Chief Legal Officer | General Counsel

SyberJet Aircraft

$200K — $250K *
Aerospace & Defense
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 15+ years of legal practice, focusing on high-growth startups or aerospace environments.
  • J.D. from an accredited law school, with active bar membership.
  • Demonstrated ability to cope with rapid changes and resource constraints typical of startups.
  • Strong executive presence with proven stakeholder influence across various levels.
  • Experience in corporate governance and compliance within the aerospace sector.

Responsibilities

  • Lead all legal aspects of equity and debt financing, including managing the data room.
  • Ensure corporate governance and fiduciary compliance as Corporate Secretary.
  • Defend and manage a legacy of aerospace patents and develop new IP for the company.
  • Draft and negotiate high-value Aircraft Purchase Agreements and Master Supply Agreements.
  • Oversee legal frameworks for Type Certification and Production Certification.
  • Manage product liability issues for existing aircraft fleets while ensuring regulatory compliance.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive relocation assistance for candidates moving to the Phoenix/Chandler area.
  • Opportunity to build a legal department from the ground up.
  • Equity participation in a pioneering early-stage company.
  • Direct partnership with the founding team to influence global scaling.
  • Engagement in innovative aerospace and advanced manufacturing projects.
Full Job Description
SyberJet is seeking a visionary Chief Legal Officer | General Counsel to join our executive leadership team. This is not a traditional "back-office" legal role. As an early-stage startup with a massive legacy footprint, we require a strategic heavyweight who can balance the agility of a disruptor with the rigorous compliance of a certified aerospace manufacturer. You will be a primary architect of our corporate strategy, navigating complex investor relations and protecting our vast IP portfolio as we scale the SJ36 toward global delivery. The Executive Mandate • Strategic Vision & Planning: You will serve as a key advisor to the CEO and Board of Directors, translating legal complexities into actionable business strategies. You must anticipate market shifts and regulatory hurdles before they impact on our trajectory. • Agile Leadership: We operate in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. You must possess the mental "gear-shift" required to pivot between a Series B funding round and a legacy aircraft liability issue within the same hour. • Exceptional People Leadership: Beyond technical law, you are a leader of people must be able to build and foster a culture of "compliant innovation" across our engineering and production teams. • Negotiation & Influence: You are the lead diplomat for SyberJet, managing sensitive relationships with ultra-high-net-worth customers, Tier-1 aerospace suppliers, and federal regulators. Key Responsibilities Corporate Law & Investor Relations • Venture & Growth Capital: Lead all legal aspects of equity and debt financing. Manage the "data room" and interface with external counsel to close complex funding rounds. • Board Governance: Act as Corporate Secretary, ensuring flawless governance, fiduciary compliance, and board communication. IP, Patent & Contract Architecture • Intellectual Property Strategy: Aggressively manage and defend a 60-year legacy of aerospace patents while securing new IP for our proprietary SyberVision avionics and future-flight technologies. • Commercial Contracts: Draft and negotiate high-value Aircraft Purchase Agreements (APAs) and Master Supply Agreements with global OEMs. Regulatory & Aviation Compliance • FAA/Global Liaison: Oversee the legal framework for Type Certification (TC) and Production Certification (PC). • Risk Mitigation: Manage product liability for the existing SJ30 fleet and ensure all operations adhere to FAA Part 21 and Part 23 standards. Qualifications • Experience: 15+ years of legal practice, including significant time as a GC or Deputy GC in a high-growth startup or aerospace environment. • Education: J.D. from an accredited law school; active bar membership. • Startup DNA: Proven ability to thrive in "organized chaos," where priorities shift rapidly and resources must be deployed creatively. • Presence: An executive yet collaborative executive presence with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels. • 100% On-Site: This is a mission-critical role based at our Corporate Headquarters in Chandler, AZ. We believe the speed of our innovation requires our executive team to be physically present and collaborative. • Relocation: We are looking for the best talent in the nation. For the right candidate, SyberJet provides a comprehensive relocation assistance package to transition you and your family to the Phoenix/Chandler area. What We Offer You will be joining a team that is breathing new life into a legendary aircraft. This role offers the unique opportunity to build a legal department from the ground up while inheriting a prestigious brand name, combined with the significant equity upside of an early-stage pioneer. • Work at the intersection of aerospace innovation and advanced manufacturing • Partner directly with the founding team to scale the company globally • Competitive compensation including equity participation

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