Senior Counsel, Litigation & Regulatory

NightDragon Acquisition Corp.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental and Vision Insurance

Time Off

Parental Leave

Competitive Salary

401(k) Plan with company match

Stock Options

Life and Disability Insurance

Pet Insurance

Free lunch and unlimited drinks

Job summary

Saronic Technologies seeks a Senior Counsel to lead litigation and regulatory work, partnering with the Head of Regulatory & Litigation, GC, and government affairs teams to manage high-stakes matters.

This role requires strategic case development, fluency with federal decision-makers, and management of litigation, regulatory, and facility-related matters in parallel.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of legal experience involving litigation and regulatory matters.
• Juris Doctor and active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.
• Track record of building and executing strategy in high-stakes federal litigation.
• Experience advising senior executives on legal, regulatory, and policy risk.
• Interest in national security, defense, or law enforcement matters.
• Excellent written and oral advocacy with senior policymakers.
• Sound judgment and ownership in a fast-moving, mission-driven company.

Responsibilities

• Develop and drive litigation strategy for high-stakes matters from initial assessment through motions and appeal.
• Draft and oversee filings, manage outside counsel and secure high-quality work product.
• Lead internal fact development including interviews and witness prep.
• Coordinate amicus and coalition strategy and align positions with external messaging.
• Advise on regulatory matters including export controls and national security regulations.
• Prepare briefing materials for meetings with government officials and external stakeholders.
• Advise on the intersection of law, policy, and strategy across functions.

Skills

Litigation strategy

Regulatory affairs

National security

Executive counsel

Policy analysis

Communication

Education

Juris Doctor

Bar admission

Job description

Saronic Technologies is a leader in revolutionizing autonomy at sea, dedicated to developing state-of-the-art solutions that enhance maritime operations through autonomous and intelligent platforms.

Job Overview

We are hiring a Senior Counsel to take a leading role in Saronic’s litigation and regulatory work. This is primarily a litigation and regulatory role, with meaningful responsibility for government-facing engagement and executive advisory work. You will partner closely with our Head of Regulatory & Litigation, our General Counsel, and our government affairs and policy teams to manage high-stakes matters and shape the legal environment in which Saronic operates.

This is not a traditional in-house role. It requires sharp legal judgment, the ability to build case strategy from the ground up, fluency with how federal decision-makers operate, and the discipline to manage litigation, regulatory, and facility-related matters in parallel.

Responsibilities

• Litigation Strategy

  • Develop and drive strategy on the company’s most consequential litigation, including affirmative challenges and constitutional and administrative law matters, from initial case assessment through dispositive motions and appeal.

  • Draft and oversee key filings, including complaints, preliminary injunction motions and oppositions, and dispositive and discovery motions, while managing outside counsel to a high standard of work product.

  • Lead internal fact development, including employee interviews, declarations, and witness preparation.

  • Coordinate amicus and coalition strategy and align litigation positions with the company’s external messaging.

  Regulatory and Government Engagement

  • Partner with the Head of Regulatory & Litigation on national and international regulatory matters affecting Saronic, including military acquisition regulation, export controls, and cross-cutting national security regulatory issues.

  • Engage with agencies and develop comments, filings, and advocacy strategies on regulations material to the company.

  • Advise senior leadership on risks and opportunities arising from legislation, executive orders, and regulation, and support the government affairs team on legal and policy engagement with the executive branch and Congress.

  • Prepare talking points, white papers, and briefing materials for meetings with government officials and other external stakeholders.

  Cross-Functional Counsel

  • Advise business leaders on the intersection of law, policy, and strategy across product, government affairs, and corporate functions.

  • Help build the legal infrastructure of a fast-scaling defense technology company.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of legal experience involving litigation and regulatory matters (government, in-house, or top-tier law firm).

• Juris Doctor and active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.

• A track record of building and executing strategy in high-stakes federal litigation, including constitutional, administrative, or complex commercial matters.

• Experience advising senior executives or government officials on legal, regulatory, and policy risk.

• Demonstrated interest in or experience with national security, defense, or law enforcement matters.

• Excellent written and oral advocacy; ability to operate with senior policymakers and senior executives with equal credibility.

• Sound judgment, low ego, high ownership, and the temperament to thrive in a fast-moving, mission-driven company.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior executive branch, congressional, military, or other national security experience.

• Experience with environmental, permitting, or land-use matters for large-scale industrial or infrastructure facilities.

• Experience with defense acquisition, export controls, or CFIUS.

• Familiarity with autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, dual-use technology, or defense innovation.

• Current or prior U.S. security clearance (Secret or higher); TS/SCI eligibility strongly preferred.

Physical Demands

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer

• Occasional standing and walking within the office

• Manual dexterity to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment

• Visual acuity to read screens, documents, and reports

• Occasional reaching, bending, or stooping to access file drawers, cabinets, or office supplies

• Lifting and carrying items up to 20 pounds occasionally (e.g., office supplies, packages)

Benefits

Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance plans covering a range of services

Saronic pays 100% of the premium for employees and 80% for dependents

Dental and Vision Insurance: Coverage for routine dental check-ups, orthodontics, and vision care

Saronic pays 100% of the premium under the basic plan for employees and 80% for dependents

Time Off: Generous PTO and Holidays

Parental Leave: Paid maternity and paternity leave to support new parents

Competitive Salary: Industry-standard salaries with opportunities for performance-based bonuses

Retirement Plan: 401(k) plan with company match

Stock Options: Equity options to give employees a stake in the company’s success

Life and Disability Insurance: Basic life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage

Pet Insurance: Discounted pet insurance options including 24/7 Telehealth helpline

Additional Perks: Free lunch benefit and unlimited free drinks and snacks in the office

Saronic CCAA Notice for Candidates and California Employees

If this role is based in the United States, it requires access to export-controlled information or items that require “U.S. Person” status. As defined by U.S. law, individuals who are any one of the following are considered to be a “U.S. Person”: (1) U.S. citizens, (2) legal permanent residents (a.k.a. green card holders), and (3) certain protected classes of asylees and refugees, as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). Saronic does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.