Senior Legal Counsel – Space & Govt Contracts

Telemetry Today LLC; Long Beach (CA); Hybrid; USD 214,000 - 285,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab, a leader in the space industry, is seeking a Senior Counsel II to support its Legal Department in Long Beach, CA. The role emphasizes contract drafting, negotiations, and regulatory compliance for US government contracts and complex commercial matters.

The candidate will lead contract and trade compliance teams, manage outside counsel, and scale legal processes across the enterprise, including M&A due diligence and IP licensing.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Active membership in the California State Bar or RIHC.
• Minimum of 15 years of legal experience.
• Experience in negotiating contracts, non-disclosure agreements and IP licenses.
• Ability to obtain a DoD Top Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Manage contractual and operational legal matters for the company, including mergers and acquisitions and other compliance requirements.
• Lead contract playbooks, templates, and clause libraries to streamline cycles.
• Advise on global trade compliance frameworks and training; support audits and investigations.
• Collaborate with Finance, IT/Security, HR, and Operations to balance risk with speed-to-value.
• Design and execute due diligence plans for M&A and corporate transactions.

Skills

Contract negotiations

Regulatory compliance

Dispute resolution

In-house counsel experience

IP licenses

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Rocket Lab, a leader in the space industry, is seeking a Senior Counsel II to support its Legal Department in Long Beach, CA. The role emphasizes contract drafting, negotiations, and regulatory compliance for US government contracts and complex commercial matters.

The candidate will lead contract and trade compliance teams, manage outside counsel, and scale legal processes across the enterprise, including M&A due diligence and IP licensing.