Corporate Counsel (Defense Technology)

Location: Hybrid; candidates must be based in West Palm Beach, Florida or Valdosta, Georgia. The position involves access to ITAR/EAR-controlled technology and requires proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residence; sponsorship is not available.

Company

hirify.global develops and manufactures advanced unmanned maritime systems for military, government, and commercial customers.

What you will do

• Advise Human Resources and executive leadership on federal and state employment law, workplace compliance, employee relations, investigations, accommodations, disputes, and litigation.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage commercial, employment, manufacturing, supplier, technology, licensing, partnership, and procurement agreements.
• Support manufacturing, engineering, procurement, supply chain, product development, technology integration, and commercialization activities.
• Handle legal matters involving the U.S. Department of Defense, federal agencies, prime contractors, defense partners, government procurement, FAR/DFARS, OTA agreements, and contract performance.
• Advise on government-contract intellectual property rights, ITAR/EAR, procurement integrity, technical data, government-purpose rights, and contractor-developed technology.
• Support maritime operations involving unmanned surface vessels, including vessel construction, testing, deployment, liability, insurance, seaworthiness, acceptance, and maritime claims.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.
• At least five years of legal experience, including substantial experience in commercial contracting, employment law, or corporate legal practice.
• Ability to independently draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial agreements.
• Working knowledge of federal and Florida or Georgia employment laws and experience providing employment-related legal advice.
• Strong understanding of contractual risk allocation, including indemnification, limitation of liability, warranties, intellectual property ownership, and dispute resolution.
• Ability to work directly with business leaders, operational personnel, and technical teams to develop practical legal solutions.
• Excellent legal research, analytical, drafting, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple legal matters independently in a fast-paced environment, with sound professional judgment and careful handling of confidential information.
• Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residence and must not require sponsorship for export-restricted work authorization.

Nice to have

• Military legal experience, including service as a Judge Advocate General officer or experience supporting military procurement, acquisition, or operations.
• In-house experience with a defense contractor, government contractor, aerospace manufacturer, maritime defense company, or military technology business.
• Experience with military equipment, unmanned systems, defense technologies, DoD contracting personnel, acquisition teams, program managers, or military procurement organizations.
• Familiarity with vessel construction and maritime contracting, maritime liability, admiralty law, maritime insurance, autonomous or unmanned surface vessels, and vessel-related risk allocation.
• Working knowledge of FAR/DFARS clauses, government contracting compliance, subcontractor flow-down requirements, and DoD procurement contracts.
• Familiarity with defense-related intellectual property, including technical data rights, government-purpose rights, restricted rights, software rights, and government-funded or contractor-funded technology.
• Experience with OTA agreements, government-funded research and development, prototype contracting, ITAR, EAR, manufacturing operations, supply chain contracting, product development, multistate employment law, or highly regulated businesses.
• Active or previously held U.S. government security clearance.

Culture & Benefits

• Hands-on legal advisory role supporting business operations and strategic objectives.
• Direct collaboration with operational, engineering, manufacturing, procurement, executive, and business development teams.
• Salary plus an annual equity package and potential bonuses.
• Equal employment opportunity workplace with consideration of qualified candidates with criminal histories consistent with federal and state law.
• Post-offer background check required.