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CesiumAstro, a developer of advanced communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and space/airborne platforms, seeks a Senior Director of Legal to lead all legal support for U.S. government contracts and regulatory compliance.
You will serve as the primary legal advisor for government contracting, FAR/DFARS compliance, proposal review (RFPs, RFIs, BAAs, OTAs), contract negotiation, administration, and dispute resolution. You will partner closely with business development and program teams to structure, negotiate, and win government deals, and advise on contract clauses, performance, change orders, claims, and terminations.
Regulatory compliance is a core responsibility: you will advise on licensing, approvals, and ongoing obligations across applicable agencies (FCC, NOAA, Commerce Department, State Department, etc.), monitor evolving regulatory requirements, and assess business impact. You will build and oversee export compliance programs (ITAR, EAR), advise on international transactions, data sharing, and technology transfers, and partner with engineering and operations to ensure compliant product development and deployment.
You will develop and implement policies and procedures for government compliance, conduct internal training on regulatory and contracting requirements, and identify and mitigate legal and regulatory risks across programs. As a trusted advisor to executive leadership, you will collaborate with finance, operations, and supply chain on compliance and audit readiness, support interactions with government stakeholders and regulators, and establish scalable processes, templates, and playbooks for government legal work.
You will manage outside counsel and specialized advisors, and help build and mentor a growing legal and compliance team.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Juris Doctor (JD) degree and active license to practice law in the United States
- 11+ years of progressive legal experience in aerospace or defense, including significant focus on government contracting and regulatory matters
- Deep expertise in FAR/DFARS and U.S. government procurement processes
- Experience with export controls (ITAR/EAR) and regulatory compliance programs
- Proven success leading contract negotiations on complex defense and government programs
- Experience advising C-suite leaders and Boards of Directors
- Experience supporting complex commercial deals and cross-functional teams
- Highly pragmatic with strong business judgment
- Ability to balance speed and risk in a fast-paced environment
- Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills
- Hands-on and execution-oriented approach
- Highly detail-oriented with strong ownership mentality
- Active security clearance or ability to obtain one
PREFERRED:
- Experience with classified programs and facility clearance environments
- Experience scaling legal processes at an early-stage company
