Senior Director of Contracts

Trident Systems; Fairfax (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) with match

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Holidays

Leaves (Parental, maternity, military)

Annual discretionary bonus

Job summary

Trident Systems is seeking a Senior Director of Contracts in Fairfax, VA to lead the contracts function across the full lifecycle. Reporting to the CFO, you will set strategy, manage risk, and drive compliant contract execution within aerospace/defense contexts.

You will negotiate complex agreements with government and commercial partners, ensure FAR/DFARS/ITAR compliance, and collaborate with Finance, Program Management, and Operations to support growth and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in business/contracts or related field.
• 15+ years of related experience (13+ years with graduate degree).
• Experience in government contracting with FAR/DFARS.
• Demonstrated leadership of a contracts organization.
• Strong export compliance including ITAR.
• Experience with multiple contract types (FFP, CPFF/CPAF, T&M, IDIQ, LOE).
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Contracts organization, including staffing and processes.
• Oversee full lifecycle of government and commercial contracts and subcontracts.
• Advise executive leadership on strategy, risk, and negotiations.
• Lead review and negotiation of complex contracts with government and partners.
• Ensure compliance with FAR, DFARS, ITAR, CAS, and TINA requirements.
• Collaborate with Business Development, Finance, Engineering, and Operations.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate contractual and business risks.
• Support government audits and regulatory inquiries.

Skills

Contract management

Leadership

Negotiation

Risk management

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Contracts/Law

Master's/JD preferred

Tools

Contract management systems

Job description

Position Title: Senior Director of Contracts
Requisition ID: 1870
Position Location: Fairfax, VA
Position Reports To: CFO
Supervises Others: Yes

At Trident Systems, we believe that strong engineering principles are fundamental to driving innovation and solving complex problems. We promote a culture characterized by rigorous engineering practices and a commitment to continuous improvement. This is achieved by leveraging our organization's collective expertise through collaborative development processes, which include thorough design and peer reviews. We can deliver innovative, high-performance solutions that meet our customers' evolving requirements by integrating our specialized knowledge in aerospace electronic systems with appropriately scaled development methodologies.

We are a mission partner supporting DoD, Intelligence Community, and Civil space customers. We develop complex, radiation effects mitigated, designs that balance competing requirements in modern space programs, delivering cutting-edge solutions that enable our customers to achieve more in space.

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Contracts is the senior leader responsible for the Company's contracts function and provides strategic and operational leadership across the full contract lifecycle. Reporting to the CFO, this position serves as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and business leaders on contractual strategy, risk, compliance, negotiations, and execution.

The Senior Director leads the development, negotiation, administration, and compliance of prime contracts, subcontracts, teaming agreements, and other commercial and government agreements supporting Trident's business. The position works closely with Finance, Business Development, Program Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Operations to identify and mitigate contractual risk, support business growth, and ensure compliance with applicable federal contracting requirements.

This position requires an experienced federal contracts leader with deep knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and government contracting practices, as well as demonstrated experience leading a contracts organization within the aerospace, defense, intelligence, or other highly regulated environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead and develop Trident’s Contracts organization, including staffing, resource planning, processes, policies, and performance objectives.
• Oversee the full lifecycle of government and commercial contracts, subcontracts, teaming agreements, and other contractual instruments from proposal through closeout.
• Serve as a senior advisor to executive leadership and business area leaders on contractual strategy, risk, compliance, negotiations, and business decisions.
• Lead the review and negotiation of complex contracts, modifications, subcontracts, teaming agreements, and other agreements with government customers, prime contractors, subcontractors, and commercial partners.
• Ensure compliance with FAR, DFARS, and other applicable federal contracting requirements, and maintain appropriate policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Partner with Business Development, Program Management, Finance, Engineering, Supply Chain and Operations to support proposals, new business opportunities, contract execution, and resolution of contractual issues.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate contractual risks, including changes, claims, disputes, flow-down requirements, data rights, intellectual property, and other significant contractual matters.
• Oversee government contract vehicles, including IDIQs, BPAs, GSA schedules, and other applicable vehicles, ensuring ongoing compliance and effective administration.
• Support government audits, customer reviews, and other regulatory inquiries, ensuring the organization is prepared to demonstrate contract compliance.
• Ensure compliance with export control regulations, including ITAR, in addition to FAR, DFARS, and other applicable federal contracting requirements.
• Ensure compliance with Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) and Truthful Cost or Pricing Data (TINA) requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement, standardization, and automation of contract management processes while ensuring the Contracts function effectively supports Trident’s growth.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Contracts, Finance, Law, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 15+ years of related experience or 13+ years with a graduate degree
• Experience in government contracting, contracts management, or a related discipline, preferably within the aerospace, defense, intelligence, or federal government contracting industry.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing a contracts organization.
• Strong working knowledge of export compliance regulations, including ITAR.
• Extensive knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and federal government contracting requirements.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating and administering complex prime contracts, subcontracts, teaming agreements, and contract modifications.
• Experience with multiple contract types, including FFP, CPFF/CPAF, T&M, IDIQ, and LOE.
• Experience supporting the full contract lifecycle, including proposals, negotiations, administration, modifications, compliance, and closeout.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, assess, communicate, and mitigate contractual and business risks.
• Experience advising senior leadership and cross-functional business leaders on complex contractual matters.
• Excellent written, verbal, analytical, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree, JD, or advanced degree in a relevant discipline.
• Experience within a small-to-medium-sized government contractor or high-growth aerospace/defense organization.
• Experience with DCAA/DCMA audits, reviews, or government contract administration activities.
• Experience with government data rights, intellectual property, and technical data requirements.
• Experience with contract management systems and process automation.
• Professional certification such as Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM), Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM), or equivalent.
• Experience supporting acquisitions, mergers, integrations, or other strategic corporate transactions.

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $170,000 - $250,000

Please Note: Actual compensation offered will be determined based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, skills, education, certifications, internal equity, business considerations, and geographic location where applicable.

Benefits

Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits including but not limited to:

• Health benefits
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Basic life with AD&D
  • Short term disability
  • Long term disability
  • Ancillary (Voluntary life with AD&D, accident, critical illness, hospital, and pet)
  • Spending accounts (HSA, FSA, and DCFSA)
• Paid time off
• Holidays
• 401(k) (including company match)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Leaves (Parental, maternity, and military)
• Annual discretionary bonus (for eligible roles)

Trident Systems reserves the right to change or assign other duties to this position.

Trident Solutions is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [e-mail].

Pay Transparency: The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)