General Counsel

Job description

**Company Overview** **Ambiq** is on a mission to enable intelligence everywhere — powering the AI edge revolution with the world's lowest-power semiconductor solutions. Built on our proprietary sub- and near-threshold technology, our chips deliver multi-fold improvements in energy efficiency without costly process scaling. Since 2010, we've shipped over 300 million units to customers building smarter wearables, medical devices, IoT products, and AI-powered edge applications. Our cross-functional teams span design, research, development, production, marketing, sales, and operations across Austin, Hsinchu, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Singapore. We move fast, tackle hard problems, and create space for people to grow through complex, meaningful work that shapes the future of technology. We're looking for self-motivated, creative problem-solvers who are eager to push technological limits and make a real impact in energy efficiency. At Ambiq, we live by five values: **Innovate. Collaborate. Focus. Learn. Achieve.** If that's you, join us — the intelligence everywhere revolution starts here. **Scope** Ambiq stands at a pivotal moment. Following a successful IPO, the company is accelerating its mission to enable intelligent devices everywhere — from wearables and IoT endpoints to medical-grade sensors running on harvested energy. The technology is real, the traction is global, and the trajectory is steep. As Ambiq's General Counsel, you won't inherit a legal department. You'll build one. This is a rare opportunity to shape the governance, compliance, and risk architecture of a company redefining what's possible at the silicon level — at the exact moment those frameworks matter most. The role demands a seasoned legal mind who is equally comfortable in the boardroom and the trenches: someone who can translate complex regulatory terrain to help support clear business decisions. A resilient self-starter who combines sharp instincts with the composure to navigate ambiguity and pushback. So is genuine excitement about the work. Reporting directly to the CEO, the General Counsel will serve as a trusted advisor to the executive team and Board during a transformative stage — for Ambiq and for the semiconductor industry as a whole. **Responsibilities** **Legal Strategy & Corporate Governance** - Develop and own Ambiq's enterprise legal strategy — one that anticipates risk before it materializes and accelerates growth rather than constraining it. - Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial agreements with customers, partners, suppliers, and investors across multiple jurisdictions. - Establish governance frameworks that meet post-IPO standards while preserving the agility that defines Ambiq's culture. **Intellectual Property & Technology** - Advise on the strategic growth and optimization of Ambiq’s global IP portfolio — including patents, trade secrets, trademarks, and licensing — to ensure semiconductor innovations are well-protected and effectively leveraged for commercial value. - Advise on the structuring and negotiation of technology transactions, joint ventures, strategic alliances, and licensing agreements to strengthen Ambiq’s competitive position. - Assess and manage IP risks in customer contracts, supplier relationships, and competitive landscape — anticipating infringement issues before they become disputes. **Compliance & Risk Management** - Architect and oversee a proactive compliance program covering U.S. and international regulations — including ITAR/EAR export controls, trade sanctions, data privacy (GDPR, CCPA), immigration, and labor law across Ambiq's global footprint. - Cultivate a culture of compliance through policy development, executive education, and company-wide training that makes doing the right thing the path of least resistance. - Identify emerging regulatory trends — particularly in semiconductor export controls, foreign investment review (CFIUS), and global trade — and shape Ambiq's posture before regulations become constraints. - Oversee litigation strategy, regulatory matters, and disputes with a bias toward early resolution and minimum business disruption. **Corporate Transactions & Capital Markets** - Ensure full compliance with securities laws as a public company: SEC reporting, insider trading policies, Reg FD, and shareholder communications. - Lead legal due diligence and deal structuring for M&A, strategic investments, and partnership transactions — balancing speed with rigor. **Employment, People & Culture** - Advise HR leadership on legal considerations related to equity programs and executive compensation, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and broader business objectives. - Advise on employment law issues spanning multiple jurisdictions, including global workforce compliance, executive compensation, restrictive covenants, and reductions in force. - Partner with HR leadership to build people policies that are legally sound, competitive in the talent market, and reflective of Ambiq's values. - Provide pragmatic, timely counsel on sensitive employee relations matters — balancing legal exposure with human judgment. **External Counsel & Litigation Management** - Select, deploy, and actively manage outside counsel across specialized practices — holding firms to high standards of quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. - Direct litigation strategy with a strong preference for early identification, active management, and decisive resolution. - Develop an outside counsel framework that scales appropriately with Ambiq's growth while maintaining control over legal spend. **Qualifications** - Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited U.S. law school; active bar license in good standing. - 12+ years of legal experience, with significant in-house counsel leadership at a semiconductor or high-tech company — ideally including tenure at a top-tier firm advising technology clients. - Demonstrated expertise in corporate governance, complex commercial agreements, global IP protection, and regulatory compliance. - Deep knowledge of semiconductor-specific legal terrain: export controls (ITAR/EAR), CFIUS, supply chain risk, and technology licensing in global markets. - Proven ability to lead high-stakes transactions including M&A, equity financings, and cross-border partnerships. - Strong employment law foundation with experience advising on global workforce matters and executive compensation. - Thick skin and sound judgment — the ability to deliver difficult messages clearly, hold a position under pressure, and earn trust through honesty rather than accommodation. - Business acumen that matches legal expertise: you understand how deals get done, what risks are acceptable, and how to advise without unnecessarily slowing the business. - Proven leadership in building legal teams, creating processes, and scaling a function in a fast-growth environment. - High integrity, sharp instincts, and the temperament to thrive in a fast-paced, engineering-led culture. **Preferred Qualifications** - Experience supporting a company's post-IPO transition — SEC reporting, public company governance, and Reg FD compliance. - Deep familiarity with semiconductor IP strategy, including patent portfolio management, design-around analysis, and licensing structures. - Track record of managing cross-border legal matters across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North American markets simultaneously. - Experience advising on AI, edge computing, or IoT regulatory matters — areas increasingly intersecting with Ambiq's product roadmap. - Background or comfort in government affairs and standards bodies relevant to the semiconductor industry. **This role will be on-site 5 days a week in NW Austin.**