Senior Director, Government Contracts & Compliance

CesiumAstro, Inc.; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 210,000 - 320,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

CesiumAstro, a leader in space communication systems, seeks aSenior Director of Legal (Government) to head government contracting and regulatory strategy. You will partner with business development, program management, and executives to shape compliance programs, negotiate complex deals, and guide cross‑functional teams through evolving export controls.

You will build scalable processes, mentor a growing legal/compliance team, and serve as a trusted advisor on risk, with a focus on FAR/DFARS,

Qualifications

• JD required and active US bar license.
• 11+ years of progressive legal experience in aerospace/defense with government contracting.
• Deep expertise in FAR/DFARS and U.S. government procurement processes.
• Experience with export controls (ITAR/EAR) and regulatory compliance programs.
• Proven success leading negotiations on complex defense and government programs.
• Experience advising C-suite leaders and Boards of Directors.
• Ability to balance speed and risk in a fast-paced environment.
• Active security clearance or ability to obtain one.

Responsibilities

• Lead legal support for U.S. government contracts, including FAR/DFARS compliance and interpretation, proposal review, contract negotiation, administration, and dispute resolution.
• Partner with business development and program teams to structure, negotiate, and win government deals.
• Advise on contract clauses, performance, change orders, claims, and terminations.
• Support regulatory compliance across agencies (FCC, NOAA, Commerce Dept., State Dept., etc.).
• Advise on licensing, approvals, and ongoing regulatory obligations.
• Monitor and interpret evolving regulatory requirements and assess business impact.
• Build and oversee export compliance programs (ITAR, EAR).
• Advise on international transactions, data sharing, and technology transfers.
• Partner with engineering/operations to ensure compliant product development and deployment.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures for government compliance.
• Conduct internal training and guidance on regulatory and contracting requirements.
• Identify and mitigate legal and regulatory risks across programs.
• Serve as trusted advisor to executive leadership on government strategy and risk.
• Collaborate with finance, operations, and supply chain on compliance and audit readiness.
• Support interactions with government stakeholders, auditors, and regulators.
• Establish scalable processes, templates, and playbooks for government legal work.
• Manage outside counsel and specialized advisors.
• Help build and mentor a growing legal and compliance team.

Skills

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Regulatory compliance

Execution oriented

Strategic thinking

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) degree

Job description

CesiumAstro, a leader in space communication systems, seeks aSenior Director of Legal (Government) to head government contracting and regulatory strategy. You will partner with business development, program management, and executives to shape compliance programs, negotiate complex deals, and guide cross‑functional teams through evolving export controls.

You will build scalable processes, mentor a growing legal/compliance team, and serve as a trusted advisor on risk, with a focus on FAR/DFARS,