Senior Defense Contracts Counsel – DFARS & DoD Expert

Gateway Recruiting; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Gateway Recruiting is seeking a Senior Counsel Defense Contracts/CUI with deep expertise in U.S. federal government contracting and compliance, notably DFARS, FAR, and CMMC, to support DoD and other federal agencies across the full lifecycle of defense programs.

The ideal candidate will translate complex regulations into practical guidance for business stakeholders, lead cross-functional teams, and help ensure risk-based compliance in a dynamic defense environment.

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited U.S. law school.
• Minimum 7+ years of government contracts and defense compliance experience.
• Deep expertise in FAR/DFARS and regulatory interpretation.
• Experience advising on CMMC, NIST cybersecurity requirements.
• Admitted to a U.S. state bar in good standing.
• Strong ability to partner cross-functionally and communicate complex regulations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary legal counsel on U.S. government contracting with DFARS/FAR focus.
• Advise on DoD contracts across formation, administration, performance and compliance.
• Provide guidance on CMMC and cybersecurity/data protection requirements.
• Support proposal development, contract negotiations, and risk assessments.
• Draft, review, and negotiate prime contracts, subcontracts, teaming agreements, and NDAs.
• Advise on flow-down requirements and subcontractor DFARS obligations.
• Partner with engineering, IT, supply chain, and program teams.
• Liaise with DoD and State Department on regulatory matters.
• Support internal audits, investigations, and compliance reviews.
• Develop training on FAR/DFARS and CMMC readiness.
• Monitor regulatory developments and assess impact on defense activities.
• Promote and model ICARE values.

Skills

Government contracts

FAR/DFARS expertise

CMMC/NIST cybersecurity

Cross-functional collaboration

Strong communication

DoD contracting experience

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited U.S. law school

Job description

Gateway Recruiting is seeking a Senior Counsel Defense Contracts/CUI with deep expertise in U.S. federal government contracting and compliance, notably DFARS, FAR, and CMMC, to support DoD and other federal agencies across the full lifecycle of defense programs.

The ideal candidate will translate complex regulations into practical guidance for business stakeholders, lead cross-functional teams, and help ensure risk-based compliance in a dynamic defense environment.