Associate General Counsel, Government Contracts

Hadrian Automation; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 325,000 - 350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401k

Relocation support

Flexible vacation

Equity

Job summary

Hadrian is seeking an Associate General Counsel, Government Contracts, to advise on U.S. government contracting lifecycle and defense-related programs. This senior role requires autonomy, negotiating expertise, and a focus on compliance and execution velocity in a fast-growing company.

You will partner with leadership to shape government engagement, manage risk, and guide contract strategy across prime and subcontracting, use of flow-down clauses, and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school and active U.S. bar membership
• 10–15+ years of government contracts law experience
• Significant defense/aerospace or national security program experience
• Deep knowledge of FAR/DFARS and government contracting principles
• Experience advising on prime and subcontracts
• Strong business judgment and ability to draft contract language
• Excellent communication skills with senior leaders
• Ability to operate in fast-paced, high-growth environments

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key legal advisor on U.S. government contracts and subcontracts (prime and subcontractor relationships)
• Advise on FAR, DFARS, and related agency regulations; assess clause applicability and flow-downs
• Partner with BD, PM, Finance, and Ops on pursuits, negotiations, execution, and long-term compliance
• Review, negotiate, and support government contracts, task orders, and related agreements
• Provide guidance on cost accounting, audits, data rights, cybersecurity, and procurement integrity
• Support internal stakeholders on performance issues, modifications, claims, disputes, and terminations
• Develop scalable processes, templates, and training for contracting compliance
• Collaborate with Legal Operations and Compliance to align systems with regulatory needs
• Retain and manage outside counsel and consultants as needed

Skills

Government contracts experience

FAR/DFARS knowledge

Contract negotiation

Leadership communication

Regulatory compliance

Education

JD from ABA-accredited law school

Job description

Hadrian - Manufacturing the Future

Hadrian is building autonomous factories to reindustrialize America. By combining AI, advanced software, robotics, and full-stack manufacturing, we help aerospace and defense companies build rockets, satellites, aircraft, ships, and other mission-critical systems up to 10x faster and at significantly lower cost.

Following our $1.37B Series D at a $7.87B valuation, Hadrian is rapidly expanding our manufacturing footprint, launching new capabilities across welding, casting, forging, electronics, additive manufacturing, and more, while scaling our Factory-as-a-Service platform to transform how critical products are built.

Backed by leading investors including JPMorgan Chase, Valor Equity Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund, 137 Ventures, Lux Capital, T. Rowe Price, and Morgan Stanley, we’re building the future of American manufacturing—and looking for exceptional people to help make it happen.

If you’re ready to take on the most challenging and rewarding work of your career while helping create American manufacturing jobs for generations to come, you’re exactly who we’re looking for.

The Role

The Associate General Counsel, Government Contracts will report to the General Counsel and will serve as a key subject-matter expert on government contracting, providing strategic legal guidance across the lifecycle of U.S. government and defense-related programs.

This is a senior, high-impact role for an experienced government contracts attorney who is comfortable operating with autonomy, advising executive leadership, negotiating agreements, tracking and advising on compliance, and enabling a fast-growing business to succeed in a highly regulated environment. You will help shape how Hadrian engages with government customers and defense primes while balancing compliance, risk, and execution velocity.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as a key legal advisor on U.S. government contracts and subcontracts, including prime and subcontractor relationships
• Advise on FAR, DFARS, and related agency regulations, including clause applicability and flow-down requirements
• Partner with Business Development, Program Management, Finance, and Operations on government-related pursuits, contract negotiations, execution, and longterm compliance
• Review, negotiate, and support: government contracts and task orders; subcontracts with defense primes and government suppliers; teaming agreements, CRADAs, and other collaboration agreements
• Provide guidance on compliance topics including cost accounting, audits, data rights, cybersecurity obligations, and procurement integrity
• Support internal stakeholders on contract performance issues, modifications, claims, disputes, and terminations
• Develop scalable processes, templates, and training related to government contracting compliance
• Collaborate with Legal Operations and Compliance teams to ensure systems support regulatory requirements
• Retain and manage outside counsel and consultants (and associated budgets) as needed for specialized government contracting matters

What We’re Looking For:

• JD from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction
• 10-15+ years of experience practicing government contracts law in a firm and/or in-house environment
• Significant experience supporting defense, aerospace, or national security-related programs
• Deep working knowledge of FAR/DFARS and government contracting principles
• Experience advising on both prime contracts and subcontracts
• Strong business judgment and ability to draft contract language, think creatively, tackle novel legal questions, and provide practical, risk-based guidance
• Excellent communication skills and confidence engaging with senior leaders
• Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, high-growth environments

What Sets You Apart:

• In-house government contracts experience at a defense, aerospace, or manufacturing company
• Prior experience at a defense prime, major subcontractor, or government-focused law firm
• Familiarity with classified or export-controlled programs
• Experience supporting scaled production or manufacturing programs for government customers
• Builder mindset who thinks from first principles and with interest in shaping processes and infrastructure, not just advising on individual contracts
• Ability to balance regulatory rigor with execution speed in a startup environment
• A security clearance

Compensation

For this role, the target salary range is $325,000 - $350,000 (actual range may vary based on experience).

This is the lowest to highest salary we reasonably and in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. An employee's pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors, including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Benefits for Full-time Employees

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans for employees
  401k
• Relocation support may be provided for certain situations, based on business need.
• Flexible vacation policy
• Equity

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Use of AI in hiring

Hadrian uses AI-assisted tools in our recruiting and hiring processes to help our team work more efficiently. This may include tools that help organize and analyze recruiting data, as well as an AI-powered notetaker that can record and transcribe interviews and help coordinate feedback. These tools support our team and are not used to make hiring decisions. All candidate evaluations and hiring decisions are performed by humans. If an interview will be recorded, you will be notified in advance and may opt out at any time with no impact on your candidacy. Candidate data processed through these tools is subject to the same protections described in our Privacy Policy.

Consideration of Criminal History

Hadrian will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of all applicable laws. We do not ask about criminal history on our application, and we do not consider criminal history before making a conditional offer of employment.

Hadrian Is An Equal Opportunity Employer

Hadrian does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of rrace, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, marital status, mental status, physical disability or any other legally protected status. When necessary, the Company also makes reasonable accommodations for disabled candidates and employees, including for candidates or employees who are disabled by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.