Senior Legal Counsel, Government Contracts

Castelion; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Castelion seeks a Senior Legal Counsel, Government Contracts to own the full lifecycle of U.S. government contracting matters, guiding proposals, negotiations, and compliance for DoD programs.

You will collaborate with engineering, program management, and business development, advising on regulatory requirements and helping build scalable processes for rapid growth in a hardware-driven environment. Requirements include a JD, active bar, 5+ years in government contracts, FAR/DFARS expertise, and

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school.
• 5+ years of government contracts law experience.
• Deep expertise in FAR/DFARS and DoD contracting environments.
• Experience at a top law firm, in-house at a defense contractor, or within government.
• Ability to operate autonomously and provide strategic guidance.

Responsibilities

• Lead legal strategy across U.S. government contracts, including DoD programs (FAR/DFARS)
• Advise on proposal development, contract negotiation, and program execution
• Interpret and apply complex regulatory requirements across contracting, procurement, and compliance
• Partner with business development to structure deals and shape acquisition strategies
• Support audits, investigations, and interactions with government stakeholders
• Develop scalable processes and playbooks to support rapid company growth
• Provide pragmatic, risk-balanced guidance in a fast-paced, hardware-driven environment

Skills

Govt contracts law

FAR/DFARS

DoD clearance

Autonomous

Regulatory compliance

Contract negotiation

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Why Castelion, Why Now

Castelion is moving incredibly fast to develop and deliver advanced defense systems at a time when execution matters more than ever. We believe focus, ownership, and excellence are decisive advantages - and we're building a world-class team to turn bold ideas into real capability. This is a rare opportunity to join at an early stage, where you'll have significant ownership, collaborate with exceptional teammates, and make a direct, measurable impact on our mission and the future of the company - regardless of your function.

Senior Legal Counsel, Government Contracts (This role can be based in Washington DC or Torrance, CA)

Castelion is seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel, Government Contracts to serve as a critical partner to our engineering, program management, and business development teams. This role will own the full lifecycle of U.S. government contracting matters, enabling the company to move quickly and compliantly as we scale advanced defense programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead legal strategy and execution across U.S. government contracts, including DoD programs (FAR/DFARS)
• Advise on proposal development, contract negotiation, and program execution
• Interpret and apply complex regulatory requirements across contracting, procurement, and compliance
• Partner with business development to structure deals and shape acquisition strategies
• Support audits, investigations, and interactions with government stakeholders
• Develop scalable processes and playbooks to support rapid company growth
• Provide pragmatic, risk-balanced guidance in a fast-paced, hardware-driven environment

Basic Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school and active bar membership
• 5+ years of experience in government contracts law
• Deep expertise in FAR/DFARS and DoD contracting environments
• Experience at a top law firm, in-house at a defense contractor, or within government
• Strong business judgment with the ability to operate autonomously
• Proven ability to support high-tempo engineering and program teams
• The ability to obtain and maintain a DoD clearance

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Experience with classified programs and export controls (ITAR/EAR)
• Background supporting hardware, aerospace, or defense systems
• Familiarity with cost accounting standards (CAS) and compliance frameworks=

Castelion offers a generous benefits package. Please refer to the bottom of our Careers page for more details.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Additional Eligibility Requirements

This position may require access to classified information or restricted U.S. Government sites, systems, or information, as determined by the Company and/or applicable U.S. Government requirements. If the position is so designated, your employment in the role may be contingent upon your ability to obtain and maintain the required U.S. Government security clearance or other government authorization, and to satisfy any citizenship or other eligibility requirements imposed by applicable law, regulation, executive order, or government contract requirements. You will be notified if and when such requirements apply.

Affirmative Action/EEO Statement

Castelion is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Castelion is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and hiring process. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, participate in the interview process, or otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact [e-mail]. Requests for accommodation will be considered on an individual basis and handled in accordance with applicable law.

Castelion is committed to fostering a workplace where employment decisions are based on qualifications, business needs, and the ability to perform the essential functions of the role, with or without reasonable accommodation.

EAR/ITAR Requirements

This position requires access to export-controlled information, and as such, employment (or hiring of a contractor) is contingent upon the candidate's ability to access all applicable export-controlled information without additional export licensing being required by the Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.