Counsel – Space Programs & Government Contracts

Lanteris Space LLC; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 163,000 - 271,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health and welfare insurance

401(k)

Job summary

Lanteris Space LLC, a subsidiary of Intuitive Machines, seeks an experienced attorney to support its satellite and spacecraft manufacturing business. This role can be based in Palo Alto, CA or remotely in the US, reporting to the General Counsel.

You will advise on government, commercial, and international contracts, negotiate, and ensure compliance with FAR/DFARS; must have seven years of relevant experience and U.S. citizenship.

Qualifications

• US citizenship required with ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited US law school and active bar admission.
• Minimum seven years of relevant in-house or private practice experience.
• Experience advising on US government contracts, FAR, and DFARS.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex contracts.
• Ability to independently manage matters and work across functions.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary legal advisor for spacecraft programs and business matters.
• Advise on contract interpretation, performance obligations, schedule and cost issues, changes, and claims.
• Draft, review, and negotiate government, commercial, and international agreements.
• Draft, review, and negotiate subcontracts and nondisclosure agreements.
• Advise on supplier performance, IP/data rights, and risk allocation.
• Ensure compliance with FAR, DFARS, NASA FAR Supplement, and related requirements.
• Collaborate with Contracts, Supply Chain, Program Management, Security, and leadership.

Skills

Contract law

Government contracting

Regulatory compliance

Risk assessment

Education

Juris Doctor

Bar admission

Tools

DFARS familiarity

FAR familiarity

Export controls knowledge

Job description

Lanteris Space LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Intuitive Machines, is seeking an experienced attorney to support its satellite and spacecraft manufacturing business. This role can be based in our Palo Alto, CA office or also remotely in the US. The position will support civil-space, national-security, commercial, and international programs across the full business lifecycle - from capture and proposal development through contract formation, program execution, disputes, and closeout. Reporting to the General Counsel of Lanteris Space LLC, the attorney will provide practical, business-oriented advice across a balanced portfolio of customer contracts, supplier and subcontractor matters, and U.S. government-contracting and compliance issues. The attorney will independently own assigned matters and may also support Intuitive Machines and its other affiliates as requested.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary legal advisor for assigned spacecraft programs and business matters.
• Advise program leadership on contract interpretation, performance obligations, schedule and cost issues, changes, claims, remedies, and risk mitigation.
• Draft, review, and negotiate U.S. government, commercial, and international customer agreements.
• Draft, review, and negotiate subcontracts, teaming agreements, and nondisclosure agreements.
• Advise Supply Chain and Program Management on supplier performance, changes, intellectual property and data rights, warranty, schedule, remedies, and other risk-allocation matters.
• Advise the business on the Federal Acquisition Regulation, DFARS, NASA FAR Supplement, and other government-contract requirements.
• Counsel stakeholders on contract administration, flowdown requirements, intellectual property and data rights, organizational conflicts of interest, and related compliance requirements.
• Partner with Security and Export Compliance on classified information, controlled unclassified information, cybersecurity requirements, export controls, and international program activities.
• Support government inquiries, audits, business-system reviews, internal investigations, mandatory-disclosure analyses, and disputes as needed.
• Collaborate closely with stakeholder functions such as Contracts, Supply Chain, Program Management, Security, Export Compliance, Business Development, and executive leadership.
• Manage outside counsel on specialized matters as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship and eligibility to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited U.S. law school.
• Active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar and the ability to satisfy applicable in-house counsel registration requirements.
• Minimum of seven years of relevant legal experience gained in-house, in private practice, with the U.S. government, or through a combination of those settings.
• Demonstrated experience advising on U.S. government contracts, the FAR, and DFARS.
• Experience reviewing, drafting, and negotiating complex contracts.
• Demonstrated ability to independently own matters, collaborate across functions, and manage competing priorities.
• Ability to travel both domestically and internationally based on business needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting aerospace, defense, spacecraft, complex technology, or manufacturing programs.
• Experience with government and commercial prime contracts, subcontracts, and program execution.
• Knowledge of government intellectual-property regimes, including license rights involving software and technical data.
• Experience with export controls, cybersecurity, controlled unclassified information, or international transactions.
• Experience with internal investigations, government audits, ethics and compliance, or contract disputes.

Salary

In support of pay transparency at Lanteris Space Systems, we disclose salary ranges on all U.S. job postings. The successful candidate’s starting pay will fall within the salary range provided below and is determined based on job-related factors, including, but not limited to, the experience, qualifications, knowledge, skills, geographic work location, and market conditions.

• The base pay for this position within Colorado is: $142,000.00 - $236,000.00 annually.
• The base pay for this position within New Jersey is: $142,000.00 - $236,000.00 annually.
• The base pay for this position within Delaware is: $142,000.00 - $236,000.00 annually.
• The base pay for this position within the Washington, DC metropolitan area is: $156,000.00 - $260,000.00 annually.
• The base pay for this position within California is: $163,000.00 - $271,000.00 annually.

For all other states, we use geographic cost of labor as an input to develop market-driven ranges for our roles, and as such, each location where we hire may have a different range.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, health and welfare insurance, and 401(k) to eligible employees.

More information on our benefits will be shared with candidates as they move forward in the recruitment process.

Additionally, this position is incentive eligible with a target based on contribution, company performance, and/or individual results achieved; the specific incentive plan and target amount will be determined based on the role and breadth of contributions.

Lanteris Space Systems values diversity in the workplace and is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Intuitive Machines is building the infrastructure for your boldest missions and the next era of space operations. Our foundation is proven and built for scale, resilience, and mission continuity, extending across LEO, GEO, lunar, interplanetary, and deep space. That’s why commercial leaders and government organizations, such as NASA rely, on Intuitive Machines to sustain continuous mission operations and extend their space capabilities further and faster..

Intuitive Machines is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We comply with disability laws and make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, or to otherwise participate in the hiring process.