Legal Counsel, Subcontracts and Supply Chain

Kraken Kinetics•Pinehurst, NC

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

Kraken Kinetics is seeking Legal Counsel, Subcontracts and Supply Chain to own subcontracting, ensuring the terms of our government contracts and subcontracts, ensuring required FAR/DFARS flow-down terms and sound commercial terms are properly incorporated into our supplier and manufacturer agreements. As Kraken rapidly scales, this role will partner closely with Supply Chain and Program Management to ensure contractual obligations, flowdowns, and risk allocation carry through consistently to our suppliers. You'll be drafting and negotiating our subcontracts and supplier agreements day to day, as well as building the templates and playbooks that let Supply Chain and the subcontracting team handle routine agreements themselves.

Requirements

JD from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
Minimum 5 years of relevant experience with a strong transactional focus on subcontracts, procurement, supply chain, commercial contracts, or government contracts.
Direct, hands-on experience analyzing and implementing FAR/DFARS flowdowns, representations and certifications, and other government-contracting compliance requirements.
Demonstrated ability to manage a high volume of agreements, prioritize competing demands, and drive transactions to timely closure.
Experience working with or supporting a defense manufacturer, government contractor, aerospace company, prime contractor, or Tier 1/Tier 2 subcontractor.
Sound judgment and the ability to provide concise, actionable recommendations to stakeholders and company leadership.
Ability to operate independently, take ownership of matters, and demonstrate initiative in a fast-moving, ambiguous, growth-stage environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

Draft, review, negotiate, and administer a high volume of supplier and vendor-facing agreements — subcontracts, statements of work, purchase orders (POs), master supply/services agreements, teaming agreements, and amendments — with speed, precision, and a bias toward closing.
Review prime contracts, customer POs, OTAs, and program agreements to identify obligations that must flow down, and map and maintain FAR/DFARS/OTA flowdown requirements across the supply base.
Negotiate scope, pricing, IP and data rights, indemnities, liability, insurance, and termination terms that appropriately allocate legal and commercial risk.
Partner directly with Supply Chain, Program Management, Engineering, Finance, and Business Development to avoid deal delays and support timely program execution.
Partner with the Export Compliance Officer on ITAR/EAR, sanctions, customs, and sourcing restrictions (e.g., domestic preference, counterfeit parts, specialty metals) as applied to subcontracts.
Develop and maintain supplier-facing representations and certifications in coordination with Legal, Supply Chain, and Finance.
Build and continuously improve playbooks, templates, clause libraries, and self-service tools so business partners can handle routine contracting independently.
Support supplier disputes, performance issues, claims, and corrective actions.
Brief the Head of Legal and company leadership on material risks, negotiation positions, and issues requiring executive decision-making.
Establish, refine, and scale subcontracting legal processes and standard operating procedures as Kraken grows.