Job Description: General Counsel
Industry: Semiconductor / High‑Tech Manufacturing
Location: Hybrid/Fremont Office
Mattson Technology is a global company with nearly 30 years of experience delivering leading-edge technology and products in the Dry Strip, Plasma and Thermal markets to our customers. While we consider Silicon Valley our roots, we have evolved into a worldwide organization that includes manufacturing, research and development, customer support, finance and sales operations throughout Asia, Europe and North America.
Our success is a result, in large part, to the highly qualified and dedicated employees at Mattson Technology. Our employees represent a diverse group of individuals, committed to working as a team to deliver on our commitments. We value the ingenuity, flexibility, passion, knowledge and “can do” attitude that our employees exemplify daily.
We encourage you to consider a career at Mattson Technology. Mattson Technology recognizes that to recruit and retain a team of highly qualified employees, we must invest in our employees and therefore, we offer a comprehensive employee benefits package.
Position Summary: The General Counsel serves as the primary legal advisor to the organization, providing strategic guidance on all legal, regulatory, and compliance matters impacting the business. In this role, you will partner closely with executive leadership to protect the company’s interests, ensure compliance with federal and California state laws, support global operations, and enable business growth in a highly regulated and competitive semiconductor market.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Cross‑Functional Partnership
- Serve as a strategic legal advisor to the CEO, executive team, and Board of Directors, shaping company direction and supporting high‑impact decision‑making.
- Lead and manage the Legal Department, including oversight of outside counsel, resource allocation, and legal budget management to ensure cost‑effective operations.
- Build strong partnerships with Engineering, Operations, Sales, Service, Finance, HR, IT, and Product teams to enable business execution and drive organizational alignment.
- Provide clear, practical, and solutions‑oriented legal guidance that balances risk with operational realities and accelerates business outcomes.
- Act as a trusted, proactive advisor to leadership, contributing to strategy development, risk planning, and enterprise‑wide initiatives.
Litigation & Risk Management
- Manage litigation, arbitration, and disputes; select, direct, and evaluate external counsel.
- Oversee legal spend and manage litigation budgets, including forecasting, insurer‑covered matters, deductible strategy, and cost‑control measures with panel counsel.
- Develop and maintain frameworks to assess, mitigate, and monitor legal and operational risk.
- Advise on insurance coverage, claims handling, and enterprise risk‑mitigation strategies.
Intellectual Property (IP) Strategy
- Oversee IP protection in partnership with outside counsel, engineering and R&D teams.
- Manage patent portfolio strategy, trade secret protection, and IP litigation.
- Ensure safeguarding of proprietary technology critical to competitive advantage.
Governance, Regulatory & Compliance Oversight
- Oversee all corporate governance functions, including board documentation, shareholder matters, entity management, and maintenance of company policies and legal infrastructure.
- Ensure compliance with federal, California, and international laws applicable to semiconductor manufacturing and global operations, including:
- – Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) requirements
- – Export controls and trade compliance (EAR/ITAR)
- – Data privacy and security laws (CCPA/CPRA, GDPR where applicable)
- – Employment and labor regulations
- Develop, implement, and maintain company‑wide compliance programs, internal audits, and employee training frameworks.
- Structure and negotiate investment, financing, and equity transactions to support corporate growth and strategic initiatives.
Commercial Enablement & Contract Management
- Drive sales enablement by providing pragmatic, risk‑aligned legal guidance that accelerates deal closure, supports global customer negotiations, and removes contractual roadblocks to revenue.
- Support global sales operations with risk assessments and contract structuring.
- Oversee contracts function; draft, negotiate, and review complex commercial agreements, including:
- Supplier and vendor agreements
- Customer sales contracts (domestic & international)
- IP licensing agreements
- OEM/ODM partnerships
- NDAs, SOWs, OEM supply chain agreements
Employment & Labor Relations Support
- Advise on HR matters, including hiring, terminations, performance issues, investigations, wage and hour compliance, and California-specific employment laws.
- Support HR with policy updates, employee handbook reviews, and compliance training.
- Guide the company through disputes, claims, or agency filings (EEOC, DFEH, OSHA, etc.).
Qualifications
Education & Licensing
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
- Active membership in the California State Bar (required).
Experience
- 15+ years of legal practice, at least 5 years in‑house at a technology or semiconductor company.
- Deep understanding of semiconductor industry regulations, supply chain dynamics, and IP considerations.
- Experience overseeing complex commercial agreements and global business operations.
- Track record leading litigation, compliance programs, and cross-functional initiatives.
- Experience supporting HR and employment law matters in California (strongly preferred).
Skills & Competencies
- Exceptional negotiation, communication, and strategic advisory skills.
- Ability to operate autonomously in a fast-paced, engineering‑driven environment.
- Strong business judgment with an ability to translate legal concepts into practical actions.
- High integrity, discretion, and commitment to ethical business practices.
- Proven leadership capability and comfort influencing at executive and board levels.
Success Profile
A successful General Counsel in a semiconductor company in California is:
- Strategic: Able to anticipate legal risks and opportunities in a rapidly changing global market.
- Business‑minded: Understands manufacturing, supply chain, and technical product lifecycles.
- Hands‑on: Comfortable rolling up sleeves to review contracts, solve operational issues, and support HR.
- Calm under pressure: Skilled at crisis management, regulatory surprises, and urgent customer escalations.
- Collaborative: Builds trust across engineering, operations, HR, and executive leadership.
Compensation
The compensation range for this position is $250k- $280k for San Francisco Bay Area based candidates. Candidates will also be able to participate in Mattson's annual bonus program.
Equal Opportunity Employer Mattson Inc. is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
