Associate General Counsel, Commercial and Employment

The Nuclear Company is the fastest growing AI tech-enabled startup in the nuclear and energy space, pioneering a fleet-scale approach to building the next generation of nuclear reactors. Through our design-once, build-many model, we're accelerating the deployment of safe, reliable, and affordable nuclear energy.

We operate with an AI-first mindset. Every employee is expected to leverage AI, technology, and the Nuclear Operating System (NOS) as integral components of their role to improve the quality, speed, and impact of their work. We expect every team member to continuously identify opportunities to automate workflows, enhance decision-making, improve processes, and contribute to the ongoing evolution of NOS as a strategic operating capability that enables The Nuclear Company to scale with excellence.

We hire people who are driven by purpose, thrive in ambiguity, and are energized by building what has never been built before. Our team combines intellectual curiosity with high agency, embraces candid feedback and continuous learning, and holds themselves and others to exceptional standards. Our values—Transparency, Responsibility, Unity, Scrappy, and Tenacity—guide how we hire, collaborate, and make decisions every day. They are not words on a wall; they are the standard by which we operate. TRUST is the foundation of our safety culture, fostering intellectual honesty, accountability, and open communication, while our values challenge every team member to execute with urgency, humility, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to our mission.

About the role

We are seeking an Associate General Counsel, Commercial and Employment to help build and scale the legal capabilities supporting our commercial activities and growing workforce. You will lead complex commercial negotiations and serve as a trusted advisor to our People team and business leaders on employment matters. 

This is a hands-on role for an attorney who brings sound judgment, strong business instincts, and practical solutions to a fast-moving environment. You will translate complex legal issues into clear recommendations, help teams move quickly and responsibly, and build processes that support growth across technology, nuclear energy, and physical infrastructure. 

Responsibilities

Lead Commercial Contracting 

• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, including vendor, procurement, professional services, consulting, technology, software, licensing, and strategic partnership agreements. 

• Partner with Finance, Procurement, Engineering, Technology, and Operations to structure transactions that support business objectives and appropriately allocate risk. 

• Advise on key contractual issues, including indemnification, liability, insurance, intellectual property, confidentiality, data protection, performance obligations, and termination rights. 

• Support construction and infrastructure-related contracting in partnership with subject matter experts and outside counsel. 

• Manage commercial disputes and contract interpretation questions, helping teams resolve issues and maintain productive business relationships. 

Employment and Workforce 

• Serve as a primary legal partner to the People and Talent Acquisition teams on matters spanning recruiting, hiring, compensation, performance management, employee relations, and separations. 

• Draft and review employment-related agreements, including offer letters, employment and consulting agreements, confidentiality and intellectual property agreements, and separation agreements. 

• Advise on workforce policies and practices, including wage and hour compliance, employee classification, leaves and accommodations, and workplace conduct. 

• Guide sensitive workplace investigations and employment disputes, partnering with People leadership and outside counsel as appropriate. 

• Support workforce expansion across jurisdictions and employee populations, including corporate, technical, field, and represented workforces. 

• Advise on the employment aspects of acquisitions, organizational changes, and workforce integration, including diligence, retention, and policy alignment. 

Legal Operations and Business Partnership 

• Build scalable contract templates, negotiation playbooks, approval processes, and employment guidance that improve consistency and execution. 

• Provide practical training to managers and business teams on contracting, employment practices, and when to involve Legal. 

• Coordinate with regulatory, compliance, and nuclear subject matter experts to ensure commercial and workforce decisions reflect applicable requirements. 

• Manage outside counsel effectively, balancing expertise, responsiveness, and cost. 

• Use AI and legal technology thoughtfully to streamline workflows, improve work quality, and strengthen knowledge management while protecting confidential information. 

Required Experience

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar. 

• 15+ years of relevant legal experience, with substantial responsibility for negotiating complex commercial agreements. 

• Experience supporting a highly regulated or technically complex business, such as energy, nuclear, infrastructure, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, or enterprise technology. 

• Strong command of commercial risk allocation and the ability to connect contract language to operational and financial outcomes. 

• Demonstrated success improving contracting processes, implementing legal technology, or building legal operations capabilities. 

• Experience working directly with engineers, procurement professionals, project leaders, and executives turning complex requirements into workable agreements. 

• An AI-first mindset, with sound judgment about where technology can improve legal work and where attorney review remains essential. 

• High ownership, clear communication, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a rapidly growing company. 

Benefits

• Competitive compensation packages
• 401k with company match
• Medical, dental, vision plans
• Generous vacation policy, plus holidays

Estimated Starting Salary Range
The estimated starting salary range for this role is $242,000 - $274,000 annually less applicable withholdings and deductions, paid on a bi-weekly basis. The actual salary offered may vary based on relevant factors as determined in the Company’s discretion, which may include experience, qualifications, tenure, skill set, availability of qualified candidates, geographic location, certifications held, and other criteria deemed pertinent to the particular role. 

EEO Statement
The Nuclear Company is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an environment of inclusion in the workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We prohibit discrimination in all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, compensation, and termination.