Job Description Summary:The Product Counsel Senior Director serves as the primary legal advisor to Rocket's product, engineering, and services teams, providing proactive and strategic legal counsel across the full product lifecycle. Principal duties include leading Rocket's responsible AI legal program, advising on product development, commercialization, and go-to-market strategies, and serving as a key legal resource on technology transactions including licensing, strategic partnerships, and M&A. The Product Counsel Senior Director also supports and leads, as appropriate, IP portfolio management, open source and SCA compliance, and export control matters. The role is expected to operate with significant autonomy and drive cross-functional legal initiatives, process improvements, and product and AI legal compliance programs across the organization.
Key Responsibilities:- Lead Rocket's AI legal program, including advising on AI-related development, training data sourcing and licensing, AI-generated output ownership, algorithmic accountability, and compliance with applicable and emerging AI regulations and frameworks globally.
- Serve as the dedicated legal partner to product management, engineering, and AI/ML teams, providing embedded legal support across the product development lifecycle.
- Develop, implement, and maintain product governance frameworks, including policies and processes related to AI/ML product risk, data inputs and outputs, third-party model integrations, and regulatory compliance across key markets.
- Advise on, draft, and negotiate complex technology agreements, including software license agreements, AI and data licensing arrangements, and strategic technology partnerships.
- Support and lead IP and product counsel workstreams in M&A transactions and other strategic corporate transactions, including due diligence, risk assessment, deal structuring, and post-closing integration matters.
- Advise on OSS strategy in the context of AI and product development.
- Oversee export control compliance as it relates to Rocket's software products, including encryption classification requirements, and advise on export control considerations in product development, AI deployments, and international transactions.
- Advise on IP strategy in the context of AI and product.
- Take on leadership of matters and workstreams across the full scope of the IP and product legal function as needed, and drive cross-functional process improvement, compliance program development, and legal policy initiatives.
- Advise senior leadership on legal, IP, and product considerations in proposed acquisitions, divestitures, and investments, including AI-specific diligence and integration risk.
- Monitor, analyze, and advise on developments in AI law and regulation, data privacy, open source, and other technology-related legal areas that affect Rocket's products and business, and proactively translate regulatory developments into actionable guidance.
- Develop and deliver legal training and educational resources to product, engineering, and business teams on AI governance, IP, OSS, and technology law topics to build legal literacy and scalable compliance practices across the organization.
Minimum Qualifications: - Excellent academic credentials; J.D. from an accredited law school required.
- Must be in good standing with at least one State Bar.
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in law firm and/or in-house legal positions, with substantial experience in intellectual property, technology transactions, and/or product counsel roles, including significant in-house experience.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in law firms and/or in-house legal positions practicing intellectual property law.
- Engineering or other relevant technical degree and experience in software and/or other high technology industries.
- Deep knowledge of and hands-on experience with AI and machine learning legal issues, including AI governance frameworks, training data and model licensing, generative AI risks and liability, and applicable or emerging AI regulations (EU AI Act, US Executive Orders, etc.).
- Demonstrated senior leadership capability, including the ability to set strategic direction, influence at the executive level, and serve as a deputy and functional leader across a broad legal portfolio.
- Deep technical fluency in software, AI/ML systems, and related technologies; ability to engage substantively with engineers and product managers on technical matters and translate technical concepts into legal risk analysis.
- Knowledge of and experience with pertinent laws, including software licensing, data protection, and export control laws.
- Ability to clearly articulate and defend risk analysis; critically examine business practices to ensure they are aligned with legal requirements; provide advice regarding business practice risk.
- Successful candidate is a proven team player and consensus builder that takes a business approach to law.
- Successful candidate is a flexible self-starter and proactive problem solver who can work autonomously and handle significant client contact.
- Effective written and oral communication skills are essential. Ability to clearly present information, in writing and orally, respond to questions from executives, managers, customers, and other employees, with focus on client service.
- Diplomatic, approachable and possessing good business and personal judgment.
- Must manage conflicting demands from multiple business clients in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent organizational skills; ability to manage multiple projects at once, follow through and meet deadlines.
- Inherent ability to act with the highest integrity and professionalism.
#LI-Remote
Annual salary range for this position is between $164,500.00 - $222,075.00 gross before taxes.
What Rocket Software can offer you in USA:- Unlimited Vacation Time as well as paid holidays and sick time
- Health and Wellness coverage options for Rocketeers and dependents
- Life and disability coverage
- Fidelity 401(k) and Roth Retirement Savings with matching contributions
- Monthly student debt benefit program
- Tuition Reimbursement and Certificate Reimbursement Program opportunities
- Leadership and skills training opportunities
