Senior Legal Counsel

BAE Systems OneArc USA, Inc; Sterling (VA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation days

Paid holidays

Benefits package (medical, dental, VIs

Flex/Voluntary benefits

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

BAE Systems OneArc USA, Inc. seeks a Senior Counsel to serve as the primary legal advisor to the modeling and simulation business, ensuring compliance with FAR/DFARs, corporate directives, and ethical standards. The role includes drafting, negotiating, and managing complex U.S.

Government contracts, international software licensing, and IP rights. The Senior Counsel acts as a strategic partner to leadership, supporting cross-functional operations and licensing matters, with hybrid work in

Qualifications

• JD from ABA-accredited law school.
• Bar admission in a US jurisdiction.
• Eligible to be admitted to the Virginia state bar or obtain corporate counsel certificate to practice in Virginia.
• Ability to obtain, maintain, or hold an active security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Draft, negotiate, and review a broad range of agreements, including U.S. Government contracts, software licensing, international licensing, and commercial support agreements.
• Provide legal advice to business leadership and management; conduct legal research and recommend actions.
• Ensure compliance with FAR/DFARs, corporate directives, ethics, and governing laws; formulate operating policies and procedures.

Skills

Government contracting

Negotiation

Communication

Problem solving

Autonomy

Legal research

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Bar admission (US)

Virginia bar eligibility

Job description

The Senior Counsel serves as the primary legal advisor to the modeling and simulation business, responsible for ensuring operational compliance with all corporate directives, governmental regulations (specifically FAR/DFARs), and ethical standards.

This role integrates legal expertise with business acumen to draft, negotiate, and manage complex agreements, including U.S. Government contracts, international software licensing, and intellectual property rights.

The Senior Counsel acts as a strategic partner to functional leadership, providing pragmatic legal counsel and innovative solutions regarding supply chain and contractual matters to mitigate litigation risk and facilitate the achievement of business objectives.

They are dotted line accountable to support the OneArc Senior Leadership Team including the President. The role is based in McLean, Virginia hybrid with 3 days per week on site.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Contract & Agreement Management: Draft, negotiate, and review a broad range of agreements, including U.S. Government contracts, software licensing, international licensing, and commercial support agreements.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure the business complies with all corporate directives, ethics, governmental regulations, and laws. This includes formulating and recommending operating policies and procedures.
• Intellectual Property & Licensing: Review and advise on IP rights, data rights under U.S. Government contracts, and third-party software licensing (including Free and Open Source Software/FOSS) affecting product development.
• Legal Advisory: Provide legal advice to business and management personnel, conduct legal research, and deliver counsel based on findings. Guide the successful resolution of legal problems by examining data and recommending courses of action.
• Functional Support: Support legal and compliance issues for business winning efforts and efficient technology delivery while maintaining direct and effective communication with all stakeholders to facilitate this. Participate in all onsite meeting that need legal counsel as deemed necessary by leadership.
• Liaison Duties: Function as the primary liaison between management and outside legal counsel (domestic and international). Consult with outside counsel as required upon recommendation from the Group General Counsel.
• Policy & Training: Develop and present training materials for the workforce on legal topics. participate in reviewing and drafting company policies, templates, and guidelines to empower other business functions.
• Litigation Support: Manage litigation support department objectives within the established budget and assist with the analysis of litigation and pre-litigation matters.

Objectives

• Business Winning: Continuously collaborate with the US and Global business leadership, their team members, and BAE Systems legal, compliance, and teams to ensure revenue generating efforts are supported until they are deemed closed and won.
• Effective Direct Communication: Prioritize frequent, direct, in-person contact with all stakeholders, backed by virtual or offline engagements if necessary.
• Risk Mitigation: Proactively address issues before they create legal exposure and analyze matters to ensure the protection of OneArc’s interests.
• Strategic Impact: Routine impact on the quality and timeliness of results, planning, revenues, and budget through the setting of policies and procedures.
• Continuous Improvement: Proactively research and report on changes in laws, regulations, industry standards, and emerging trends to keep the business ahead of the curve.
• Professional Development: Share responsibility for self-development with the immediate supervisor and participate in professional associations.

Skills, Knowledge, and Competencies

Technical & Legal Knowledge

• Government Contracting: In-depth and up to date knowledge of FAR/DFARs and other relevant government contracting rules including those for commercial and non-traditional defense tech companies.
• Software & IP: Expertise in software licensing regimes (including FOSS), international licensing, and intellectual property matters.
• Research: Strong capability to conduct legal research and track emerging legal trends.
• Effective and Compliant AI Use: Existing knowledge of compliant AI-based research or capable of rapidly gaining such knowledge.

Skills & Competencies

• Negotiation: Ability to negotiate mainly internally at higher levels and with external relationships.
• Communication: Strong oral and written communication skills; able to communicate sensitive information and modify beliefs or opinions based on facts. Prioritize direct in-person communication when on-site with on-camera virtual if corresponding with remote offices.
• Problem Solving: Analytical thought required to resolve issues in complex situations without supervision.
• Autonomy: Ability to work independently but collaboratively, displaying self-direction, sound judgment, and a proactive "self-starter" approach.

Education & Certifications

• Degree: JD from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Bar Admission: Admitted to practice law in a US jurisdiction (Required).
• State Specific: Eligible to be admitted to the Virginia state bar or ability to obtain a corporate counsel certificate to practice in Virginia.
• Clearance: Ability to obtain, maintain, or already possess an active security clearance.

Experience

• Tenure: Minimum of eight (8) years of relevant experience.
• Background: Experience with a major law firm, aerospace and defense company, or the federal government.
• Specific Focus: Proven experience in Government Contracting.
• Preferred: Army/Navy customer experience.

What you will get:

• You start with 15 days of vacation, 3 years 20 days, and 5 years 25 days
• There are 14 paid holidays
• Benefits Medical, Dental, Vision, Life insurance, STD & LTD, FSA
• Voluntary Benefits pet insurance, home & Auto Insurance, Identity theft protection, legal plan, accident insurance
• TriNet perks with discounts and deals, attractions, concerts, car rental, hotels etc.
• Hybrid work environment