Corporate Counsel, Spacecraft Licensing

InvestedintheMission; Laguna Beach (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k)

Parental Leave

Job summary

True Anomaly in Denver seeks a Corporate Counsel to oversee spacecraft licensing and manage related regulatory filings. This role demands legal expertise with a focus on licensing compliance and teamwork with engineering and operations.

The ideal candidate holds a J.D. and has extensive experience with FCC and NOAA regulations. The position includes a competitive salary ranging from $140K to $190K, plus equity and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 3-7 years of legal experience with preference for law firm and in-house.
• Direct experience with spacecraft/Ground Station FCC and NOAA license applications.
• Familiarity with commercial remote sensing regulations.

Responsibilities

• Manage spacecraft licensing for True Anomaly missions.
• Preparation and submission of license applications.
• Support general corporate legal functions.

Skills

Licensing expertise

Regulatory filings

Contract negotiation

Attention to detail

Written communication

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Active bar membership

Job description

Space is a warfighting domain. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build the technology that secures it.

OUR MISSION

True Anomaly delivers decisive capabilities for space superiority. We build autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors — enabling the U.S. and its Allies to secure the space environment and counter threats from the ultimate high ground.

OUR VALUES

• Be the offset. We create asymmetric advantages with creativity and ingenuity.
• What would it take? We challenge assumptions to deliver ambitious results.
• It’s the people. Our team is our competitive advantage and we are better together.

YOUR MISSION

The Corporate Counsel, Spacecraft Licensing will serve as True Anomaly's primary in‑house legal authority on spacecraft and ground station licensing, owning the preparation, submission, and management of license applications before the FCC, NOAA, and other applicable regulatory bodies. This role reports to the Senior Associate General Counsel and is a key member of a small, collaborative legal department.

Spacecraft licensing is the core of this role. You will lead the legal aspects of the company's spacecraft and ground station licensing efforts across all missions, working closely with systems engineering, mission operations, and communications teams to translate technical requirements into complete, timely, and defensible regulatory filings. You will manage license portfolios, track compliance obligations, and serve as the go‑to resource for stakeholders across the company on licensing requirements and timelines.

Beyond licensing, you will also support general corporate legal functions — reviewing and negotiating contracts, advising internal clients, and contributing to the legal department's broader workload. The ideal candidate is energized by the opportunity to own a specialized regulatory function while also operating as a versatile member of a lean legal team.

Spacecraft and Ground Station Licensing

• Manage the full lifecycle of spacecraft licensing for all True Anomaly missions, including NTIA, FCC, NOAA, and other applicable license applications, modifications, renewals, and amendments.
• Serve as the company's internal subject matter expert on FCC experimental, STA and Part 25 licenses; NOAA commercial remote sensing regulations; and other regulatory frameworks governing spacecraft and ground station operations.
• Support ground station coordination and RF platform development from a regulatory and licensing perspective.
• Prepare, coordinate, and submit license applications on tight timelines, working with systems engineering, mission operations, and communications teams to gather and validate technical inputs.
• Support NTIA and ITU coordination and applications as required.
• Prepare and manage Plans of Action and Milestones (POAMs) to ensure compliance with license conditions and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure alignment across the organization on regulatory and RF compliance requirements, identifying and driving closure on gaps.
• Monitor and track post‑license compliance obligations, including reporting requirements, operational conditions, and modification triggers.
• Maintain a licensing tracker and compliance calendar to provide visibility into application status, deadlines, and upcoming obligations.
• Monitor FCC, NOAA, and other relevant agency rulemaking, proposed rules, and policy developments that may affect the company's current or planned licensing posture, and proactively advise stakeholders on potential impacts.
• Develop and maintain relationships with relevant regulatory agency staff to support effective engagement on current and future applications.

General Corporate Legal Support

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of agreements, including vendor and supplier contracts, program subcontracts, teaming agreements, NDAs, and consulting agreements.
• Advise internal stakeholders across program management, systems engineering, communications and IT, mission operations, facilities management, security, finance, and supply chain on legal matters as they arise.
• Coordinate with other Legal Department functions, including export compliance, on matters of overlapping regulatory concern.
• Contribute to legal department process improvements, templates, playbooks, and other shared resources.
• Support additional projects and initiatives as needed under the direction of the Senior Associate General Counsel.

Required Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 3–7 years of legal experience, with a preference for a mix of law firm and in‑house experience.
• Direct experience preparing, reviewing, and submitting spacecraft and/or ground station FCC and NOAA license applications to tight timelines.
• Experience supporting NTIA applications.
• Experience preparing and managing POAMs.
• Familiarity with FCC and NOAA commercial remote sensing regulations.
• Ability to work effectively with engineering and technical teams, translating complex technical information into clear regulatory filings and translating regulatory requirements into practical guidance for non‑legal stakeholders.
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to produce precise, well‑organized regulatory submissions and legal documents.
• Strong presentation skills and ability to distill complex regulatory concepts into clear, accessible reports and briefings for internal audiences.
• High attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects and competing deadlines simultaneously.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial contracts.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the commercial space, aerospace, or satellite communications industry.
• Experience in‑house at a technology or aerospace company.
• Familiarity with spectrum coordination and ITU filing processes.
• Ability to obtain or maintain a TS//SCI security clearance.

Compensation

• Base Salary: $140,000–$190,000
• Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401(k), Parental Leave

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job‑related knowledge and skills, education, location, and experience.

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.

True Anomaly is committed to equal employment opportunity on any basis protected by applicable state and federal laws. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, please let us know.