Requirements & tools
Datadog
The Privacy Counsel at Datadog supports product and engineering teams by conducting privacy and AI risk assessments for new features and launches, embedding privacy-by-design principles into product development processes. Core responsibilities include reviewing and negotiating DPAs, BAAs, and data-related contract terms (handling sophisticated redlines and advising on GDPR and US data protection laws); maintaining and scaling Datadog’s privacy program including policies, notices, customer-facing documentation, contractual templates, and M&A privacy diligence; contributing to Datadog’s AI governance program (developing internal policies, guidance on responsible AI use, monitoring emerging AI regulatory developments); supporting privacy compliance for customers in regulated industries (healthcare, financial services); and monitoring global privacy, data protection, cybersecurity, and AI laws. Required: JD from an accredited law school, active US bar membership, 3+ years of relevant privacy experience (ideally with both product counseling and commercial negotiations), familiarity with SaaS and cloud infrastructure, working knowledge of US state and federal privacy regulations, GDPR, and the EU AI Act. Strong asset: CIPP/E, CIPP/US, and/or AIGP certification.
Role context
Privacy Counsel at scaled SaaS infrastructure companies operate at the intersection of product engineering, customer contracts, and emerging AI regulation. At Datadog, this role joins the Privacy Legal team supporting global data privacy and AI governance programs across product, engineering, information security, employment, and marketing functions. The position offers exposure to novel questions where privacy law, security standards, and AI development meet — increasingly central to enterprise SaaS legal practice. Required credentials include JD plus active US bar membership and 3+ years of privacy experience. Hybrid New York office with three coordinated in-office days per week.
Quick facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Is prior SaaS or cloud infrastructure experience required for this Privacy Counsel role?
Familiarity with SaaS and cloud infrastructure concepts is listed as required, but not deep technical fluency. Privacy counsel from regulated industries (financial services, healthcare) or other tech companies typically pick up SaaS-specific frameworks quickly. The harder requirement is the combination of product counseling experience and commercial contract negotiation depth.
How important are CIPP/E, CIPP/US, and AIGP certifications?
Listed as 'strong asset' rather than required. In practice, most successful Privacy Counsel candidates at Datadog's tier of company hold at least one IAPP certification. CIPP/E is typical for GDPR-heavy practices; CIPP/US for US-state privacy work; AIGP is newer and increasingly valued as AI governance becomes central. Datadog supports certification pursuit on the job.
How does AI governance work fit into a Privacy Counsel role at Datadog?
Datadog's AI governance program is a distinct workstream within Privacy Legal. The Privacy Counsel contributes by developing internal AI use policies, monitoring EU AI Act and US state AI regulations, evaluating new product AI features for risk, and advising customer-facing teams on AI feature disclosures. Roughly 20-30% of the role focuses on AI governance specifically; the rest is core privacy work.