Employment Counsel [6 Month Contract]

About the role

The Employment Counsel at Applied Intuition owns the full spectrum of global labor and employment strategy, acting as the primary legal architect for people policies that scale. This counsel will synthesize complex regulatory landscapes into practical frameworks that protect the company while empowering employee growth across all operating regions. You will own the design and execution of employment lifecycle processes, ensuring consistency and compliance from hire to separation. The role demands a partnership mindset where legal rigor is balanced with business enablement and cultural integrity. You will translate nuanced legal requirements into clear guidance that leaders can implement confidently and uniformly. This position requires judgment, discretion, and the ability to navigate sensitive issues with empathy and procedural soundness. You will be a trusted advisor influencing high-impact decisions that shape the employee experience at a critical inflection point for the organization.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Interpret and advise on global employment laws, translating complex regulations into actionable policies and training for business teams.
• Draft, revise, and maintain employee handbooks, employment contracts, offer letters, and internal policies to ensure legal compliance and operational clarity.
• Partner with the People Team on headcount planning, ensuring alignment between legal constraints and business growth objectives.
• Lead sensitive internal investigations with impartiality and discretion, documenting findings and recommending fair, consistent outcomes.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments across all jurisdictions and assess their impact on existing programs and workflows.
• Manage relationships with outside counsel and coordinate defense of employment-related disputes and regulatory charges.
• Develop and deliver training modules on anti-harassment, interview techniques, wage and hour rules, and performance management.
• Advise on performance management frameworks and separation processes to mitigate risk and maintain employee trust.
• Support the design of leave administration systems and ensure adherence to applicable federal, state, and local laws.
• Collaborate with cross-functional leaders to align compensation, classification, and onboarding practices with evolving legal standards.
• Assess international expansion employment models and recommend structures that balance compliance with speed of execution.
• Provide day-to-day counsel to managers on employee relations issues and best practices for documentation and communication.
• Evaluate trends in employment litigation and regulatory enforcement to proactively update policies and risk mitigation strategies.
• Oversee the administration of employee lifecycle tools to ensure data integrity and compliance reporting accuracy.
• Serve as a point of escalation for complex employment matters requiring legal analysis and executive communication.

Requirements

• Hold a J.D. from an accredited law school and maintain active bar membership in good standing.
• Bring a minimum of 5 years of focused employment law experience, ideally blending top-tier law firm and in-house exposure.
• Demonstrate deep familiarity with United States federal labor laws, particularly those applicable in California, and show aptitude for rapidly expanding this expertise to other jurisdictions.
• Exhibit strong judgment in applying legal principles to business contexts, balancing risk mitigation with operational practicality.
• Communicate complex legal concepts clearly and persuasively to non-legal stakeholders without reliance on positional authority.
• Proven ability to manage sensitive investigations and deliver fair, consistent results under tight deadlines and confidential constraints.
• Show resilience and resourcefulness when navigating incomplete information or rapidly changing regulatory environments.
• Commitment to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, discretion, and ethical conduct in all interactions.

Nice to have

• Prior experience advising U.S.-based companies on international expansion, especially within Germany, Japan, or South Korea.
• Background in employment litigation, including defense of charges and complaints before government agencies.
• Previous in-house experience at a high-growth technology, robotics, or automotive company.
• Familiarity with supporting a diverse workforce spanning software engineering, hardware research, and field operations.

Practical notes

This is a temporary hourly position with an opportunity to convert based on performance. Applied Intuition pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum intended target hourly rate.

Work is primarily in-office at the Sunnyvale location, with an expectation of five days on-site each week. The company recognizes the value of flexibility and trusts employees to manage their schedules responsibly, which may include occasional remote work, adjusted start times for meetings, or abbreviated days to accommodate personal needs.

This role is posted as a 6-month contract, with potential extension contingent on performance and business needs. Applicants who do not meet every listed requirement are still encouraged to apply if they believe their background aligns closely with the core responsibilities of the position.