Location: Chicago

🌍 We’re making security suck less for developers.

Security tools haven’t kept up with how software is built today. They interrupt teams, slow releases, and turn security into a bottleneck instead of a capability. We built Aikido to change that. Aikido builds developer-first security products that reduce real risk without getting in the way of shipping software. We focus on what actually matters and automate the rest.

We’re taking on legacy security tools teams have been stuck with, and we’re winning. If you want to help us take market share and build products developers actually enjoy using, you’re in the right place.

Founded in 2022 by third-time founders, Aikido has $85M in the bank and a long runway ahead. We’re building toward self-securing software. Join an all-star team. Take real ownership. Push boundaries. Build things that matter.

We’re looking for a Contracts & People Operations Manager based in our Chicago office who can own commercial legal workflows while also supporting people operations for our US team. This is a hands-on role for someone who thrives in high-growth environments and knows how to add structure without slowing the business down.

• This is not a paralegal-only role.

• This is not a full attorney role.

• This is a hands-on operator role for someone who can support both commercial legal work and core people operations in a fast-moving environment.

Responsibilities

Commercial Legal/Contracts

• Own the lifecycle of customer, vendor, and partner agreements

• Review, redline, and negotiate contracts with enterprise and mid-market customers

• Partner closely with Sales to unblock deals quickly and responsibly

• Maintain and improve contract templates, playbooks, and approval workflows

• Ensure alignment with security, privacy, and compliance standards

• Manage contract tracking, documentation, and external counsel coordination

• Assist with litigation or dispute-related documentation as needed

HR / People Operations

• Support onboarding and offboarding processes in partnership with leadership and external providers

• Help maintain and update employee policies, handbook content, and HR process documentation

• Support benefits, PTO, and employee documentation questions for the US team

• Coordinate HR-related compliance and employment recordkeeping

• Support sensitive employee matters, including documentation related to performance issues and terminations

• Help build scalable people operations processes as the US team grows

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent commercial contracts experience. Paralegal certification is a plus.

• 5+ years of experience in contracts management, commercial legal operations, or a similar role

• Strong experience reviewing and negotiating SaaS agreements

• Comfortable working directly with Sales teams and external stakeholders

• Ability to balance risk with pragmatism (you know when to push and when to move)

• Experience supporting HR, people operations, or employment documentation in the US

• Familiarity with employee policies, onboarding/offboarding, and HR process administration

• Comfort handling sensitive employee documentation and cross-functional people matters

• Experience in a high-growth SaaS or tech company where legal and HR responsibilities may overlap

What you can expect

• High-impact position in a fast-growing company

• Fast growth of responsibility

• A company that sticks to its values in an open and informal atmosphere (see our culture page on the website for more details)

• Flexibility in working hours

• You will be recruited based on competencies. Qualities of people are decisive, regardless of gender, religion, ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, or any disability.