Counsel – Space Programs & Government Contracts

Overview

An organization is seeking an experienced attorney to support satellite and spacecraft manufacturing. This role may be based in Palo Alto, CA, or remotely in the United States.

Responsibilities span civil-space, national-security, commercial, and international programs across the full business lifecycle—from capture and proposal development through contract formation, program execution, disputes, and closeout.

Reporting to the General Counsel, the attorney will provide practical, business-oriented advice across customer contracts, supplier and subcontractor matters, and U.S. government-contracting and compliance issues. The attorney will independently own assigned matters and may also support additional affiliates as requested.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary legal advisor for assigned spacecraft programs and business matters.
• Advise program leadership on contract interpretation, performance obligations, schedule and cost issues, changes, claims, remedies, and risk mitigation.
• Draft, review, and negotiate U.S. government, commercial, and international customer agreements.
• Draft, review, and negotiate subcontracts, teaming agreements, and nondisclosure agreements.
• Advise Supply Chain and Program Management on supplier performance, changes, intellectual property and data rights, warranty, schedule, remedies, and other risk-allocation matters.
• Advise the business on the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), DFARS, NASA FAR Supplement, and other government-contract requirements.
• Counsel stakeholders on contract administration, flowdown requirements, intellectual property and data rights, organizational conflicts of interest, and related compliance requirements.
• Partner with Security and Export Compliance on classified information, controlled unclassified information, cybersecurity requirements, export controls, and international program activities.
• Support government inquiries, audits, business-system reviews, internal investigations, mandatory-disclosure analyses, and disputes as needed.
• Collaborate with stakeholders including Contracts, Supply Chain, Program Management, Security, Export Compliance, Business Development, and executive leadership.
• Manage outside counsel on specialized matters as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship and eligibility to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited U.S. law school.
• Active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar and the ability to satisfy applicable in-house counsel registration requirements.
• Minimum of seven years of relevant legal experience gained in-house, in private practice, with the U.S. government, or through a combination of those settings.
• Demonstrated experience advising on U.S. government contracts, the FAR, and DFARS.
• Experience reviewing, drafting, and negotiating complex contracts.
• Demonstrated ability to independently own matters, collaborate across functions, and manage competing priorities.
• Ability to travel both domestically and internationally based on business needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting aerospace, defense, spacecraft, complex technology, or manufacturing programs.
• Experience with government and commercial prime contracts, subcontracts, and program execution.
• Knowledge of government intellectual-property regimes, including license rights involving software and technical data.
• Experience with export controls, cybersecurity, controlled unclassified information, or international transactions.
• Experience with internal investigations, government audits, ethics and compliance, or contract disputes.

Compensation & Benefits

Base pay ranges

• Colorado: $142,000.00 - $236,000.00 annually
• New Jersey: $142,000.00 - $236,000.00 annually
• Delaware: $142,000.00 - $236,000.00 annually
• Washington, DC metropolitan area: $156,000.00 - $260,000.00 annually
• California: $163,000.00 - $271,000.00 annually

For all other states, geographic cost of labor is used to develop market-driven ranges, and each location may have a different range.

Incentive

• This position is incentive eligible with a target based on contribution, company performance, and/or individual results achieved; the specific incentive plan and target amount will be determined based on the role and breadth of contributions.

Benefits

• Paid time off
• Health and welfare insurance
• 401(k) to eligible employees

Starting pay will fall within the applicable salary range and is determined based on job-related factors, including experience, qualifications, knowledge, skills, geographic work location, and market conditions. Candidates with the minimum necessary experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skillsets should not expect to receive the upper end of the pay range.

Location

• Palo Alto, CA office, or remotely in the United States

Application Window

• The application window is three days from the date the job is posted and remains posted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire.
• If the job is reposted regardless of reason, it remains posted three days from the date the job is reposted and continues to remain reposted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire.

Equal Opportunity

The organization is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.