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.
