Senior Legal Counsel, Commercial

CesiumAstro•Austin, TX

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 Legal Counsel to lead and scale our commercial legal operations and serve as a key partner to business, finance, and operations teams. This is a foundational role responsible for developing and enhancing our commercial legal capabilities, from contract frameworks to risk management, while operating as a hands-on contributor. You will report to the Vice President & General Counsel and play a critical role in enabling the companyâ€™s growth through pragmatic, business-oriented legal guidance.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) degree and active license to practice law in the United States.
10+ years of progressive legal experience supporting commercial transactions within aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, or similarly regulated industries.
Proven success leading contract negotiations on complex commercial transactions.
Experience partnering with senior business leaders and cross-functional stakeholders to support commercial objectives and risk management.
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.
Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Nice To Haves

Progressive law firm experience in in technology transactions and/or corporate securities.
Exposure to government contracting.
Experience scaling legal processes at an early-stage company.

Responsibilities

Lead drafting, negotiation, and execution of a wide range of agreements, including customer and revenue-generating contracts, non-disclosure agreements, vendor, supplier, and manufacturing agreements, strategic partnerships, and joint development agreements.
Partner closely with product, business development, and procurement teams to enable efficient deal execution.
Develop scalable contracting processes, templates, and playbooks to accelerate deal velocity.
Provide practical, risk-calibrated legal advice to cross-functional stakeholders.
Translate complex legal concepts into clear business guidance for business leaders and cross-functional stakeholders.
Support new product launches, pricing models, and go-to-market strategies.
Build and implement contracting workflows, approval processes, and legal systems.
Establish and maintain standard templates, clause libraries, and fallback positions.
Improve legal operations to increase efficiency and reduce bottlenecks.
Support corporate governance and entity management.
Assist with employment matters, M&A, and other strategic transactions as needed.
Manage outside counsel effectively across specialty areas.
Support management of the companyâ€™s intellectual property portfolio, including strategy, filings, and coordination with outside counsel.
Support legal matters related to international operations, including cross-border compliance, corporate governance, employment matters, and coordination with local counsel.
Identify and proactively manage legal and commercial risks across the business.
Support development of internal policies and compliance programs.
Partner with finance and operations on risk allocation and mitigation strategies.