Counsel – Space Programs & Government Contracts

Overview

The organization is seeking an experienced attorney to support its satellite and spacecraft manufacturing business. This role may be based in the Palo Alto, CA office or remotely in the US.

Work will 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.

This position reports to the General Counsel and provides practical, business-oriented legal advice across customer contracts, supplier/subcontractor matters, and U.S. government-contracting and compliance issues. The attorney will independently own assigned matters and may also support other 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, 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 stakeholder functions 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 by location:

• 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; each location where hired may have a different range.

• Benefits include paid time off, health and welfare insurance, and 401(k) to eligible employees.
• 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.

Location

• Palo Alto, CA office, or remotely in the US.

Equal Opportunity Statement

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.

Application Window

The application window is three days from the date the job is posted and will remain posted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire. If reposted for any reason, it will remain posted three days from the date of the repost and continue until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire.