Contracts Manager

Northwood; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwood, a modern space infrastructure company, seeks a Contracts Manager to own the full lifecycle of commercial and government contracts. You will craft, review, and negotiate agreements, build scalable processes, and partner with legal to mitigate risk while enabling fast operations.

This hands-on role requires managing high-volume technology contracts, including ITAR-related considerations, and ensuring compliance with privacy, security, and regulatory obligations across diverse customers

Qualifications

• 7+ years of contract management experience, incl. 3+ years in software/tech.
• Proven record negotiating complex enterprise agreements independently.
• Strong knowledge of tech contract terms: IP licensing, privacy, security, liability & indemnification.
• Clear writing and ability to explain legal concepts to non-lawyers.
• Excellent organizational skills for high-volume negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Own the contract lifecycle management system: intake, workflows, approvals, signature, repository.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of agreements with counsel and teams.
• Identify risks and ensure privacy, security, and revenue obligations alignment.
• Develop a contract playbook, fallback positions, and approval matrices.
• Design scalable templates and clause libraries for low-risk deals.

Skills

Contract management

Negotiation

Enterprise agreements

Clear communication

Organization

Tools

IP licensing

Data privacy

Information security

Liability & indemnification

Job description

About Northwood

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real-time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

About Northwood

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real-time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

About Northwood

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real-time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

Role

Northwood is hiring a Contracts Manager to own the full lifecycle of commercial agreements and government contracts, from first draft to execution to amendments. As a part of our legal team, you will help negotiate customer, vendor, and partner contracts that protect the company while supporting the fast pace of our operations. This is a hands-on role for someone with experience running high volume technology contracting and can build the processes that let it scale.

Responsibilities

• Own the contract lifecycle management system: intake, workflows, approvals, signature, and the central repository. Track obligations, renewals, expirations and amendments, and upcoming deadlines to stakeholders.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of agreements in conjunction with legal counsel. Lead redlining with customer and vendor legal and procurement teams.
• Identify legal, financial, and operational risks and ensure that contracts align with privacy, security, and revenue obligations.
• Develop and maintain a contract playbook, fallback positions, and approval matrix.
• Design scalable processes including by building/refining standard templates, clause libraries, and self-serve paper for low-risk deals.

Basic Qualifications

• 7+ years of contract management or commercial contracting experience, with at least 3 years at a software or technology company.
• Proven record of negotiating complex enterprise agreements independently.
• Strong working knowledge of technology contract terms: IP licensing, data privacy, information security, liability and indemnification considerations.
• Clear, concise writing and the ability to explain legal concepts to non-lawyers.
• Strong organization skills and an ability to manage a high volume concurrent negotiations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Paralegal certificate or professional credential.
• Experience with public-sector or regulated-industry customers.
• International contracting experience.

Additional Information

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., 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.

Northwood is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Additional Information

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., 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.

Northwood Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.