Vice President, General Counsel & People

Axiado is building the future of AIpowered digital infrastructure. We are a fastgrowing, wellfunded silicon, systems, and solutions company pioneering a new category of semiconductor called the Trusted Control/Compute Unit (TCU) that combines advanced hardware security, AIdriven resilience and efficiency, and realtime platform management. Our technology protects the world’s most critical infrastructure—from data centers to nextgeneration cloud and AI platforms—by securing systems at the foundation levels of hardware, independent of host CPUs and operating systems. 

Founded in 2019 and now over 150 employees strong, Axiado has evolved into a recognized leader in the convergence of AI, security, and silicon innovation. We partner with and are actively engaged in commercial programs with multiple Tier 1 industry leaders, validating both our technology and our long-term market trajectory. Axiado has also won numerous industry awards for our ground-breaking products and technological innovations, including being named one of Fast Company’s 2025 Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Security, winning the 2025 Global InfoSec Award for Outstanding AI Security Solution, and being named a finalist for the Global Semiconductor Alliance’s 2025 “Start-Up to Watch” award. 

At Axiado, developing breakthrough technology takes more than great engineering—it takes a team of exceptional people who collaborate boldly, challenge assumptions, and take pride in building what comes next. We value curiosity, execution, respect, and a shared desire to make a meaningful impact on the security and reliability of the digital world. 

If you’re driven to innovate, energized by hard problems, and excited to help define the future of secure AI infrastructure, we invite you to apply and join us on this journey. 

This is a full-time, on-site role located at Axiado's San Jose, CA headquarters, combining three areas of executive responsibility: General Counsel, executive ownership of the People/HR function, and operational oversight of Axiado's international subsidiaries and branch offices.

As General Counsel, this role oversees all legal matters for the company, providing expert counsel to senior management and the Board of Directors on corporate governance, contract negotiation, IP strategy, regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and legal transactions.

As executive owner of the People function, this role drives HR strategy, process, and infrastructure appropriate to a fast-growing, venture-backed technology company; the Head of HR reports directly into this role.

As regional operational lead, this role provides operational oversight of Axiado's international subsidiaries (excluding R&D and sales), including direct or dotted-line reporting relationships with Site Managers covering local entity governance, compliance, labor relations, and facilities/vendor matters.

Key Responsibilities

Legal & Corporate Governance

• Serve as the company's principal legal advisor to the CEO, executive team, and Board of Directors.
• Manage corporate governance and board and stockholder matters.
• Lead contract negotiations and management across commercial, licensing, vendor, and partner agreements.
• Support IP strategy and IP portfolio management, including patents, trademarks, and trade secrets.
• Design and implement compliance programs and oversee regulatory compliance, including product compliance, export control and data protection obligations relevant to a semiconductor and security technology company.
• Manage and continuously improve cybersecurity management controls.\ Identify and mitigate legal risk across the business; structure and close transactions, including financings, M&A, and strategic partnerships.

People & HR Leadership

• Serve as the executive owner of the People function; the Head of HR reports directly to this role.
• Drive the development and maturation of HR infrastructure, policy, and processes appropriate to a fast-growing company of this stage.
• Own full-cycle HR outcomes: hiring and offer approval, compensation and leveling integrity, benefits, terminations, and employee relations.
• Drive headcount planning and organizational design in partnership with department leaders.Ensure HR policy and practice align with employment law across all jurisdictions in which Axiado operates.

International Subsidiary & Regional Operations Oversight

• Provide operational oversight of Axiado's international subsidiaries and branch offices including direct or dotted-line reporting relationships with Site Managers covering local entity governance, compliance, labor relations, and facilities/vendor matters.
• Drive local entity statutory compliance, local company filings/records, export-controls and trade compliance, local cybersecurity/physical security posture, and facilities/vendor governance.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Collaborate with executive leadership to align legal, people, and regional operational strategies with business objectives.
• Uphold legal, ethical, and compliance standards across the organization globally.

• Substantial experience in the technology or cybersecurity sectors.
• Extensive experience with corporate governance, compliance, contract negotiation, risk assessment, and regulatory law.
• Strong knowledge of intellectual property law and IP portfolio management.
• Experience overseeing international subsidiary legal and business affairs.
• Excellent leadership, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal abilities.
• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Bar membership in good standing, with eligibility to practice law in California.
• Comfortable operating as a hands-on player-coach across multiple functions simultaneously, in a fast-paced, resource-constrained environment with evolving priorities.

Compensation Range - $180,000 - $250000

Axiado is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining the highest caliber talent in a diverse and multifaceted environment. We are headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley, with access to the world's leading research, technology and talent.

We are building an exceptional team to secure every node on the internet. For us, solving real-world problems takes precedence over purely theoretical problems. As a result, we prefer individuals with persistence, intelligence and high curiosity over pedigree alone. Working hard and smart, continuous learning and mutual support are all part of who we are.

Axiado is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Axiado does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.