Commercial Counsel

About xAI

xAI’s mission is to create AI systems that can accurately understand the universe and aid humanity in its pursuit of knowledge. Our team is small, highly motivated, and focused on engineering excellence. This organization is for individuals who appreciate challenging themselves and thrive on curiosity. We operate with a flat organizational structure. All employees are expected to be hands-on and to contribute directly to the company’s mission. Leadership is given to those who show initiative and consistently deliver excellence. Work ethic and strong prioritization skills are important. All engineers and researchers are expected to have strong communication skills. They should be able to concisely and accurately share knowledge with their teammates.

About the Role:

As a Commercial Counsel at xAI, you'll procurement efforts for our AI data centers by negotiating high-value deals for hardware, infrastructure, and services. Working closely with the Commercial Counsel, Data Center and Procurement Lead, you’ll tackle complex agreements, ensure compliance, and streamline processes in a fast-paced environment. Expect to dive into strategic negotiations, balance legal and business priorities, and support xAI’s mission to advance AI-driven human scientific discovery.

This is a hybrid role with up to 25% travel required to Memphis, Tennessee, and Palo Alto, California.

Responsibilities: 

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements for AI datacenters.
• Support general procurement for non-datacenter needs, including vendor agreements, master service agreements, and NDAs. 
• Partner closely with engineering, finance and operations teams to align contracts with business needs. 
• Create processes for efficient and scalable contracting.
• Be a swiss army knife: pitch in for anything needed in the Legal department, even if it’s unfamiliar or not in your lane

Basic Qualifications: 

• 5+ years of legal experience–ideally through a combination of experience at innovative technology companies and/or excellent law firms (startup experience a plus).
• Experience in commercial contracting, with a focus on procurement in tech or infrastructure sectors.
• Proven track record of negotiating complex deals for hardware, data infrastructure, or AI-related technologies.
• Tech-savvy with an understanding or keen interest in datacenters and emerging technologies like AI.
• Have a strong sense of ownership, be inquisitive and enthusiastic about technology, enjoy being continually challenged, and can demonstrate sound judgment in ambiguous situations.
• Have a lot of gas in the tank!
• JD from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one U.S. state. 

Annual Salary Range

• $175,000-$225,000 USD

xAI is an equal opportunity employer.

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