Deputy General Counsel

Ursa Major Event Management & Consultancy; Berthoud (CO); On-site; USD 232,000 - 290,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Medical/Dental/Vision insurance

401k with company match

Equity grants

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Ursa Major, a leader in aerospace and defense, seeks a Deputy General Counsel to guide legal strategy across the organization. You will balance risk with business needs while building out the legal and compliance teams as the company scales.

Expect oversight of government contracting, export controls, IP, and regulatory matters in a fast-paced environment. You will report to the General Counsel, shape policy, manage outside counsel, and lead internal investigations and ethics programs to enable

Qualifications

• J.D. degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission to practice law in at least one U.S. state, with ability to be admitted in Colorado.
• A minimum of 13+ years of legal experience in aerospace/defense or regulated industries.
• Strong experience with government contracting, export control regulations (ITAR/EAR), and defense procurement structures.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior legal advisor on government contracting, regulatory, compliance, employment, litigation, export control, IP, cybersecurity, and related risks.
• Partner with stakeholders to implement consistent processes for negotiating and administering U.S. federal government contracts and advise on related regulations (FAR/DFARS).
• Advise on complex commercial transactions, customer agreements, supply chain issues, and contractual disputes.
• Develop and implement IP protection strategies and negotiate data rights and other IP contracting issues.
• Oversee ethics program and manage internal investigations; drive legal/policy training and public company readiness initiatives.

Skills

J.D. degree

Bar admission

13+ years experience

Govt contracting

Export controls ITAR/EAR

Defense procurement

Risk advisory

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Job description

The future of aerospace and defense starts here. Ursa Major was founded to revolutionize how America and its allies access and apply high-performance propulsion, from hypersonics to solid rocket motors, satellite maneuvering and launch. We design and deliver propulsion and defense systems that solve the most urgent and critical national security demands. The Deputy General Counsel will report to the General Counsel and provide legal advice to teams across all areas of the organization. This individual will in this role will help build out the legal and compliance departments as the organization scales, provide legal advice that appropriately balances risk with business needs, and navigate regulatory compliance obligations in the aerospace & defense industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior legal advisor to business on government contracting, regulatory, compliance, employment, litigation, export control, intellectual property, cybersecurity, and other legal and risk matters.
• Partner with stakeholders to help build consistent processes for negotiating, administering, and complying with U.S. federal government contracts and counsel on matters related to government contracting regulations (e.g., FAR, DFARS).
• Advise on complex commercial transactions, customer agreements, supply chain issues, and contractual disputes.
• Develop and implement an intellectual property protection strategy and negotiate complex data rights and other intellectual property contracting issues.
• Oversee company ethics program, including advising on and managing internal investigations.
• Lead and drive business transformation initiatives by improving legal and contracting processes, overhauling legal policies and training, and spearheading legal public company readiness initiatives.
• Support corporate transactions including mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic partnerships, financing, and equity issuances.
• Identify and manage legal and business risks while enabling growth, operational continuity, and sound decision-making.
• Coach and mentor legal and compliance personnel; build legal capabilities aligned with corporate objectives.
• Assist with overall legal budget and outside counsel spend management.

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission to practice law in at least one U.S. state, with ability (or willingness) to be admitted in Colorado.
• A minimum of 13+ years of legal experience, with substantial experience in aerospace, defense, or other regulated industries.
• Strong experience with government contracting, export control regulations (ITAR/EAR), and defense procurement structures.
• Proven track record managing complex contracts, corporate transactions, regulatory compliance, and litigation.
• Excellent judgment and ability to advise senior management on risk-based decision making.
• Demonstrated ability to balance legal risk with business objectives in fast-paced, mission-critical environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior work in high technology, propulsion systems, aerospace manufacturing, or space systems.
• Experience with domestic/international joint ventures or cross-border transactions involving defense technologies.
• Proven leadership of legal/compliance functions in scale-up or high growth companies.
• Strong network with federal regulatory agencies (e.g., DoD, NASA, FAA) and understanding of government procurement / certifications.

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $232,000 - $290,000, determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. The salary range for this role is intentionally wide as we are evaluating individuals based on their unique experience and abilities to fit our needs.

Most importantly, we are excited to meet you, and see if you are a great fit for our team. What we can’t quantify for you are the exciting challenges, supportive team, and amazing culture we enjoy.

Benefits Include:

(Please note, Interns are not eligible for benefits) Unlimited PTO - Vacation, Sick, Personal, and Bereavement Paid Parental and Adoptive Leave Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance Tax Advantage Accounts (HSA/FSA) Employer Paid Short and Long Term Disability, Basic Life, AD&D Additional Benefit Options Including Voluntary Life and Emergency Medical Transport EAP Program Retirement Savings Plan - 401k with Company Match Equity Grants in the Company

Must be a U.S. Person (this includes U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents).

Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance.

We’re an equal-opportunity employer. You will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

No outside recruiters, please.