Product Counsel at Fivetran

In the rapidly expanding universe of data infrastructure, the legal function is no longer a back-office support unit—it is a critical growth enabler. Fivetran, a company valued at over $5.6 billion and recently joined by dbt Labs, is hiring a Product Counsel to serve as the legal bridge between innovation and risk management. This is not a typical legal compliance role; it is an opportunity to shape how the next generation of data and analytics products are designed, built, and brought to market. For attorneys who thrive at the intersection of law, business, and technology, this role promises high visibility, deep cross-functional exposure, and the chance to influence decisions at the earliest stages of product development.

Why Product Counsel at Fivetran Matters in the AI Era

The broader legal context makes this opening particularly compelling. As regulators worldwide intensify their scrutiny of algorithmic decision-making, data privacy, and AI governance, companies like Fivetran need lawyers who can anticipate issues before they become regulatory headlines. Product counsel occupy a unique vantage point: they are embedded inside the engineering lifecycle, translating abstract legal rules into concrete product choices. This role gains even greater significance following Fivetran's combination with dbt Labs, which positions the merged entity as a dominant force in the data infrastructure layer that powers analytics and AI systems.

Candidates who join during this integration period will help define the legal frameworks that support a newly expanded product portfolio. They will advise on open-source software licensing, privacy obligations, security expectations, and the emerging regulatory boundaries around AI. This is the kind of work that prepares lawyers for eventual leadership roles as General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, or Chief Privacy Officer.

Inside the Role: What Fivetran’s Product Counsel Actually Does

The job description paints a vivid picture of day-to-day responsibilities. The role reports directly to the Director of Legal Product & Strategy and partners with stakeholders across Product, Engineering, Privacy, and Go-To-Market functions. Practically, this means every time an engineer proposes a new feature or a product manager flags a potential privacy concern, the Product Counsel is the first line of legal guidance. The core responsibilities include:

• Advising Product, Engineering, and other cross-functional teams on legal issues throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Reviewing new products, features, and initiatives to provide timely, business-oriented legal guidance that balances risk with innovation speed.
• Counselling on intellectual property, software licensing, privacy, AI, security, and regulatory considerations.
• Developing scalable legal playbooks, policies, and training materials that empower non-legal teams to make informed decisions.
• Partnering with commercial, privacy, security, compliance, and corporate legal colleagues to drive alignment.
• Monitoring emerging legal, regulatory, and industry developments and turning them into actionable advice.

This role will require strong legal judgment, sound business instincts, and the ability to operate independently in a fast-moving technical environment. You will need to translate complex legal issues into practical guidance that helps stakeholders make informed decisions.

What Fivetran Is Really Looking For: Skills and Signals

The ideal candidate is not a traditional litigator or transaction attorney; they are a business-minded legal partner. Fivetran explicitly requires a J.D. and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar, along with 4-7 years of relevant legal experience counselling SaaS companies. This experience threshold signals that the firm wants someone who already understands the commercial realities of subscription software, cloud delivery, and data processing. Beyond the baseline, the following attributes will likely distinguish strong candidates:

• Experience advising on open-source software licensing and governance—a major plus given Fivetran’s product stack.
• Familiarity with AI tools such as Claude or similar to enhance legal workflow efficiency.
• Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to make decisions with incomplete information.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, particularly the capacity to defend risk analysis in front of technical and executive audiences.
• A creative problem-solving mindset that views legal roadblocks as design challenges to be solved collaboratively.

How to Frame Your Application for a Product Counsel Role

Securing an interview at Fivetran requires a resume and cover letter that demonstrate more than legal expertise; they must show product fluency and business impact. Here are practical strategies to craft an application that stands out:

• Quantify your experience: Instead of saying 'advised product teams,' describe the number of product launches you supported and the legal risks you mitigated.
• Showcase any exposure to AI, data privacy, or open-source licensing—even if it was informal or self-directed.
• Refer to the Fivetran-dbt Labs integration in your cover letter to signal genuine interest in the company’s trajectory.
• Highlight examples where you helped accelerate product development without sacrificing legal safeguards.
• Mention your comfort with tools like Jira, Salesforce, and Slack, as these appear in the job posting.

Networking also matters. Because referrals increase an applicant’s chances by as much as 2x according to the posting, reaching out to current or former Fivetran legal team members on LinkedIn can be a decisive step. Engage thoughtfully with their content, request an informational interview, and ask pointed questions about the company’s product roadmap and legal team structure.

Compensation, Perks, and the Hybrid Experience

For a role of this seniority, Fivetran offers a compelling compensation package. The posted New York pay range is $217,494 to $271,867.50 USD, which places it in the upper tier of product counsel positions at high-growth technology companies. The benefits are equally attractive:

• 100% employer-paid medical insurance
• Generous PTO, paid sick time, inclusive parental leave, and a year-end Global Week of Rest
• RSU stock grants
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Monthly cell phone stipend
• Access to a mental health support platform

Additionally, the role is hybrid, requiring two days per week in the company’s New York office. This structure offers the best of both worlds: remote focus for deep work and in-person collaboration for relationship building. For lawyers who value direct mentorship and cross-functional visibility, this hybrid model is ideal.

Career Trajectory: From Product Counsel to Legal Leadership

Product counsel roles are a proven springboard to senior legal positions in technology companies. By embedding yourself in the product lifecycle, you build a portfolio of operational experience that law firm partners rarely have. You become an expert in 'the art of the possible'—knowing when to say no, when to provide alternatives, and when to greenlight innovation. At Fivetran, the integration with dbt Labs creates additional leadership opportunities as the combined company integrates teams, systems, and legal processes. An attorney who helps navigate this transition successfully will be remembered when future leadership roles open up.

Moreover, the legal issues encountered in this role—AI governance, data sovereignty, open-source licensing—are at the cutting edge of modern law. Mastering them positions you to become a sought-after advisor in the market, whether you choose to remain in-house, move to a law firm, or launch your own consultancy. In short, this is not just a job; it is an investment in a future-proof legal career.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the application deadline for this Product Counsel position?

No specific application deadline is mentioned in the LinkedIn posting. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as hiring may proceed on a rolling basis.

2. Does Fivetran offer remote work for this role?

The role is hybrid, requiring two days per week at Fivetran’s New York, NY office, with remote flexibility for the remaining days.

3. What are the key qualifications required for this position?

Applicants must have a J.D., active membership in a U.S. state bar, and 4-7 years of experience counseling SaaS companies. Experience with open-source licensing and AI tools is a bonus.

4. How can I increase my chances of getting hired?

Tailor your resume to highlight product counseling and SaaS experience, secure a referral, and demonstrate genuine enthusiasm for Fivetran’s data infrastructure mission.