VP, Legal

Gitai • Los Angeles, CA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The VP, Legal will help build and operate the legal function behind GITAI’s next stage of growth as a space robotics company. This role reports to GITAI’s General Counsel and works closely with leadership, program management, engineering, finance, HR, security, and outside counsel. The mission is to make legal work a practical operating function for the business, not a slow approval layer. This is not a pure advisory role. You will draft, redline, negotiate, organize, escalate, and close. You will handle legal issues close to the actual work: U.S. government programs, commercial contracts, export-controlled technical data, suppliers, strategic partnerships, corporate governance, fundraising support, employment matters, and the operating risks that come with building real hardware for space and defense applications. GITAI needs a legal leader who can protect the company without stopping the company. The right person can make sound risk calls under time pressure, write clearly, negotiate directly, and build legal systems that are strong enough for government and defense work but light enough for an early-stage startup.

Requirements

• J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school and an active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 5+ years of legal experience at a law firm, in-house legal department, or both, with meaningful exposure to corporate, commercial, transactional, technology, or other business-facing legal matters.
• At least 1 year of in-house legal experience at a venture-backed startup.
• Strong contract judgment, including experience reviewing, interpreting, and advising on RFPs, purchase orders, customer terms, supplier terms, and other business-critical legal documents.
• Ability to translate legal issues into practical business judgment, including what to accept, what to negotiate, what to escalate, and when to stop a deal.
• Clear communication and strong stakeholder management skills, including the ability to work directly with executives, engineers, program managers, finance, HR, security, customers, suppliers, and outside counsel.
• Ability to manage outside counsel efficiently while keeping ownership of the business context inside the company.
• High ownership and willingness to draft, redline, negotiate, organize, and close work directly.
• U.S. citizenship is required, as this role may require eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.
• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S.
• This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), GITAI Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with technology, robotics, aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, government contracting, or another highly technical industry.
• Experience reviewing RFPs, purchase orders, or contract documents from U.S. government agencies or defense-related customers.
• Deep knowledge of U.S. foreign investment and export control rules, including ITAR, EAR, CFIUS-related issues, controlled technical data, foreign person restrictions, and technology access controls.
• Experience with government contracts, commercial transactions, regulatory matters, litigation management, intellectual property, cybersecurity requirements, FAR/DFARS, data rights, or security obligations.
• Experience owning or helping operate a compliance function in a company where legal, security, export control, and business execution had to move together.

Responsibilities

• Review, interpret, and advise on RFPs, purchase orders, customer terms, supplier terms, contract documents, and agency requirements.
• Support proposal, negotiation, and execution work for government, commercial, and strategic programs by identifying key business and legal terms early.
• Draft, redline, and negotiate agreements with customers, suppliers, contractors, consultants, partners, and other third parties.
• Translate legal issues into clear business choices: what we can accept, what we should negotiate, what needs escalation, and what should stop the deal.
• Work closely with program management, engineering, procurement, finance, HR, security, and leadership to keep contracts, customer obligations, supplier commitments, and internal execution aligned.
• Help structure practical positions on deliverables, acceptance terms, payment terms, IP rights, data rights, confidentiality, liability, indemnity, warranty, termination, cybersecurity, export control, and security requirements.
• Build and improve contract templates, negotiation playbooks, approval paths, tracking systems, and internal guidance so the company can move with speed and discipline.
• Support new customer opportunities, supplier relationships, strategic partnerships, and new business initiatives from early review through negotiation and execution.
• Manage outside counsel efficiently, using them for specialized judgment while keeping ownership of the business context inside GITAI.
• Prepare clear risk summaries, deal recommendations, and decision materials for the General Counsel, senior management, board stakeholders, customers, auditors, and outside advisors as needed.

Benefits

• Health Insurance – Platinum medical plan with 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees; 90% for dependents
• 401(k) Plan – Company match up to 3.5%, with traditional and Roth options
• Equity – Stock option eligibility depending on role
• Relocation Support – Available for qualifying positions
• Time Off – 12 paid holidays per year, 12 days of paid vacation per year, and paid sick leave (in accordance with applicable law)
• Office Perks – Free snacks and drinks, plus regular team events

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree