Workstream is a mission-driven company that believes in building premium, modern software solutions for hourly businesses. There are 2.7 billion hourly workers, who make up 80% of the global workforce, but they've been heavily underserved by technology and deserve better. We help local businesses around you hire, manage, and pay qualified workers.
Our customers include leading brands from multiple sectors, including Burger King, Carl's Jr./Hardee's, IHOP, KFC, and Culvers. At series B, we are quickly expanding our product portfolio. We are backed by legendary VCs and industry experts like Founders Fund, BOND, and Coatue.We are a team from UC Berkeley, Cornell, SJTU, Cambridge, NUS, with broad industry experiences from Tencent, Alibaba, Amazon, ByteDance, and more.
Grow With Us
At Workstream, we believe hourly workers deserve better technology. Our platform empowers thousands of restaurants, retailers, and franchises to hire, manage, and pay their teams—and we’re just getting started. With the rise of AI and new business models, we've unlocked massive opportunities, and we’re seeking a sharp, business-minded Product Counsel who builds, not blocks.This isn’t a back-office legal job. You’ll collaborate directly with Product, Engineering, and Go-to-Market teams to shape how our products work—everything from AI-powered hiring tools to new ways for workers to own and grow their careers.
You’ll be the primary legal partner for product development, advising on regulatory requirements, risk mitigation, and creative, business-oriented solutions that allow us to move fast without breaking trust.This role is ideal for someone who:
- Thrives in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
- Builds strong relationships across teams
- Translates complex legal concepts into clear, actionable guidance.
This is a contractor position, with strong potential to evolve into a full-time role based on performance and business needs.
Day In the Life
- Partner with product teams to design legally sound features, including AI/ML-powered services and worker-focused fintech.
- Draft and refine Terms of Service, Privacy Policies, and AI use guidelines that make sense for both businesses and workers.
- Review and negotiate enterprise customer contracts with top franchise brands in the US.
- Create practical frameworks for responsible AI, data privacy, and worker account portability.
- Help the company push boundaries safely with innovative B2B2C models for hourly workers.
- Stay ahead of evolving laws in AI, data privacy, labor, and fintech — and translate them into clear, actionable guidance for the team.
Who You Are
- JD + license to practice in the U.S.
- 6+ years in tech transactions, SaaS product counseling, or in-house legal (startup or high-growth experience a plus).
- Expertise in AI/ML compliance, data privacy (CCPA, CPRA, GDPR), and enterprise SaaS contracts.
- Ability to speak “product” and “engineering”, not just “legalese.”
- A bias for action — you see legal as a growth enabler, not just risk control.
Preferred Skills (Not Required)
- Labor law knowledge for hourly or gig workers.
- Experience with fintech or financial compliance.
- Familiarity with the restaurant, retail, or franchise space.
Why You’ll Love It Here
- You’ll shape legal strategy for cutting-edge AI + SaaS products.
- You’ll work side-by-side with leadership, influencing product roadmaps.
- Competitive pay, equity, and benefits.
- You’ll help millions of hourly workers build better careers.
Salary Range
In compliance with the California Pay Transparency Law, the salary for this role as a contractor is $75 to $100 per hour in San Francisco. This does not include our equity package. When determining a candidate’s compensation, we consider a number of factors including skill set, experience, job scope, and current market data.
Additional Information
Workstream provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. We are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals.
