About Docker
Docker has been one of the most loved brands in developer tooling, trusted by more than 20 million monthly users and over 20 billion container image pulls. From solo founders to the world's largest companies, developers rely on Docker to build, share, and run their applications across our suite of products including Docker Desktop, Docker Hub, and Docker Scout.
We are a globally distributed, remote-first team building the tools that define how software gets built and delivered. As AI agents redefine software development, Docker is at the center of that shift, providing the sandboxed environments, verified images, and secure infrastructure that make autonomous workflows trustworthy by default.
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The Principal Product & Commercial Counsel will report to Docker's Head of Legal. This is a hybrid role at the intersection of product counseling and commercial negotiation. You will serve as the primary legal partner to Docker's Product Management and Engineering teams across the full product lifecycle, from concept and design through launch, monetization, and end of life, while also assisting with negotiating the commercial provisions that bring those products to market. Your subject matter depth in open source software licensing and cloud services will directly impact how Docker builds, licenses, and delivers its products to millions of developers and thousands of enterprise customers worldwide.
Your work will be instrumental in helping the Company reach its growth objectives while protecting its intellectual property and managing product and licensing risk. This position will be a core member of the extended Legal team, working cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, GRC, Sales, and Deal Desk, with exposure to Docker's senior executives and the opportunity to grow beyond the initial responsibilities and role based on expanding company needs.
Responsibilities:
Primary function will be to serve as embedded product counsel to Docker's Product Managers and Engineering teams, providing pragmatic, business-oriented advice on new products, features, pricing and packaging changes, Early Access and beta programs, and end-of-life decisions.
Advise on open source software matters, including license analysis and compatibility (Apache, MIT, BSD, GPL, LGPL, AGPL, and source-available licenses), inbound and outbound OSS usage, contribution and CLA policies, and compliance obligations across Docker's products and distribution channels.
Secondary function as needed, draft and maintain Docker's product-facing legal terms, including service-specific terms, subscription and licensing agreements, Early Access and beta terms, fair use and acceptable use policies, and documentation supporting new monetization models.
Structure and negotiate commercial provisions in customer and partner agreements relating to product licensing, cloud services, hybrid on-premise and SaaS deployments, IP ownership, indemnification, warranties, and support commitments, in partnership with Sales and Deal Desk.
Counsel on AI-enabled product features, including training data provenance, output ownership, third-party model licensing, and evolving AI regulatory requirements.
Collaborate with GRC on the intersection of product design and regulatory obligations, including software supply chain security expectations and emerging regimes such as the EU Cyber Resilience Act.
Support IP strategy, including trademark usage guidelines, brand protection in product and marketing contexts, and coordination with outside counsel on IP matters.
Monitor and analyze legal and regulatory developments affecting developer tools, open source, cloud services, and AI, advising the organization on necessary updates and adjustments.
Help build scalable playbooks, templates, and self-service resources that allow Product and GTM teams to move quickly within well-defined guardrails.
Qualifications:
J.D. from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing in at least one U.S. state bar.
6+ years of relevant legal experience, with a meaningful portion in-house at a software, cloud, or developer tools company; a combination of law firm and in-house experience is ideal.
Deep familiarity with open source software licensing, including copyleft and permissive license regimes, license compatibility analysis, and OSS program governance.
Hands-on experience drafting and negotiating SaaS, software licensing, and cloud services agreements, including enterprise customer negotiations of IP, indemnity, and liability provisions.
Working technical fluency with developer software concepts such as virtual containers, registries, CI/CD, APIs, and software supply chain security; direct familiarity with Docker's products or comparable developer platforms is a strong plus.
Understanding of AI and LLM legal issues, including model licensing, training data, and applicable regulatory frameworks such as the EU AI Act.
AI-Native work capability.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable guidance for Product Managers and Engineers.
Sound, risk-calibrated judgment and a bias toward practical solutions that enable the business.
Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment and to manage competing priorities independently.
Ability to collaborate with diverse teams and build strong working relationships.
What to expect
First 30 days
Meet with the Head of Legal to understand Docker's product, licensing, and IP vision.
Read Docker's product terms, subscription agreements, and OSS policies.
Read Docker's Legal, Products, and security-related Notion pages.
Become familiar with Docker's product portfolio, licensing models, and distribution channels.
Forge relationships with Docker's Product Management, Engineering, GRC, Deal Desk, and Sales teams.
Begin reviewing product feature launches and customer requests for product-related commercial terms.
First 90 days
Take ownership of the legal review process for new product and feature launches.
Establish a formalized intake and review cadence with Product Management for roadmap items with legal implications.
Deliver a fact and data driven assessment of Docker's product terms and OSS compliance posture with a 6 month and 12 month improvement roadmap.
Lead the negotiation of product and licensing provisions in active customer and partner deals as assigned by the Head of Legal.
Collaborate with Docker counsel on customer contractual requests relating to licensing, IP, and cloud services and provide feedback.
Become familiar with Docker's Compliance program and controls.
First year
You have maintained an appropriate meeting cadence with Docker's Product Management, Engineering, GRC, Deal Desk, and Sales teams.
You have provided a monthly update report to the Head of Legal for eStaff updates.
You have built and deployed playbooks and templates that streamline product legal review and commercial negotiations to meet the demands of domestic and international growth.
You have built the brand of the product legal function as a trusted partner, industry leader, and facilitator of Docker's growth and customer satisfaction.
Docker does not offer visa sponsorship for this role.
Compensation & Equity
United States: $178,500– $255,000 + equity
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Posting Information
Open vacancy: This posting is for an existing open role.
AI in hiring: Docker may use AI-assisted tools during our recruiting process.
Interview recordings: Candidates will be invited to opt in to interview recordings to support interviewer calibration and consistent evaluations. Recordings are optional and require explicit consent.
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Perks & Benefits
Remote-first by design – Work from your home, with offices in Seattle and Paris for connection and collaboration.
Flexibility that fits your life – We trust you to manage your schedule while delivering great work.
Time to recharge – Generous PTO, designated quarterly Whaleness Days, and a designated end-of-year Whaleness break.
Home office support – Set up your workspace for comfort and success.
Technology stipend – Equivalent to US$100 net per month to help support your work.
Learning & development – Annual stipend for conferences, courses, certifications, and continued learning.
Parental leave – 16 weeks of paid parental leave after six months of employment.
Equity for all full-time employees – Share in Docker's long-term success as we continue to grow.
Comprehensive benefits – Medical, retirement, and paid holidays vary by country.
Docker swag – Because representing the whale never gets old.
Docker is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a team that reflects a broad range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe diverse teams build better products, make better decisions, and better serve our global community.
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