Aerospace In-House Counsel: M&A, Contracts & Compliance

Astra; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 198,000 - 264,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Vision

Dental

401K

Lunch

Snacks and drinks

Job summary

Astra Space Operations, LLC is seeking an experienced In-House Legal Counsel to act as a trusted advisor to leadership, guiding strategic legal matters across a regulated aerospace environment.

You will independently manage matters, assess risks, and collaborate with Engineering, Finance, HR, Operations, and executives to support growth and compliance. This high-impact role requires strong judgment and cross-functional teamwork.

Qualifications

• J.D. from ABA-accredited law school and active membership in California State Bar.
• 7–10 years of legal experience, with top-tier firm and in-house mix preferred.
• Demonstrated M&A transaction experience, incl. due diligence, drafting, negotiations.
• Extensive contracts experience across commercial, technology, and/or government/defense agreements.
• Hands-on vendor negotiations at scale; strong compliance background with ITAR/EAR awareness.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all phases of M&A transactions (due diligence, deal structuring, negotiation, post-closing integration).
• Draft, review, and negotiate development contracts, licensing, NDAs, SaaS, and government/defense agreements.
• Advise on contract interpretation, obligations, and risk mitigation with internal stakeholders.
• Oversee vendor/supplier negotiations and manage outside counsel relationships.

Skills

M&A experience

Contract drafting

Vendor negotiations

Regulatory compliance

Communication

AI tools for efficiency

Education

J.D. from ABA-accredited law school

Tools

Carta

Job description

Astra Space Operations, LLC is seeking an experienced In-House Legal Counsel to act as a trusted advisor to leadership, guiding strategic legal matters across a regulated aerospace environment.

You will independently manage matters, assess risks, and collaborate with Engineering, Finance, HR, Operations, and executives to support growth and compliance. This high-impact role requires strong judgment and cross-functional teamwork.