Vice President Legal

VP Legal - Space Robotics & National Security Programs

Los Angeles, CA (onsite) | $160K–$210K base + equity

We're hiring a VP of Legal for a vertically integrated space robotics company building hardware for LEO missions - satellite buses, in-orbit servicing robotics, and mission systems, with a growing focus on proliferated LEO constellations supporting U.S. national security customers. Small team, everything designed and built in-house, moving fast on hard technical problems.

This isn't a back-office legal seat. Reporting to the General Counsel, you'll be embedded in the actual deal flow (drafting, redlining, negotiating, and closing) across government programs, commercial contracts, supplier agreements, strategic partnerships, and export-controlled technical data. The company needs someone who protects it without slowing it down.

You'll own:

• Reviewing and advising on RFPs, POs, customer and supplier terms, and agency requirements.
• Structuring positions on IP, data rights, liability, indemnity, warranty, termination, cybersecurity, and export control.
• Negotiating agreements directly with customers, suppliers, and partners.
• Building the contract templates, playbooks, and approval workflows a fast-moving hardware company needs.
• Partnering closely with program management, engineering, finance, HR, and security.
• Managing outside counsel efficiently while keeping business context in-house.

What you bring:

• J.D. and active license in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 5+ years of legal experience (firm and/or in-house), with at least 1 year in-house at a venture-backed startup.
• Strong contract judgment and the instinct to know what to accept, negotiate, escalate, or kill.
• Comfort operating directly with executives, engineers, and program managers, not just legal peers.
• U.S. citizenship required - this role may need eligibility for a U.S. government security clearance.

Strong plus: background in aerospace, defense, robotics, or advanced manufacturing; experience with government contracting, ITAR/EAR/CFIUS, FAR/DFARS, or export compliance in a company where legal and business execution move in lockstep.

Benefits: 100% company-paid medical/dental/vision (90% for dependents), 401(k) match up to 3.5%, stock options, relocation support for qualifying candidates, and generous PTO.

Interested or know someone who fits? Reach out directly - happy to share more about the mission and the team.