Associate Counsel

SUMMARY:

We are expanding our commercial, industrial, and emerging form-factor EV programs, along with our advanced manufacturing and clean-energy equipment sales and service businesses. We are seeking a detail-oriented, motivated attorney to work directly with business units and provide practical day-to-day legal advice and support across commercial, procurement, compliance, employment, and dispute-management matters. The role will collaborate closely with legal and business colleagues under the guidance of a managing attorney or senior business leader.

The position requires a self-starter with maturity and judgment to operate with strong alignment to organizational objectives, take ownership of matters, and maintain accountability for results. The successful candidate will provide clear guidance, set appropriate guardrails, and help business teams stay aligned with commercial, legal, and risk-management standards. Many initiatives involve shifting priorities, sustained intensity, and tight timelines. The ideal candidate will manage complex matters, navigate challenges, and exercise sound judgment under pressure while working with highly driven teams across the U.S. and internationally (Canada, Latin America, the EU, and Asia).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, including supply agreements, sales contracts, service and warranty terms, SaaS agreements, marketing agreements, construction and facilities contracts, logistics and distributor agreements, NDAs, MSAs, and SOWs
• Support sales, production, manufacturing, and procurement teams on commercial and operational matters, including supplier and customer performance, pricing and delivery terms, warranty and quality requirements, production scheduling, change management, and contract compliance
• Advise on employment matters typical to a manufacturing environment, in coordination with HR and outside counsel
• Advise on trade, regulatory, and compliance matters affecting EV, advanced manufacturing, and clean-energy supply chains (e.g., CBP, DOC, USTR) in partnership with internal stakeholders and external counsel
• Contribute to contract standards, templates, and internal controls to support consistent and efficient execution
• Provide legal support to bids and grants teams regarding RFPs, competitive bids, and public-sector procurement requirements.
• Identify and help mitigate legal, regulatory, and operational risks in collaboration with business and legal stakeholders
• Provide training and guidance to business and operations teams and maintain a visible presence supporting factory and commercial activities
• Perform other legal and business responsibilities as needed to support operational and strategic priorities

WHY THIS ROLE IS UNIQUE:

• Develop distinctive experience in a globally strategic, rapidly growing sector
• Grow with a rapidly evolving legal and operational framework in a scaling business environment
• Work directly with, and advise, senior leadership across critical functions
• See tangible results through commercial execution, operational performance, and program milestones
• Learn from senior legal and operational leaders committed to developing legal talent and building a strong business-partnering function

QUALIFICATIONS:

• J.D. and California bar membership (or eligibility for in-house registration)
• Prior experience in both law firms and in-house environments preferred
• 3–5 years of experience drafting, redlining and negotiating complex commercial contracts in a relevant industry
• Demonstrated experience supporting supply chain, procurement, manufacturing, or sales organizations as a business-focused legal advisor
• Ability to translate legal risk into clear, practical, solutions-oriented guidance
• Curiosity, resilience, and comfort working alongside engineers, buyers, quality teams, and operations personnel
• Report to Pasadena, CA office and support business needs at company sites throughout Los Angeles County
• Due to the hands-on nature of this work and the need to advise stakeholders on complex matters, remote and hybrid work arrangements are not available
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally and to adapt to evolving business needs in a dynamic operational environment
• This role is on-site and embedded with the business, working closely with operational teams in an open-office environment rather than a private office setting.

PREFERRED:

• Experience supporting commercial contracting in EV, energy storage, battery, automotive, advanced manufacturing, EMS, or ODM environments
• Fluent, professional level spoken and written English.

SUCCESS IN THIS ROLE LOOKS LIKE:

• Trusted, reliable guidance to business partners and cross-functional stakeholders
• Effective identification and resolution of disputes and operational challenges
• Development of contract playbooks, templates, and training materials supporting scale and maturity
• Strong collaboration and communication with senior leadership and operational teams

Salary Range: $110,000 – $150,000 base salary, depending on experience and qualifications, plus competitive benefits and performance-based bonus potential