Senior Director of Legal

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.

At CesiumAstro , we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.

We are seeking a Senior Director 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