Emergent builds autonomous coding agents that replace traditional software development by generating, testing, and deploying production applications directly from plain-language intent. Our systems run in production at global scale and are used to build millions of real applications.
Since our public launch, we've crossed $100M in ARR and grown to over 10M users across 190+ countries. We're backed by Khosla Ventures, SoftBank, Google, Lightspeed, Prosus, Together, and Y Combinator.
We're solving the hard part of AI-driven software creation: correctness, reliability, security, and scale in real production systems. The team is built by repeat founders, Olympiad medalists, IIT & IIM alumni, and leaders from Google, Amazon, and Dropbox.
We're hiring builders who want ownership, speed, and impact at global scale.
The Role:
We are hiring our first in-house Legal Counsel to build Emergent's legal function from the ground up. This is a high-ownership role where you will be the go-to legal partner for the entire company, spanning commercial contracts, corporate matters, data privacy, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance across our India and US entities. You will work directly with the founders and leadership team, moving fast to unblock the business while building the frameworks and processes that let us scale responsibly.
What You'll Do:
- Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including customer contracts, enterprise MSAs, vendor agreements, NDAs, and partnership deals
- Own data privacy and protection compliance across jurisdictions, including India's DPDP Act, GDPR, and other applicable frameworks
- Advise on intellectual property strategy, including trademarks, copyrights, open-source usage, and protection of proprietary technology
- Support corporate matters including fundraising, board governance, cap table management, and cross-border entity structuring
- Guide product and engineering teams on legal considerations around AI, user data, terms of service, and acceptable use
- Build scalable contract templates, playbooks, and internal processes to speed up deal cycles
- Manage relationships with external counsel across India and the US, controlling cost and quality
- Track evolving AI, technology, and employment regulations and translate them into practical guidance for the business
What We're Looking For:
- 6 to 10 years of legal experience, with a strong foundation in commercial and technology law
- Qualified lawyer with an LLB and enrollment with the Bar Council of India
- Experience in-house at a technology or SaaS company, or at a top-tier law firm serving technology clients
- Strong command of commercial contracting, data privacy, and intellectual property
- Ability to operate in ambiguity, prioritize ruthlessly, and give clear, practical advice under time pressure
- Excellent communication skills and the judgment to know when to be pragmatic versus when to hold the line
- High ownership mindset with a bias for action
Nice to Have:
- Exposure to US commercial law and cross-border transactions
- Experience with AI, data, or developer-focused products
- Familiarity with fundraising, venture financing, and startup corporate governance
- Prior experience building a legal function at an early-stage, high-growth company
Why Join Us:
- Build and own the legal function at one of the fastest-growing AI companies in the world
- Work directly with founders and leadership on decisions that shape the company
- Broad, varied scope across commercial, corporate, privacy, and IP
- Fast feedback loops, real ownership, and a front-row seat to how AI-native products are built
Benefits and Perks:
- Daily Meals: Lunch and Dinner provided
- Family Insurance: 3 Lakhs worth of coverage for you and your family
- Unlimited Paid Time Off: Take the time you need to recharge and come back refreshed
- Flexible Working Hours: Work arrangements that fit your life and commitments
Let's build the future of software together.
Skills Required
- 6 to 10 years of legal experience in commercial and technology law
- Qualified lawyer with an LLB and enrollment with the Bar Council of India
- Experience in-house at a technology or SaaS company, or at a top-tier law firm serving technology clients
- Strong command of commercial contracting, data privacy, and intellectual property
- Ability to operate in ambiguity, prioritize, and provide practical legal advice under time pressure
- Excellent communication skills and sound judgment
- High ownership mindset with a bias for action
- Exposure to US commercial law and cross-border transactions
- Experience with AI, data, or developer-focused products
- Familiarity with fundraising, venture financing, and startup corporate governance
- Prior experience building a legal function at an early-stage, high-growth company
What We Do
Backed by Lightspeed, Y Combinator, Together Fund, and Prosus, Emergent is reimagining how software gets built. Our vision is to democratize development, enabling anyone with an idea to become a creator and making software accessible to a billion people worldwide. Our autonomous coding agents turn plain-language ideas into fully functional applications, tested, version-controlled, and deployable in minutes. What once took weeks now happens with a single click. Enterprises use Emergent to write, maintain, and test millions of lines of code autonomously, cutting development cycles from months to days. Headquartered in San Francisco, we’re led by repeat entrepreneurs with a proven track record of building successful startups, joined by a world-class team of Olympiad medalists, IIT & IIM alumni, and veterans from Google, Amazon, and Dropbox. Together, we’re building at the frontier of AI and systems engineering—shipping daily and setting new standards for AI-driven development. In just 90 days, we scaled to $15M ARR, making us one of the fastest-growing AI startups in the world, with users across 180+ countries. Join us in shaping the future of software development.
