Legal Counsel (Product & Technology) at AfterShip · Madrid

About Us
AfterShip, a Great Place to Work Certified company, is transforming the global eCommerce landscape. Founded in 2012, AfterShip is a post-purchase SaaS company on a mission to build the world’s leading automation platform for ecommerce merchants.
AfterShip unifies shipping & labels, order tracking, AI predictive delivery, and returns management into one system—giving merchants a single place to manage and automate everything that happens after checkout. By centralizing these workflows, AfterShip enables merchants to reduce customer support inquiries, deliver a more reliable and engaging customer experiences, and unlock incremental revenue at every post-purchase touchpoint.
AfterShip integrates seamlessly with ecommerce platforms including Shopify and TikTok Shop, and connects with more than 1,400 carriers worldwide. Today, over 20,000 businesses—including Samsung, Gymshark, Vivino, Harry’s, Mous, and Rakuten—rely on AfterShip to turn every post-purchase moment into an opportunity to build trust, reduce costs, and drive repeat purchases.
Built for a global market from day one, AfterShip operates with an engineering-driven, internationally distributed team. The company employs more than 450 people across 8 offices, spanning North America, Europe, and Asia, and representing over 20 cities worldwide.
Your Mission:
As Legal Counsel (Product & Technology), you will serve as a strategic partner to our Product and Engineering teams—helping bring innovative products to market while ensuring compliance across global jurisdictions.
This role sits at the intersection of law, technology, and business. You’ll provide practical, business-oriented legal guidance throughout the product lifecycle, translate complex regulatory requirements into actionable advice, and help scale legal frameworks that enable fast, compliant product development.
You’ll collaborate closely with Product, Engineering, Design, and GTM teams across North America, Europe, and APAC—acting as a key bridge across regions, particularly between China-based R&D and global stakeholders.
This is a remote-first role with a preference for candidates who can collaborate across time zones. You may be required to work outside of standard business hours 1–2 times per week to support global teams.
What You’ll Do:
Partner with Product & Engineering: Provide end-to-end legal support across the product lifecycle—from ideation to launch and iteration. Draft and negotiate key agreements including terms of service, licensing agreements, and commercial contracts.
Drive Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management: Translate privacy, data protection, consumer protection, and IP requirements into clear, actionable guidance. Proactively identify risks and advise on mitigation strategies across China, Europe, and North America.
Collaborate Cross-Functionally: Work closely with Product, Engineering, Design, Compliance, Risk, and Policy teams to ensure products meet legal standards while achieving business goals. Act as a bridge between APAC and NA/EU stakeholders.
Build Scalable Legal Processes: Develop and improve internal policies, templates, and workflows to enable faster and more efficient product development while maintaining compliance.
Support Strategic Initiatives: Contribute to high-impact projects such as M&A due diligence, new product launches, and emerging technology assessments (e.g., AI). Partner with external counsel when needed.
Success in this role looks like:
Enabling product teams to ship quickly with clear, practical legal guidance
Proactively identifying and mitigating legal risks across jurisdictions
Building scalable legal frameworks that improve speed and consistency
Becoming a trusted advisor to cross-functional stakeholders globally
Who We're Looking For:
Experience & Qualifications
Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent law degree
Qualified to practice law in China or a major common-law jurisdiction
5–8+ years of legal experience, including 3+ years in-house at a technology company
Strong experience advising on product development, data privacy, and intellectual property
Proficient in Mandarin (speaking, writing)
Technical & Functional Expertise
Deep knowledge of Chinese and international data privacy regulations
Experience drafting and negotiating technology and commercial agreements
Experience working across multiple jurisdictions and global teams
Fluency in both English and Mandarin
Core Skills & Attributes
Strong business judgment with a pragmatic, solution-oriented approach
Excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment
Culturally aware, with the ability to bridge Eastern and Western teams
Self-starter who can operate independently in a remote-first environment
Nice to Have
Privacy certifications (e.g., CIPP/US, CIPP/E, CIPP/C)
Experience with AI/ML regulatory frameworks
Background in eCommerce, logistics, or SaaS platforms
Experience drafting bilingual contracts and policies
At AfterShip, we know great talent doesn’t always fit every requirement. If you’re passionate about our mission and believe you can make an impact, we encourage you to apply.
Why You Should Join Us:
Great Place to Work Certified: We’ve been recognized for our inclusive, values-driven culture that celebrates diversity and collaboration.
Innovative & Inclusive Culture: Started by our software engineer-turned-CEO, AfterShip is built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. We’re a passionate, global team of problem solvers who put egos aside to innovate together. We take immense pride in fostering a culture that’s inclusive, which has allowed us to surround ourselves with the industry's most talented professionals.
Ambitious Mission with Real Impact: Join us in transforming eCommerce by making buying and selling easier for everyone. It’s one of the most dynamic spaces in tech, with limitless opportunities to innovate and grow.
Thrive & Grow: There’s no ceiling to what you can achieve or learn here. We’re committed to empowering your career while advancing together as a company.