General Counsel

Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Silicon Valley, Velodyne is a technology company known worldwide for its real-time 3D lidar computing and software platforms. The company evolved after founder David Hall invented the HDL-64 Solid-State Hybrid lidar sensor in 2005. Since then, Velodyne Lidar, Inc. emerged as the unmatched market leader of real-time 3D vision systems used in a variety of commercial applications including autonomous vehicles, vehicle safety systems, mobile mapping, aerial mapping, and security. Its products range from the high-performance, surround view Ultra-Puck™ VLP-32, classic HDL-32/64 and cost-effective VLP-16, the new VLS-128, to the upcoming, hidden Velarray™. Velodyne’s rich suite of perception software and algorithms are the key enablers of its perception systems.

We are looking for a General Counsel join our dynamic leadership team. This role will head up the legal department reporting directly to the CFO. This is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to make an enormous impact on our company as the business expands.

Job Description

As Velodyne’s General Counsel, you will serve as a member of the executive team, providing leadership and guidance on a broad range of legal matters affecting our operations and proposing strategies to mitigate risks. Reporting to the CFO, you will drive the development of the Legal Department to support the company’s growth and expansion. Your areas of responsibility will include commercial transactions, securities offerings, regulatory matters, intellectual property, corporate governance and human resource matters.
Job Responsibilities

Lead the overall legal strategy and risk assessment for the company
Develop the legal processes, procedures and infrastructure necessary to help Velodyne scale into a much larger company
Interface with executive leadership and the Board of Directors to provide legal and strategic advice across a wide range of business and legal matters.
Structure, draft and negotiate complex commercial and intellectual property agreements
Work with business partners to drive appropriate review and approval processes
Oversee intellectual property matters, including litigation, and development and maintenance of the company’s patent and trademark portfolio
Partner with the executive team on corporate governance matters, including matters related to the Board, shareholders, auditors, regulators, and our foreign subsidiaries
Track and analyze legislative, business and regulatory issues relating to company operations, contractual obligations, and compliance programs
Advise on legal aspects of the company’s financing activities
Manage the company’s corporate insurance program (property, casualty, D&O, etc.)
Develop and implement an overall corporate risk/compliance program
Act as point person for legal disputes involving the company, including those related to intellectual property and commercial matters
Oversee the management and retention of outside counsel
Drive legal processes to control and streamline legal review, documents, approvals and record keeping
Counsel management on global employment and HR matters

Desired Education, Skills & Experience

10+ years of total legal experience, with at least 3+ years in-house legal experience
Deep background in drafting and negotiating supplier and customer agreements, intellectual property and technology licenses, and service and development agreements on a domestic and international level
Excellent communication, negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills
Experience in scaling a high-growth technology company
Experience with initial public offerings and mergers & acquisitions
Ability to provide clear and concise, business-oriented legal advice
Ability to distill complex situations into actionable recommendations
Excellent interpersonal skills; must have the ability to work with a wide range of people in a collaborative and constructive manner, including with members of the executive, sales, engineering, finance, operations, and human resources teams
Strong organizational skills, and the ability to manage numerous projects in parallel
Strong follow-through and ability to consistently meet deadlines
Common sense and sound business judgment
Highest degree of professional ethics and personal integrity
JD from top tier law school
Member of the California bar