Legal Counsel (Commercial) @ Vast

Counselwell Inc.; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 221,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid parental leave

Generous paid time off

Free meals and snacks

Job summary

Counselwell Inc. is looking for a Legal Counsel in Long Beach, CA, to manage commercial contracts and oversee intellectual property matters. The ideal candidate possesses a JD and has over 2 years of experience in a legal role. This full-time position offers competitive compensation and an array of benefits, including medical coverage, generous paid time off, and exceptional food perks.

The role involves negotiating complex deals, providing legal guidance, and supporting business operations, requiring strong communication and problem-solving skills.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in a legal role at a private company or law firm.
• Subject matter expertise in commercial contracts and intellectual property.
• JD with admission to practice law in California.

Responsibilities

• Structure, negotiate, and execute transactions for commercial contracts.
• Provide business-oriented legal guidance enabling rapid progress.
• Manage the intellectual property portfolio including patents and trademarks.

Skills

Commercial contracts expertise

Intellectual property knowledge

Strong verbal and written skills

Problem-solving skills

Team player

Education

JD with state bar admission

2+ years legal experience

Job description

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. We are developing next‑generation space stations to ensure a continuous human presence in space, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and unlocking a new space economy for government, corporate, and private customers.

Location: Long Beach, CA (On‑Site)

Job Type: Full‑time, Exempt

Position: Legal Counsel, reporting to General Counsel.

Responsibilities

• Commercial Contracts: Structure, negotiate, and execute transactions ranging from standard agreements to highly complex deals, ensuring alignment with business objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Business Enablement: Provide practical, business‑oriented legal guidance that enables teams to move quickly while maintaining appropriate risk controls; act as a key resource for navigating legal challenges and ensuring Vast’s success with customers in the U.S. and around the world.
• Special Projects: Support our General Counsel and Associate General Counsel on special projects, as requested, and work independently with our internal legal support staff and other internal partners.
• Intellectual Property Management: Oversee and manage Vast’s intellectual property portfolio, including coordination of patent, trademark, and trade secret matters; support IP strategy, filings, maintenance, enforcement, licensing, and related risk mitigation in alignment with business objectives and technology development.
• Process & Template Development: Help build and improve contract templates, playbooks, intake processes, and approval workflows to support faster, more consistent customer contracting across the business.
• Risk & Compliance: Identify and manage legal, regulatory, and operational risks related to commercial transactions, including supply chain, intellectual property, confidentiality, data privacy, export controls, and compliance obligations.

Minimum Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in a legal role at a private company or law firm.
• Subject matter expertise in commercial contracts and intellectual property.
• JD with admission to practice law in a state bar in good standing and able to practice in‑house in California.
• Strong problem‑solving experience and skills.
• Strong verbal and writing skills.
• Process‑oriented and team player.
• Good judgment and the ability to balance risk and productivity in a business environment.
• Ability to work independently or collaboratively in a fast‑pace environment.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• A strong ability to inspire trust, forge relationships quickly, and earn the confidence and cooperation of business stakeholders.
• Diligent and proactive, you have demonstrated excellent legal and business judgment, technical acumen, communication skills and strategic thinking, along with the ability to work independently and cross‑functionally with excellent time management and prioritization skills.
• Comfortable with and responsive to rapid developments and changes in direction; eager to learn new tech, products, and substantive legal areas to support multiple roles within the legal department.
• Familiarity with the aerospace industry and its unique legal challenges; ability to identify and mitigate legal risks while enabling business objectives.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time.
• Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones.

Pay Range

$155,000—$221,000 USD

Compensation and Benefits

Base salary will vary depending on job‑related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full‑time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, generous paid time off (up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non‑exempt staff with the ability to cash‑out unused vacation annually), paid parental leave, short and long‑term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high‑quality meals for employees.

U.S. Export Control Compliance Status

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a "U.S. person" as defined by 22 C.F.R.