Government Contracts Manager

ispace, inc.; Englewood (CO); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Coverage

Hybrid Work

Commuter Perks

Lunch Stipend

Paid Time Off (PTO)

401(k) with company match

Travel opportunities

Stock Options

Learning & Development

Team culture

Job summary

ispace U.S. seeks a Government Contracts Manager to own the full lifecycle of federal contracts, from proposal through closeout, ensuring FAR/DFARS compliance and risk management. Based in the Washington, D.C.

area, you will collaborate with Legal, Finance, IT, and Program Management to enable prime contracting success. You will build scalable contract policies, lead negotiations, and interface with federal contracting officers and prime partners, shaping ispace U.S.'s contracting readiness and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 8+ years gov contracts experience in aerospace/regulated industry.
• Strong working knowledge of FAR/DFARS and NASA FAR Supplement.
• Proven negotiation experience with government customers or primes.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-moving environment with limited precedent.
• Must reside in the Washington D.C. area.

Responsibilities

• Own the full lifecycle of federal contracts — proposal support, negotiation, execution, administration, and closeout.
• Lead contract negotiations, modifications, and amendments with complex government contracts.
• Monitor contract performance, assess risks, and advise leadership on contractual and compliance risks.
• Develop scalable policies, governance structures, and decision frameworks for federal prime contracting.
• Partner with US and global teams to strengthen contracting readiness and compliance.

Skills

Negotiation

Contract management

FAR/DFARS knowledge

Risk assessment

Stakeholder collaboration

Compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in contract administration or related field

Master's degree or higher

Job description

At ispace U.S., we’re not just going to the Moon—we’re redefining how we get there. Our missions push the boundaries of human and robotic exploration, driven by our belief: “Expand our Planet. Expand our Future.” By providing cost-effective lunar transportation, we are pioneering a future where space is within reach for scientific discovery, commercial ventures, and sustainable exploration.

With locations in Japan, Luxembourg, and the United States, ispace is rapidly growing and leading the way in lunar exploration and development. Our U.S. branch is based in Englewood, Colorado, and focuses on high-capacity payload lunar landers designed to support future lunar missions. Our team is made up of innovators, problem-solvers, and visionaries committed to making space more accessible and fostering the next generation of space exploration.

Let’s go to the Moon together! Our team is growing, and we are actively seeking talented individuals who share our passion for space.

We are seeking a Government Contracts Manager to build the contracting infrastructure ispace U.S. needs as our government business grows. This role owns the full lifecycle of our federal contracts — from proposal support through negotiation, execution, and closeout — and establishes the policies, governance, and compliance framework required to operate as a sophisticated federal contractor and prime. Reporting to our Senior Counsel, the Federal Contracts Manager partners closely with Legal, Finance, IT, Supply Chain, and Program Management to reduce contractual and compliance risk and to support the teams executing our government work. This is a hands‑on role with broad scope — you'll be the company's authority on FAR/DFARS, the primary interface with government contracting officers and prime contractor counterparts, and a strategic partner to program managers who need contractual constraints translated into plain language. THIS ROLE WILL BE LOCATED IN THE WASHINGTON D.C. AREA

Key Responsibilities

• Own the full lifecycle of federal contracts — proposal support, negotiation, execution, administration, and closeout — ensuring compliance with the FAR, DFARS, and other applicable federal contracting requirements.
• Lead contract negotiations, modifications, and amendments, including negotiation strategy for complex government contracts and teaming or subcontract arrangements.
• Monitor contract performance, resolve issues or discrepancies, and run risk assessments; advise leadership on the contractual, financial, operational, and performance risks tied to federal opportunities and existing awards.
• Assess ispace U.S.'s processes and build the scalable policies, procedures, governance structures, and decision frameworks needed to operate as a sophisticated federal prime contractor, including executive‑level review and escalation mechanisms for significant contractual matters.
• Partner with our US and global teams to strengthen federal contracting readiness and compliance across the organization.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for contract‑related matters with federal contracting officers and agency representatives, and build the relationships with contracting officers, subcontractors, and teaming partners that keep contract execution compliant and on track.
• Identify the staffing and capability needs of a growing federal portfolio, and develop training for Business Development, Engineering, Program Management, Finance, and other teams that interact with federal contracts, so compliance expertise isn't held by one person.
• Represent ispace‑U.S. at government‑industry engagements, acquisition forums, conferences, industry days, and other strategic events.
• Establish performance metrics and executive reporting on contract execution, acquisition readiness, and portfolio health.
• Evaluate prime contractor, subcontractor, teaming, joint venture, and strategic partnership opportunities based on corporate objectives and federal market conditions.
• Assist in developing a long‑term strategy for increasing ispace‑U.S.’s ability to compete independently for prime federal contracts.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in contract administration or related field. We will consider a combination of experience and education for all roles.
• 8+ years of government contracts experience in aerospace, defense, or a comparable regulated industry
• Working command of the FAR, DFARS, and NASA FAR Supplement, with practical experience across multiple contract types (FFP, CPFF, CPIF, IDIQ, OTA)
• Demonstrated negotiation experience with government customers or prime contractors
• Bachelor's degree, or equivalent experience
• Ability to work independently in a fast‑moving environment where precedent often doesn't exist yet
• Must live in the Washington D.C. area

What Makes You Stand Out

• Master's degree or higher
• Experience with NASA acquisition, CLPS or commercial services contracts, or firm‑fixed‑price milestone‑based space vehicle contracts
• Familiarity with OTAs, SBIR/STTR, and Space Act Agreements
• Background supporting a company through its first major prime award
• NCMA certification (CPCM, CFCM, CCCM) or JD
• Working knowledge of export control regimes and cross‑border affiliate structures
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance

At ispace, we believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences, even if you don’t meet every listed requirement. Your unique skills and experiences may be exactly what we need to grow and succeed together.

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. Learn more about the ITAR.here.

ispace is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with ispace 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.

All applicants who are offered employment with ispace US will be subject to a background investigation. Offers of employment are contingent on the successful completion of a background investigation conducted in accordance with Company policies and all applicable laws.

ispace Technologies, US, Inc. is a drug‑free workplace.

ispace Technologies, US, Inc. participates in the E‑Verify program.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

We welcome candidates with diverse experience levels and evaluate the best fit on an individual basis. Your final job level and salary will be determined based on your skills, experience, and the impact you can bring to the role.

• Health Coverage: Competitive medical, vision, and dental plans, with 100% company‑paid options available for employees.
• Hybrid Work: Flexibility to work remotely and in‑office, depending on your role and the stage of our program.
• Commuter Perks: Company‑paid RTD EcoPass for buses and light rail.
• Lunch Perks: Monthly stipend to enjoy meals from our café.
• Paid Time Off: 18 vacation days, 6 sick days, and 17 paid holidays.
• Retirement: 401(k) plan with company matching.
• Travel: Opportunities for domestic and international travel.
• Stock Options: Participation in our stock option program.
• Learning & Development: Ample opportunities to grow, including lunch‑and‑learns, skills training, and stipends for professional development.
• Team Culture: A fun and casual environment with regular team gatherings, including monthly engagement events to connect and unwind.