Please Note: To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. We are seeking a SeniorDirector of Legal (Government) to lead our government-facing business and regulatory strategy. This is a foundational leadership role responsible for government contracting, regulatory compliance, and engagement with U.S. and international regulatory regimes. You will serve as a legal partner to business development, program management, and executive leadership on all government-related matters. This role is both strategic and highly hands-on, requiring deep subject matter expertise and the ability to build systems from the ground up. JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • Lead legal support for all U.S. government contracts, including FAR / DFARS compliance and interpretation, proposal review (RFPs, RFIs, BAAs, OTAs), contract negotiation, administration, and dispute resolution. • Partner with business development and program teams to structure, negotiate, and win government deals. • Advise on contract clauses, performance, change orders, claims, and terminations. • Support regulatory compliance across applicable agencies (e.g., FCC, NOAA, Commerce Department, State Department, etc.). • Advise on licensing, approvals, and ongoing regulatory obligations. • Monitor and interpret evolving regulatory requirements and assess business impact. • Build and oversee export compliance programs (e.g., ITAR, EAR). • Advise on international transactions, data sharing, and technology transfers. • Partner with engineering and operations to ensure compliant product development and deployment. • Develop and implement policies and procedures for government compliance. • Conduct internal training and guidance on regulatory and contracting requirements. • Identify and mitigate legal and regulatory risks across programs. • Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on government strategy and risk. • Collaborate with finance, operations, and supply chain on compliance and audit readiness. • Support interactions with government stakeholders, auditors, and regulators. • Establish scalable processes, templates, and playbooks for government legal work. • Manage outside counsel and specialized advisors. • Help build and mentor a growing legal and compliance team. JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS • 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 • Experience with classified programs and facility clearance environments. • Experience scaling legal processes at an early-stage company. CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills. Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.