Legal Counsel, Subcontracts and Supply Chain

Kraken Kinetics

• $110K — $130K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • JD from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
  • Minimum 5 years of relevant experience focusing on subcontracts and government contracts.
  • Hands-on experience with FAR/DFARS compliance and government contracting requirements.
  • Proven ability to manage a high volume of agreements efficiently.
  • Experience in the defense or aerospace sectors, particularly with subcontractors.
  • Strong judgment and ability to provide actionable recommendations to stakeholders.
  • Excellent communication skills in both written and verbal forms.

Responsibilities

  • Draft and negotiate a high volume of supplier agreements and subcontracts with precision.
  • Review contracts to identify FAR/DFARS obligations and maintain compliance.
  • Negotiate critical contract terms regarding scope, pricing, and risk allocation.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with various departments to support timely execution.
  • Work with the Export Compliance Officer on ITAR/EAR and customs restrictions.
  • Develop templates and playbooks to enable self-service contracting.
  • Manage supplier disputes and performance issues effectively.
  • Brief leadership on risks and negotiation strategies as needed.

Benefits

  • Generous PTO policy for work-life balance.
  • Comprehensive medical coverage with 80% employer-paid contributions.
  • 100% company-paid vision and dental coverage.
  • Short and long-term disability coverage fully paid by the company.
  • Generous company-matched 401(k) retirement plan.
  • Company-paid life insurance for peace of mind.
  • Supportive work environment with great teammates and snacks.
Full Job Description
Kraken Kinetics is seeking Legal Counsel, Subcontracts and Supply Chain to own subcontracting, ensuring the terms of our government contracts and subcontracts, ensuring required FAR/DFARS flow-down terms and sound commercial terms are properly incorporated into our supplier and manufacturer agreements. As Kraken rapidly scales, this role will partner closely with Supply Chain and Program Management to ensure contractual obligations, flowdowns, and risk allocation carry through consistently to our suppliers. Youll be drafting and negotiating our subcontracts and supplier agreements day to day, as well as building the templates and playbooks that let Supply Chain and the subcontracting team handle routine agreements themselves. Key Responsibilities • Draft, review, negotiate, and administer a high volume of supplier and vendor-facing agreements - subcontracts, statements of work, purchase orders (POs), master supply/services agreements, teaming agreements, and amendments - with speed, precision, and a bias toward closing. • Review prime contracts, customer POs, OTAs, and program agreements to identify obligations that must flow down, and map and maintain FAR/DFARS/OTA flowdown requirements across the supply base. • Negotiate scope, pricing, IP and data rights, indemnities, liability, insurance, and termination terms that appropriately allocate legal and commercial risk. • Partner directly with Supply Chain, Program Management, Engineering, Finance, and Business Development to avoid deal delays and support timely program execution. • Partner with the Export Compliance Officer on ITAR/EAR, sanctions, customs, and sourcing restrictions (e.g., domestic preference, counterfeit parts, specialty metals) as applied to subcontracts. • Develop and maintain supplier-facing representations and certifications in coordination with Legal, Supply Chain, and Finance. • Build and continuously improve playbooks, templates, clause libraries, and self-service tools so business partners can handle routine contracting independently. • Support supplier disputes, performance issues, claims, and corrective actions. • Brief the Head of Legal and company leadership on material risks, negotiation positions, and issues requiring executive decision-making. • Establish, refine, and scale subcontracting legal processes and standard operating procedures as Kraken grows. REQUIREMENTS • JD from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction. • Minimum 5 years of relevant experience with a strong transactional focus on subcontracts, procurement, supply chain, commercial contracts, or government contracts. • Direct, hands-on experience analyzing and implementing FAR/DFARS flowdowns, representations and certifications, and other government-contracting compliance requirements. • Demonstrated ability to manage a high volume of agreements, prioritize competing demands, and drive transactions to timely closure. • Experience working with or supporting a defense manufacturer, government contractor, aerospace company, prime contractor, or Tier 1/Tier 2 subcontractor. • Sound judgment and the ability to provide concise, actionable recommendations to stakeholders and company leadership. • Ability to operate independently, take ownership of matters, and demonstrate initiative in a fast-moving, ambiguous, growth-stage environment. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Benefits included: • Generous PTO policy • Comprehensive medical coverage (80% company-paid for employee + dependents). • Vision & dental (100% company-paid) • Short and long-term disability coverage (100% company-paid) • Generous 401(k) retirement plan • Company-paid life insurance • Great teammates and well stocked snacks LIFE IN MOORE COUNTY, NC (PINEHURST AREA) Kraken Kinetics is based in Moore County, North Carolina, home to Pinehurst, a nationally recognized destination offering an exceptional quality of life. Employees benefit from a low cost of living, minimal congestion, and a strong sense of community, with easy access to larger metropolitan areas, including Raleigh-Durham. Whether youre looking to accelerate your career or put down long-term roots, the Pinehurst area offers a compelling alternative to traditional tech and defense hubs. We are committed to supporting relocation for the right candidates. Watch what its like to live here: [ Video Link]

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