Associate General Counsel @ Leading AI & Defense-Tech Startup
Associate General Counsel @ Leading AI & Defense-Tech Startup at Whistler Partners — Washington, District of Columbia, United States
- Company: Whistler Partners
- Location: Washington, District of Columbia, United States
- Employment type: FULL_TIME
- Salary: USD 200000–250000 / year
- Posted: 2026-06-17
About this role
About the Company
This company operates at the forefront of advanced AI and defense technology, building systems that support mission-critical decision making across some of the world’s most complex operational environments.
Backed by top-tier investors and currently at the Series B stage, the company supports both government and commercial customers at scale. The environment is ambitious, fast-moving, and highly technical — with a strong emphasis on ownership, autonomy, and building alongside elite operators.
Job Overview
Join a lean legal team in a highly visible Associate General Counsel role serving as the strategic right hand to the General Counsel.
This is a broad, high-impact position for someone who enjoys operating with real ownership and helping build legal infrastructure from the ground up. You will work directly with leadership across both the defense and commercial sides of the business while advising on a wide range of corporate, commercial, operational, and strategic matters.
The role is ideal for someone who thrives in challenging environments, moves comfortably through ambiguity, and wants to play a meaningful role inside a scaling technology company.
Key Responsibilities
Lead end-to-end commercial contracting across customer, vendor, and strategic partner agreements
Support both government and commercial business units on day-to-day legal matters
Partner on broader corporate governance and compliance initiatives
Manage stock plan administration, equity grants, board consents, and related documentation
Advise on employment and operational legal matters, including internal policy and HR-related issues
Build scalable legal processes and operational systems, including NDA and workflow management
Support international legal matters as the company continues global expansion
Act as a trusted advisor and cross-functional partner to leadership teams across the organization
About You
JD + active bar membership
Approximately 5–8 years of experience across both law firm and in-house environments
Meaningful in-house experience at a high-growth technology company strongly preferred
Strong commercial contracting and general corporate experience
Comfortable operating independently in lean, fast-moving environments
Business-oriented mindset with a pragmatic approach to problem solving
Strong judgment, intellectual curiosity, and ability to navigate ambiguity
Someone energized by difficult challenges and building alongside ambitious teams
Compensation & Location
Base salary expected in the $200K–$250K range, plus meaningful equity upside and full benefits.
Hybrid flexibility from Boston, DC, or Denver.
About Whistler Partners
Matchmakers, Not Headhunters
Whistler Partners is a boutique matchmaking firm focused on counseling the best and the brightest attorneys over the course of their careers. We believe that the right move comes from working closely with talent to curate their long-term career paths. When it comes to career advice, what matters is not the size of the agency but the strength of your individual recruiter.
We readily admit that we are elite and only work with the best – after all, a little elitism is okay when it comes to your career. Employers love us because we are picky about whom we represent, and attorneys love us because we get them their dream jobs.
Interested?
This search is being led by Allison Hill at Whistler Partners. Please contact them for a confidential conversation.