product-led company (Series B-D or similar stage)
Experience supporting venture financings and equity matters, including cap table management and corporate governance
Strong commercial contracting experience, including enterprise SaaS agreements
Familiarity with privacy and security requirements for enterprise customers, including the implications of AI data handling
Comfort advising on employment and HR issues in a global, remote-first context
Sound judgment and the ability to communicate conclusions in areas such as legal/regulatory risk in clear, practical terms
A bias toward figuring things out independently, while knowing when to seek outside expertise
Knows when to hold the line and when pragmatism serves the business better than perfection
What we offer
We're a small, focused team that cares deeply about the quality of our work and the people we do it with. Here's what you can expect:
Competitive salary and equity
Employee-friendly equity terms including early exercise in the US and extended exercise windows
Daily meal and coffee stipend on every workday
Paid co-working space or desk
Health coverage (based on country requirements)
5 weeks paid vacation, plus local statutory holidays
4 months paid parental leave
Paid month off after 4 years & every 2 years thereafter
Regular team events and off-sites
Remote-first with no required commute
Learn how we think and work
A story about our mission: Read Me
Our hiring process: How we hire at Linear
How we work: Designing remote work at Linear
Our CEO and co-founder, Karri at 20VC: How to Grow Capital Efficiently in a World of BS Growth
Make an Org Chart You Want to Ship — Advice from Linear on How Heirloom Tomatoes Should Inspire Team Design
Building our teams: Why and how we do work trials at Linear
A video series: Conversations on Quality
Read about our recent Series C Fundraise and Giving our team liquidity
Linear is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.