Corporate Counsel

Cape • Arlington, VA

44d • $210,000 - $250,000 • Onsite

About The Position

As Cape's first in-house lawyer, this role is designed for an individual who excels at the intersection of law and model development. The ideal candidate is a builder with sharp instincts, comfortable navigating ambiguity, and eager to practice across a wide range of substantive legal areas with significant stakes and the autonomy to make judgment calls. This position involves direct collaboration across Cape's business lines, including federal, enterprise, and consumer sectors, requiring expertise in regulated spaces, government contracts, intellectual property, commercial contracts, AI, and employment law. The Corporate Counsel will manage a lean but high-quality roster of outside counsel, directing strategy and execution, and providing actionable guidance to internal teams. This role offers breadth, autonomy, and the opportunity to build a legal function from the ground up, making it ideal for someone seeking a dynamic and impactful legal career.

Requirements

• JD from an accredited law school and active bar membership in good standing.
• Typically requires 3-8+ years of legal experience, ideally with a mix of top-tier law firm training and early-stage/growth startup experience.
• A genuine interest in getting conversant in new areas; ability to get up to speed fast and earn the trust of engineers, sales professionals, and outside specialists.
• The instincts of a builder: comfortable being the first person to own something and figuring things out independently.
• Comfort operating with ambiguity and across functions; effective in diverse settings from engineering discussions to outside counsel meetings.
• A long-term interest in a broad, general practice.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with government contracts or telecom regulation is not required but the ability to learn quickly is essential.

Responsibilities

• Own legal needs across the company, spanning interactions with regulatory agencies, government and commercial contracts, employment matters, and IP risks.
• Serve as the primary legal point of contact for internal stakeholders across Engineering, Product, Business Development, and Operations, acting as a mini-General Counsel for the business.
• Establish, scale, and manage Cape’s internal legal processes, templates (e.g., MSAs, NDAs), and compliance frameworks (e.g., FCC, state licensing).
• Build and manage a curated outside counsel network, directing external lawyers on complex matters and deciding when and how to engage them.
• Partner with the government contracts team and outside counsel on FARS/DFARS, contract formation, teaming agreements, and compliance questions as we execute on defense programs.
• Professionalize how Cape thinks about legal risk by establishing processes and frameworks where none currently exist.
• Work closely with leadership on corporate matters, partnerships, and transactions as the business scales.

Benefits

• 401(k) match
• Unlimited PTO
• 100% coverage of medical, dental, and vision premiums for you and your dependents
• 12 weeks paid parental leave (for all parents, no waiting period)
• Stipends for Family-forming needs
• Stipends for Gender-affirming care

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree