Sr. Staff Contracts Manager

Shield; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Equity

Bonus

Job summary

Shield AI seeks a detail-oriented Contracts Manager to lead contract and subcontracts for defense simulation work. You will ensure compliance with FAR/DFARS/ITAR and coordinate with Legal, Finance, and Program Management.

You will negotiate terms, manage large government contracts, and maintain subcontractor relationships while supporting a hybrid work model in California.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, law, contracts management, or related field.
• 8+ years of contract management experience in defense contracting preferred.
• Strong knowledge of FAR, DFARS, OTAs, ITAR and government procurement processes.
• Experience negotiating complex terms of sale/purchase and managing government contracts.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and support multiple stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook).

Responsibilities

• Prepare, review, negotiate, and manage customer contracts and subcontracts.
• Draft and negotiate NDAs, MOUs, teaming agreements, statements of work, and other agreements.
• Provide guidance on terms and conditions for subcontracts and supplier agreements.
• Administer large, complex government contracts and monitor performance and compliance.
• Serve as primary contact for contractual matters with customers, subcontractors, and internal teams.
• Coordinate with Legal, Finance, Program Management to align transactions with objectives.
• Identify regulatory risks and ensure FAR/DFARS/ITAR compliance.
• Identify rights in technical data and software for government contracts.
• Issue subcontractor RFPs and conduct cost/price analysis when applicable.
• Document subcontractor evaluations and monitor subcontracting plan performance.

Skills

FAR/DFARS/ITAR knowledge

Regulatory compliance

Contract negotiations

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Law, Contracts Management, or related

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube.

Job Description:

We are seeking a detail-oriented and highly motivated Contracts Manager to join our team supporting defense simulation contracting operations. In this role, you will be responsible for the preparation, negotiation, and management of contracts and subcontracts to help ensure compliance with applicable federal regulations and company policies. This position requires an individual with strong knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), and other relevant regulations associated with defense contracts.

What you'll do:

• Support business development and customer growth by identifying appropriate contract vehicles; preparing, reviewing, negotiating, and executing customer contracts, nondisclosure agreements, memoranda of understanding, teaming agreements, statements of work, and other agreements; and preparing contract documentation for compliant proposals.
• Support Supply Chain by providing guidance on and drafting and negotiating terms and conditions for subcontracts and supplier agreements.
• Administer large and complex government contracts, including monitoring performance and compliance, managing modifications and amendments, and leading key negotiations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for contractual matters involving customers, subcontractors, and internal stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Legal, Finance, Program Management, and other internal teams to align transactions with Shield AI’s strategic objectives, address contractual issues, and resolve disputes.
• Identify contractual and regulatory risks and coordinate with Legal and other compliance functions to ensure compliance with FAR, DFARS, ITAR, and other applicable requirements.
• Identify and assert appropriate rights in technical data and computer software in connection with government contracts.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting and maintain complete and organized records of contract-related activities and documentation. Manage subcontractor relationships and ensure subcontractor records are accurate, complete and in compliance with defense flow down requirements.
• Issue subcontractor RFPs and conduct cost or price analysis, when applicable, to assess price reasonableness and support negotiations.
• Coordinate and document subcontractor proposal evaluations with Program Management, technical personnel, and other stakeholders, as applicable.
• Develop and maintain a small business subcontracting plan and monitor performance against the plan.

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Business Administration, Law, Contracts Management, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in contract management, preferably in a defense contracting environment providing cradle-to-grave contract administration support for CPAF, CPFF, FFP and T&M government contracts.
• Strong knowledge of FAR, DFARS, OTAs, ITAR, and government procurement processes.
• Experience negotiating complex terms and conditions of sale and purchase, and managing government contracts.
• Exceptional communication and organizational skills and strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently as well as support multiple stakeholders in a rapid pace environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook).

Preferred qualifications:

• Certification in Contracts Management (e.g., CPCM, CFCM, or similar)
• Experience with software licensing and development contracts

Work environment:

• Hybrid work environment with time at Shield AI’s local office and occasional travel to customer sites and other Shield AI offices outside of the local office area

$130,000 - $190,000 a year

Full-time regular employee offer package:

• Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity

Temporary employee offer package:

• Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)

Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.

Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.