Legal Counsel

northwoodspace; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwood Space in Los Angeles seeks a Legal Counsel to support the buildout of our global ground network, bridging legal, policy, and technical needs to enable international deployment.

You'll work with engineering, product, and operations to translate complex regulatory concepts into practical guidance, draft and negotiate agreements, and build scalable legal processes for a fast-growing space tech startup.

Qualifications

• J.D. required and bar admission in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 4+ years of relevant legal experience; government, law firm, and/or in-house.
• Working knowledge of U.S. regulatory processes (licensing, rulemaking, compliance).
• Excellent analytical thinking, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to operate in a fast-moving startup environment.

Responsibilities

• Work with cross-functional stakeholders—including engineering, sales, and go-to-market teams—to strategize execution of complex business opportunities and translate complex legal concepts into practical advice that enables teams to move forward confidently and quickly.
• Support operations across multiple regulatory regimes, both domestic and international, ensuring the company navigates these forums effectively to avoid risk and expand opportunities as regulations evolve.
• Assist with global market entry efforts, regulatory licensing, filings, and advocacy with regulatory agencies and government bodies, helping shape outcomes where it matters.
• Draft, negotiate, and review a wide range of commercial agreements in support of our global network, including customer and vendor contracts, NDAs, and government contracts, to close deals efficiently while safeguarding the company’s interests.
• Develop and refine internal legal processes, playbooks, and templates to improve efficiency and consistency and help set up a successful foundation for scalable legal operations as the company grows.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication

Organizational skills

Proactive mindset

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA accredited law school

Job description

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 seeking a Legal Counsel to support the buildout of our global ground network. This role sits at the intersection of legal, policy, and technical competencies, and will play a key role in enabling the company’s international deployment. You’ll work closely with teams across engineering, product, and operations, to strategize our growth and help translate legal complexity in multiple jurisdictions into practical, actionable guidance that enables the business to move forward with confidence. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who is excited about space, comfortable with ambiguity, and eager to take ownership in a fast-paced startup environment.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with cross-functional stakeholders—including engineering, sales, and go-to-market teams—to strategize execution of complex business opportunities and translate complex legal concepts into practical advice that enables teams to move forward confidently and quickly.
• Support operations across multiple regulatory regimes, both domestic and international, ensuring the company navigates these forums effectively to avoid risk and expand opportunities as regulations evolve.
• Assist with global market entry efforts, regulatory licensing, filings, and advocacy with regulatory agencies and government bodies, helping shape outcomes where it matters.
• Draft, negotiate, and review a wide range of commercial agreements in support of our global network, including customer and vendor contracts, NDAs, and government contracts, to close deals efficiently while safeguarding the company’s interests.
• Develop and refine internal legal processes, playbooks, and templates to improve efficiency and consistency and help set up a successful foundation for scalable legal operations as the company grows.

Basic Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA accredited law school and active membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 4+ years of relevant legal experience; a mix of government, law firm, and/or in-house experience is a plus.
• Working knowledge of U.S. regulatory processes (e.g., agency rulemakings, licensing, compliance frameworks)
• Excellent analytical thinking, communication, and organizational skills
• A proactive, solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to operate in a fast-moving environment

Additional Requirements

• This position requires successfully obtaining and maintaining a Top Secret Security Clearance as a condition of employment. While the clearance may not be immediately necessary upon hire, we encourage you to initiate the application process promptly upon accepting this offer. Your ability to secure the necessary clearance is essential for fulfilling key responsibilities of the role. Should you be unable to obtain it, Northwood Space reserves the right to modify or terminate your employment to align with optional needs.
• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed
• This role requires being on-site 5 days per week

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.