Senior Contracts Specialist

Varda Space Industries•El Segundo, CA

5d•$155,000 - $175,000•Onsite

About The Position

As the Senior Contracts Specialist at Varda, you will negotiate complex, first-of-kind agreements at the forefront of the commercial space industry. Our Mission Management team sits at the heart of an operation unlike anything in the industry, manufacturing in orbit and returning products to Earth at hypersonic speeds. You'll own first-of-kind agreements spanning microgravity pharmaceutical manufacturing, hypersonic reentry vehicles, and novel government space programs, working directly with the Contracts Manager to turn audacious science into executable contracts that make it all possible. This is a rare opportunity for a contracts professional who wants their work to matter. As a critical member of a lean, high-impact team, you'll manage the full contract lifecycle, from pre-award strategy and proposal support through negotiation, FAR/DFARS compliance, export-control management, and post-award execution, across both government and commercial customers. Your attention to detail and cross-functional communication will directly determine how fast Varda can move.

Requirements

BA/BS degree in law, business, finance or a related discipline, with consideration given to equivalent professional experience
A minimum of 4-6 years of hands-on experience years of contract management experience with emphasis on government contract management experience
Experience with government contract types, including Firm Fixed Price (FFP) and Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements
Working knowledge of government contract compliance requirements under the FAR, DFARS, and NASA FAR Supplement (NFS)
Experience negotiating non-disclosure agreements
Demonstrated ability to construct and deliver persuasive written and verbal arguments in a negotiation setting
Proven ability to manage competing priorities and deliver against aggressive deadlines
Experience with export-controlled materials and regulatory compliance under ITAR and EAR
Willingness to travel up to 10% of the time (as needed)
Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance

Nice To Haves

M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline, with specialization in Embedded Systems, Mechatronics, Control Theory, or similar fields; equivalent professional experience will be considered
Proven experience as a lead integration engineer or integration ME on a launch vehicle, satellite, or spacecraft program, with end-to-end ownership of integration activities
Deep familiarity with integration and test (I&T) flows for complex aerospace vehicles, including planning and executing functional testing at each integration milestone
Demonstrated experience managing the integration of flight hardware from multiple subsystem suppliers and internal teams into a single, cohesive vehicle
Strong background in configuration management and build record documentation within a regulated aerospace environment, ensuring traceability and compliance throughout the build cycle
Working knowledge of cleanliness and contamination control requirements for propulsion, optical, or precision mechanism integration, with the ability to enforce standards on the floor
Hands-on experience with vehicle handling operations, including cranes, slings, rotation fixtures, and precision alignment tooling, with a strong commitment to safety and procedural rigor
Experience in a manufacturing environment actively scaling from single-unit builds to concurrent multi-vehicle production, with the ability to adapt processes as production tempo increases
Experience planning and conducting integration readiness reviews (IRRs), pre-mate inspections, and post-integration functional checkouts, with the ability to identify and resolve discrepancies before they impact schedule

Responsibilities

Represent Varda to customers and serve as the counterpart contracting officer for both government and commercial missions
Lead or support contract negotiations with our customers, while establishing and maintaining a positive working relationship
Efficiently remove blockers to contract signature while protecting the company's interests
Provide comprehensive contract support and coordination across teams to ensure mission management, operations, proposals, sales, product, and leadership teams are informed of, and are in compliance with signed contracts and regulations
Efficiently manage the contract closeout process, including final deliveries, payments, and resolving outstanding issues
Manage compliance efforts with government contracts and regulatory entities, including in particular the FAR, DFARS, and export-control regulations
Create and maintain contract and business files
Advise management of their rights and obligations under the contracts
Review, and provide recommendations on all types of contracts and agreements as needed
Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of contracts and agreements, including non-disclosure agreements, contracts, customer agreements, and partnership agreements

Benefits

Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays
100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options
Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance
$120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)
Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic
Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents
Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up
401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)
$20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
Relocation support for new hires, if needed
Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations
Complimentary EV charging