Senior Legal Counsel, Government Contracts

Castelion Corporation•Washington, DC

12h

About The Position

Castelion is seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel, Government Contracts to serve as a critical partner to its engineering, program management, and business development teams. The role owns the full lifecycle of U.S. government contracting matters and supports the company in moving quickly and compliantly as it scales advanced defense programs. The position can be based in Washington, DC, or Torrance, California. The counsel will lead legal strategy and execution for U.S. government contracts, including Department of Defense programs under the FAR and DFARS. The role advises on proposals, negotiations, program execution, procurement and compliance requirements, and acquisition strategies. It also supports audits, investigations, and government interactions, while developing scalable processes and providing pragmatic, risk-balanced guidance in a fast-paced, hardware-driven environment. The role requires a JD from an accredited law school, active bar membership, at least five years of government contracts law experience, deep FAR/DFARS and DoD contracting expertise, and the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government-issued security clearance. U.S. citizenship is required. A clearance is not currently required for the position but may be required in the near future.

Requirements

JD from an accredited law school and active bar membership.
At least 5 years of experience in government contracts law.
Deep expertise in FAR/DFARS and DoD contracting environments.
Experience at a top law firm, in-house at a defense contractor, or within government.
Strong business judgment and ability to operate autonomously.
Proven ability to support high-tempo engineering and program teams.
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government-issued security clearance.
U.S. citizenship, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Experience with classified programs and export controls (ITAR/EAR).
Background supporting hardware, aerospace, or defense systems.
Familiarity with cost accounting standards (CAS) and compliance frameworks.

Responsibilities

Lead legal strategy and execution across U.S. government contracts, including DoD programs subject to FAR/DFARS.
Advise on proposal development, contract negotiation, and program execution.
Interpret and apply complex regulatory requirements across contracting, procurement, and compliance.
Partner with business development to structure deals and shape acquisition strategies.
Support audits, investigations, and interactions with government stakeholders.
Develop scalable processes and playbooks to support rapid company growth.
Provide pragmatic, risk-balanced guidance in a fast-paced, hardware-driven environment.

Benefits

Meaningful long-term equity for all full-time employees.
Four weeks of paid time off.
Ten company-paid holidays.
Comprehensive health benefits, including employee-covered medical coverage and dependent coverage.
Dental and vision plans.
Paid parental leave.
$100 monthly fitness stipend.
Onsite EV charging.
Catered meals, company-covered food during high-demand periods, and a fully stocked kitchen.

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