Contracts Specialist

Aston Carter•San Diego, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced Contracts Administrator to play a critical role in managing a diverse portfolio of commercial and U.S. Government contracts, including prime contracts with the Department of Defense. This position offers high visibility, significant ownership, and the opportunity to directly support nationally relevant aerospace and defense programs. You will manage contracts from proposal through closeout, acting as a trusted advisor to program teams and leadership while ensuring compliance, mitigating risk, and enabling program success in a fast‑paced environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
6+ years of experience in government contracting.
Hands‑on experience drafting, negotiating, and administering commercial contracts.
Working knowledge of FAR and DFARS, with at least 1–3 years of direct experience.
Experience supporting U.S. Department of Defense contracts or working in aerospace, defense, or a closely related regulated environment.
Proven experience in: Contract administration, Contract negotiation, Proposal support.
Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline‑driven environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain complex contractual issues.
Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with a practical, business‑focused mindset.
Self‑starter mentality with the ability to work independently and confidently without formal or structured training.
Collaborative, solutions‑oriented approach and ability to build trust across teams.
Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Juris Doctor (JD) or prior legal experience.
Experience working with or supporting the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA).
Experience with R&D contracting.
Familiarity with ISO quality standards in a manufacturing or production environment.
Prior experience in the aerospace and defense industry, including understanding compliance culture and program structures.
Experience supporting high‑visibility or nationally significant defense programs.

Responsibilities

Own the full contract lifecycle for commercial and government contracts, from proposal support through execution, modification, and closeout.
Draft, review, negotiate, and execute a wide range of agreements, including: Subcontracts, Consulting agreements, Purchase orders, NDAs and other commercial agreements.
Support and review DoD prime contracts, ensuring compliance with FAR and DFARS requirements.
Serve as a contracts subject‑matter expert, advising program teams on rights, obligations, risks, and contract interpretation.
Partner cross‑functionally with program management, engineering, finance, and leadership to align contractual requirements with operational and business objectives.
Track deliverables, milestones, and deadlines to support on‑time performance and reduce contractual risk.
Maintain accurate, organized, and audit‑ready contract documentation.
Support proposal development (RFPs/RFQs) by identifying contractual risks and recommending negotiation strategies.
Mentor and support junior contracts staff, helping to strengthen consistency and best practices across the contracts function.
Contribute to continuous improvement of internal policies, procedures, and compliance processes.
Operate independently, quickly learning systems and processes and making immediate, meaningful contributions.