Senior Director of Legal (Government)

CesiumAstro•Washington, DC

About The Position

At CesiumAstro, we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team. We are seeking a Senior Director of Legal (Government) to lead our government-facing business and regulatory strategy. This is a foundational leadership role responsible for government contracting, regulatory compliance, and engagement with U.S. and international regulatory regimes. You will serve as a legal partner to business development, program management, and executive leadership on all government-related matters. This role is both strategic and highly hands-on, requiring deep subject matter expertise and the ability to build systems from the ground up.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) degree and active license to practice law in the United States.
11+ years of progressive legal experience in aerospace or defense, including significant focus on government contracting and regulatory matters.
Deep expertise in FAR/DFARS and U.S. government procurement processes.
Experience with export controls (ITAR/EAR) and regulatory compliance programs.
Proven success leading contract negotiations on complex defense and government programs.
Experience advising C-suite leaders and Boards of Directors.
Experience supporting complex commercial deals and cross-functional teams.
Highly pragmatic with strong business judgment.
Ability to balance speed and risk in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
Hands-on and execution-oriented approach.
Highly detail-oriented with strong ownership mentality.
Active security clearance or ability to obtain one.

Nice To Haves

Experience with classified programs and facility clearance environments.
Experience scaling legal processes at an early-stage company.

Responsibilities

Lead legal support for all U.S. government contracts, including FAR / DFARS compliance and interpretation, proposal review (RFPs, RFIs, BAAs, OTAs), contract negotiation, administration, and dispute resolution.
Partner with business development and program teams to structure, negotiate, and win government deals.
Advise on contract clauses, performance, change orders, claims, and terminations.
Support regulatory compliance across applicable agencies (e.g., FCC, NOAA, Commerce Department, State Department, etc.).
Advise on licensing, approvals, and ongoing regulatory obligations.
Monitor and interpret evolving regulatory requirements and assess business impact.
Build and oversee export compliance programs (e.g., ITAR, EAR).
Advise on international transactions, data sharing, and technology transfers.
Partner with engineering and operations to ensure compliant product development and deployment.
Develop and implement policies and procedures for government compliance.
Conduct internal training and guidance on regulatory and contracting requirements.
Identify and mitigate legal and regulatory risks across programs.
Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on government strategy and risk.
Collaborate with finance, operations, and supply chain on compliance and audit readiness.
Support interactions with government stakeholders, auditors, and regulators.
Establish scalable processes, templates, and playbooks for government legal work.
Manage outside counsel and specialized advisors.
Help build and mentor a growing legal and compliance team.