Contracts Manager

Skyeton

2d

About The Position

The Contracts Manager leads the review, negotiation, administration, and closeout of government and commercial contracts supporting Skyeton’s aerospace and defense business. The role coordinates contractual matters across proposals, awards, program execution, changes, and closeout, helping meet customer commitments while protecting the company’s financial, operational, and intellectual property interests.

The position partners with executive leadership, Business Development, Program Management, Finance, Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and legal counsel. Success requires sound business judgment, knowledge of defense contracting, accurate records, and the ability to clearly communicate contract requirements and risks in a fast-growing organization.

Work is primarily performed in an office environment, with regular collaboration across engineering, manufacturing, finance, and program teams. Visits to manufacturing facilities and customer or supplier locations may be required. Domestic and international travel may be required based on business needs. Duties include computer work, reviewing detailed documents, and participating in meetings. Essential functions may be performed with or without reasonable accommodation. The position may involve access to export-controlled items, technical data, or customer information; employees must meet applicable access requirements. Any required background screening or customer or government clearance requirements depend on the assigned work.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, contract management, finance, supply chain, legal studies, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible contract administration or management experience, including U.S. government or defense industry contracts.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating and administering contracts with government agencies, defense prime contractors, or aerospace customers.
• Working knowledge of FAR and DFARS requirements, contract types, proposal requirements, flow-down clauses, modifications, and closeout processes.
• Ability to interpret complex contract language, identify commercial and compliance risks, and recommend practical solutions in coordination with internal stakeholders and legal counsel.
• Understanding of pricing structures, funding, payment terms, delivery and acceptance requirements, data rights, intellectual property, and confidentiality provisions.
• Strong written and verbal communication, negotiation, organization, and analytical skills; ability to manage competing deadlines and confidential information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and contract tracking or document management systems; ability to maintain accurate, auditable records.
• Ability to work independently, collaborate across functions, and establish effective customer relationships in a growing manufacturing business.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with UAS, avionics, aircraft manufacturing, defense technology, or other complex engineered products.
• Experience supporting both prime contracts and subcontracts, development and production programs, and international defense sales.
• Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM), Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM), Certified Commercial Contracts Manager (CCCM), or comparable credential.
• Familiarity with other transaction agreements, intellectual property and technical data rights, government property administration, and contract audit support.
• Experience coordinating contractual requirements involving ITAR/EAR, controlled unclassified information, cybersecurity, or foreign military sales.
• Experience establishing contract management processes and systems in a startup or rapidly expanding organization.

Responsibilities

• Manage assigned U.S. government, prime contractor, commercial, and international customer agreements throughout the contract lifecycle, from opportunity review through final closeout.
• Review solicitations, requests for proposals and quotations, statements of work, specifications, terms and conditions, and award documents; identify obligations, exceptions, ambiguities, and business risks.
• Lead negotiations on scope, pricing structure, payment, delivery, acceptance, warranties, liability, indemnification, termination, disputes, confidentiality, and intellectual property, coordinating with legal counsel as needed.
• Prepare and negotiate nondisclosure agreements, teaming agreements, contract modifications, and other business agreements using approved templates and review processes.
• Assess applicable FAR, DFARS, agency provisions, and customer requirements, and translate clauses into actionable responsibilities.
• Partner with proposal teams on compliance matrices, contractual exceptions, representations and certifications, pricing assumptions, and internal approvals before submission.
• Conduct contract kickoff reviews and maintain an obligations register for deliverables, milestones, reporting, notices, funding, options, acceptance requirements, and key dates.
• Administer fixed-price, cost-reimbursement, time-and-materials, and indefinite-delivery agreements and associated orders, as applicable.
• Monitor scope, funding, period of performance, delivery schedules, and contractual limits; coordinate timely notices and escalate potential overruns, delays, or performance concerns.
• Manage changes and modifications, document scope impacts, and support negotiation of equitable adjustments or claims with Program Management, Finance, and legal counsel.
• Partner with Supply Chain to identify and communicate subcontract flow-downs and support review of supplier and subcontract terms.
• Coordinate with Finance on billing milestones, payment terms, contract funding, revenue-related documentation, and resolution of payment or acceptance issues.
• Coordinate with responsible specialists on export controls, international transactions, cybersecurity and controlled information requirements, government property, and other contract-specific obligations.
• Maintain complete and secure contract files, negotiation records, approvals, correspondence, amendments, and version history; support audits, reviews, and customer inquiries.
• Serve as the contractual point of contact for customers and contracting representatives within delegated authority; route technical, legal, and commercial decisions to the appropriate owners.
• Prepare contract status reports and concise risk summaries for leadership; improve templates, approval workflows, obligation tracking, and contract management practices.
• Support closeout by confirming completion of deliverables, final invoicing, property disposition, required releases, and record retention with responsible departments.
• Provide practical contract training to internal teams and perform other related duties as assigned.
• Execute agreements only within documented signature authority.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation commensurate with experience.
• Paid Time Off (PTO).
• 401(k) plan with company match.
• Company-paid employee medical coverage, plus dental and vision insurance, subject to plan terms.
• Career growth opportunities within a growing aerospace organization supporting mission-critical unmanned aircraft systems.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level