Sr. Counsel

Job Description

Tesla is seeking an experienced counsel to work on vehicle safety, compliance and homologation, government reporting, and supporting service and engineering.  You will provide strategic policy and business development advice and counsel pertaining to Tesla’s business and products through existing and new regulatory regimes.  Duties will include traditional functions such as monitoring, advice and counsel regarding new product development, general regulatory support, as well as strategic advising on policy development and advocacy associated with regulations affecting the automotive industry, including autonomous vehicles and ride-hailing. As Sr. Counsel, Regulatory, you will ensure compliance with applicable federal and state rules, regulations, and statutory requirements. You will also assist in the development of new laws and policy with those agencies and other entities.  The role includes a combination of law, policy, and advocacy. At the direction of the company, the successful candidate works independently in performing legal and policy tasks that are broad in scope. Work location can be assigned to our Palo Alto, CA, Austin, TX, or Washington, DC, office. The Palo Alto location is preferred.

Job Responsibilities

• Advise on and directly support regulatory investigations and inquiries in all markets, interactions with regulators, and other reporting obligations (e.g., TREAD, CAFE, recall reporting, etc.)
• Advise on and mitigate risk associated with compliance- and safety-related matters
• Support and advise Homologation, Engineering, Service, and Autopilot departments in the development of new vehicles and prototypes, associated hardware and software, and related programs and business strategy
• Advise on newly enacted laws relating to the automotive, autonomous vehicle and ride-hailing industries, as well as shape forward-looking policy on this subject matter
• Make recommendations on complex legal problems and determine when a legal matter requires consultation or coordination with Tesla leadership, regulators, commercial organizations, and/or outside counsel

Job Requirements

• Juris Doctor Degree from an ABA accredited law school and an active member of a state bar and in good standing
• 6-10+ years of experience in regulatory, government relations, and/or product liability
• Ability to absorb and synthesize a wide variety of laws and regulations
• Ability to exercise business and legal judgment with strong problem-solving, research, and project management skills, and work closely with the business
• Preferably, experience working for an automaker, auto supplier, autonomous driving technology company, government safety agency, or law firm supporting the same
• Preferably, having an engineering or technical background, and/or significant transportation or vehicle safety experience
• Preferably, experience working for a ride-hailing transportation company, and/or significant experience advising on a ride-haling program, ride-hailing regulations and permitting requirements