Confluent

Senior Lead Counsel, Product & IP

United States

$236,100 – $277,400Compensation
Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Software, Data Streaming, Cloud ComputingIndustries

Job Description: Product Attorney

Salary: $236.1K - $277.4K Location Type: Remote Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Overview

Confluent is seeking a business-oriented Product Attorney with experience advising on open source, licensing, intellectual property, and other product-related matters to join our growing legal team. In this role, you will partner closely with product, engineering, and business teams to support the development and launch of innovative software solutions. Success requires the ability to work independently, navigate complex legal and regulatory landscapes related to software and open source, and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams globally.

The legal department is passionate about enabling customer success while building a strong foundation for the future. We strive to provide thoughtful and pragmatic counsel, minimizing risks while pursuing business opportunities. We thrive by working together to solve complex challenges, supporting and learning from each other, and having fun!

Responsibilities

  • Provide legal support throughout the product lifecycle, including development, launch, and ongoing management of SaaS offerings.
  • Advise engineering, product management, and business teams on open source software use, licensing obligations, and intellectual property risks.
  • Collaborate with engineering, product, and product marketing to facilitate Confluent’s engagement with the open source community, develop processes for compliant open source use at scale, and maintain open source policies.
  • Conduct license compliance reviews and oversee related audits to ensure adherence to open source policies.
  • Draft, review, and negotiate complex technology agreements, including SaaS agreements, licensing agreements, and partnership contracts.
  • Develop and maintain internal policies, training programs, and best practices related to open source software use and SaaS compliance.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to address data privacy, cybersecurity, and other regulatory requirements related to SaaS products.
  • Monitor evolving legal and regulatory frameworks impacting SaaS and open source, advising on potential business implications.

Requirements

  • Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
  • 7+ years of experience as a practicing attorney, with a focus on product counseling, open source software licensing, and SaaS.
  • Deep understanding of open source licensing models (e.g., Apache, GPL, MIT) and their implications for SaaS products.
  • Demonstrated experience advising on product compliance and related legal risks in a SaaS environment.
  • Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills, with the ability to address technical, business, and legal issues effectively.
  • Familiarity with data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) and their application to SaaS products.
  • Excellent communication skills and a collaborative mindset, with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams.

Company Information

We’re not just building better tech. We’re rewriting how data moves and what the world can do with it. With Confluent, data doesn’t sit still. Our platform puts information in motion, streaming in near real-time so companies can react faster, build smarter, and deliver experiences as dynamic as the world around them.

It takes a certain kind of person to join this team. Those who ask hard questions, give honest feedback, and show up for each other. No egos, no solo acts. Just smart, curious humans pushing toward something bigger, together.

One Confluent. One Team. One Data Streaming Platform.

Come As You Are

Belonging isn’t a perk here. It’s the baseline. We work across time zones and backgrounds, knowing the best ideas come from different perspectives. And we make space for everyone to lead, grow, and challenge what’s possible. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. Employment decisions are based on job-related criteria.

Ready to build what's next? Let’s get in motion.

Skills

Product Counsel
Intellectual Property
Open Source Licensing
SaaS
Legal Counsel
Software Licensing
Regulatory Compliance

Confluent

Data streaming solutions for real-time processing

About Confluent

Confluent specializes in data streaming solutions, focusing on helping businesses manage and process real-time data streams. Its main product is built on Apache Kafka, an open-source platform that allows users to create real-time data pipelines and streaming applications. Clients, including large enterprises and financial institutions, utilize Confluent's tools to collect, process, and analyze data streams, which helps them make quicker and more informed decisions. Unlike many competitors, Confluent offers a subscription-based model for its cloud platform, Confluent Cloud, and its on-premises software, Confluent Platform, ensuring a steady revenue stream. The company also provides professional services like training and consulting to assist clients in optimizing their data streaming solutions. Confluent's goal is to be a leader in the data streaming market, enabling organizations to leverage real-time data for improved operational efficiency.

Mountain View, CaliforniaHeadquarters
2014Year Founded
$443.5MTotal Funding
IPOCompany Stage
Data & Analytics, Enterprise SoftwareIndustries
1,001-5,000Employees

Benefits

Best Teammates on Planet Earth - Loving your job has a lot to do with the people around you. Luckily at Confluent, you will find some of the most genuine people who make you excited to come to work each day.
Adjustable Working Arrangements - While most of our employees work typical business hours, we encourage everyone to partner with their manager to make a schedule that works best for them and Confluent.
Robust Benefits - Health and wellness is important and Confluent is proud to offer a total benefits program that ranks in the top percentile of companies similar in size to our industry in our established geographies.
Rest and Recharge Days - Personal time off is great but it is even better when your whole team has the day. Each quarter, teams have three recharge days where the entire team logs off and refreshes before coming back to work.
Weekly Lunch Spend - At Confluent, we have a weekly lunch program called “No Pay Thursday.” On Thursdays, lunch is provided by Confluent at local restaurants and grocery stores, taxes may apply for some countries.
Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) - Confluent employees work really hard to meet the needs of our growing and scaling business. To make sure that we don’t burn out, we encourage everyone to balance their PTO in an adequate way.

Risks

CTO Chad Verbowski's retirement may lead to a temporary leadership vacuum.
WarpStream acquisition may present integration challenges, disrupting operations.
Participation in MongoDB AI Program exposes Confluent to competitive pressures.

Differentiation

Confluent's platform is based on Apache Kafka, a leading open-source data streaming technology.
The company offers a subscription-based model, ensuring steady recurring revenue streams.
Confluent's solutions cater to diverse industries, enhancing real-time data processing capabilities.

Upsides

Increased adoption of Apache Flink complements Confluent's existing Apache Kafka-based solutions.
Integration with MongoDB's AI Applications Program enhances AI-driven data processing capabilities.
The OEM Program launch can drive new partnerships and expand market presence.

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