Overview

Microsoft’s Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs (CELA) organization is seeking a Senior Corporate Counsel to support product security and secure‑by‑design efforts across Microsoft Security’s AI and cloud product portfolio. This role partners closely with product engineering and security teams to provide legal guidance throughout the product lifecycle - from design and development through launch, incident response, and ongoing operations.

The Senior Corporate Counsel will serve as a trusted advisor to engineering and security leaders, helping teams navigate security, regulatory, and risk considerations while enabling innovation and responsible product delivery at scale.

Responsibilities Responsibilities

• Partner with product security and engineering teams to provide legal guidance across the product lifecycle, including feature development, security reviews, launches, and ongoing operations.
• Advise on how to operationalize security, compliance, and regulatory requirements within product design and development processes, consistent with Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative and internal governance expectations.
• Interpret and apply global cybersecurity, product security, and technology regulatory requirements to product and engineering decisions.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional stakeholders across security, privacy, compliance, and legal teams to drive aligned, scalable legal solutions.
• Support security incident and event response by advising on legal risk, regulatory considerations, and coordination across teams.

Qualifications Required/minimum qualifications

• Juris Doctor Degree or international equivalent degree AND 6+ years experience as a practicing attorney
• OR equivalent experience.
• Active license to practice law in a jurisdiction and capable of meeting admission requirements in relevant jurisdiction.

Additional or preferred qualifications

• 8+ years of legal experience, including experience advising technical, engineering, or product organizations.
• Experience counseling on complex technologies such as cloud services, platforms, or AI‑enabled products.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment and deliver practical legal guidance in fast‑paced and ambiguous environments.
• Collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal and technical issues into clear, actionable advice.
• Familiarity with security frameworks and standards such as NIST, ISO, SOC, or secure development lifecycle principles.
• Experience working in highly matrixed environments and partnering effectively across disciplines.

Legal Counsel IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $147,000 - $258,000 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $185,900 - $278,900 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.