Senior Legal Counsel

Socket.dev; Berthoud (CO); Hybrid; USD 200,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Parental leave

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

HSA/FSA

Disability insurance

Life insurance

401k with company match

Equity grants

Job summary

Ursa Major seeks a Senior Legal Counsel to serve as a strategic partner across the organization, handling high-stakes matters, regulatory obligations, and complex contracts in a hybrid Berthoud, Colorado role. You will shape IP strategy, counsel on employment and ethics programs, and oversee corporate transactions with an emphasis on risk management.

Reporting to the General Counsel, you will steward outside counsel, manage spend, and ensure compliance while balancing business objectives in a

Qualifications

• J.D. with active bar membership in good standing.
• 10+ years of progressive legal experience, in-house and/or firm.
• Excellent analytical, negotiation and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong ability to manage multiple high-priority matters in a fast-paced environment.
• Outstanding drafting, editing and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and ability to translate law into business guidance.
• Strong business acumen balancing legal risk with commercial goals.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.
• Aerospace/defense or other heavily regulated industry experience.

Responsibilities

• Advise executive leadership on a wide range of legal and regulatory matters.
• Provide guidance on government contracting, FAR/DFARS, and export controls.
• Draft, review and negotiate complex contracts including supplier and leases.
• Oversee intellectual property portfolio and implement protection strategy.
• Advise on employment law and ethics/investigation programs.
• Support corporate transactions from due diligence to integration.
• Lead investigations, dispute resolution and litigation matters.
• Develop and improve company-wide policies and training for compliance.
• Manage outside counsel and legal spend within budget.
• Champion ethics and integrity across Ursa Major.

Skills

Analytical skills

Negotiation

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Business acumen

Security clearance

Aerospace/defense experience

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Job description

The future of aerospace and defense starts here.

Ursa Major was founded to revolutionize how America and its allies access and apply high-performance propulsion, from hypersonics to solid rocket motors, satellite maneuvering and launch. We design and deliver propulsion and defense systems that solve the most urgent and critical national security demands.

The Senior Legal Counsel will serve as a strategic business partner and trusted advisor to business functions across Ursa Major, independently managing high-stakes legal matters while proactively mitigating risk and enabling business objectives. Reporting directly to the General Counsel, this role requires a legal professional with excellent judgement, advanced problem-solving skills, and business acumen. This position is based in our Berthoud, Colorado office as a hybrid role.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise executive leadership and senior stakeholders on a wide range of legal, regulatory, and business matters across all aspects of the organization.
• Provide strategic guidance on government contracting requirements and other regulatory obligations for the aerospace and defense industry, including FAR/DFARS compliance, compliance with export control laws, and other complex regulatory regimes.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of complex contracts and agreements, including supplier contracts, licensing agreements, joint venture agreements, strategic partnerships, leases, and other real estate contracts.
• Oversee the company’s intellectual property portfolio, including developing and implementing a comprehensive intellectual property protection strategy.
• Serve as a strategic advisor on employment law matters and complex HR initiatives, as well as serving as the legal advisor to the company’s ethics and internal investigation program
• Support corporate transactions, including M&A and other strategic business transactions, providing comprehensive legal oversight from due diligence through integration.
• Lead company investigations, dispute resolution initiatives, and litigation matters.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve company-wide policies and procedures and training programs to ensure legal and regulatory compliance.
• Manage outside counsel and control legal spend consistent with the department budget.
• Champion a culture of ethics and integrity across the organization.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school and active bar membership in good standing.
• 10+ years of progressive legal experience, with a combination of in-house and law firm experience strongly preferred.
• Exceptional analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple high-priority matters in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Outstanding attention to detail, particularly in drafting and reviewing complex legal documents.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to translate legal concepts into practical business guidance.
• Strong business acumen with demonstrated ability to balance legal risk against commercial objectives.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• Aerospace, defense, or other heavily-regulated industry experience.

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $200,000 - $230,000, determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. What we can't quantify for you are the exciting challenges, supportive team, and amazing culture we enjoy.

Classification: Full-time Exempt

Benefits Include: (Please note, Interns are not eligible for benefits)

• Unlimited PTO - Vacation, Sick, Personal, and Bereavement
• Paid Parental and Adoptive Leave
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Tax Advantage Accounts (HSA/FSA)
• Employer Paid Short and Long Term Disability, Basic Life, AD&D
• Additional Benefit Options Including Voluntary Life and Emergency Medical Transport
• EAP Program
• Retirement Savings Plan - 401k with Company Match
• Equity Grants in the Company

NOTE: Research suggests that women and BIPOC individuals may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who believes they have the skills and the drive necessary to succeed here to apply for this role.

Must be a U.S. Person (this includes U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents).

Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance.

We’re an equal-opportunity employer. You will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

No outside recruiters, please.