Commercial Counsel (Defense Technology)

Location: Huntington Beach, California, United States. On-site role with eligibility to practice in-house in California. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States and meet applicable ITAR eligibility requirements.

Salary: $190,000–$240,000 USD base salary, plus performance-based incentives and equity participation.

Company

Mach Industries is a defense technology company founded in 2023 that develops autonomous defense platforms and decentralized defense systems through advanced manufacturing and rapid innovation.

What you will do

• Draft, review, and negotiate supplier, customer, purchase, manufacturing, services, equipment purchase, software license, and nondisclosure agreements.
• Advise on pricing, delivery, acceptance, warranties, indemnification, liability, intellectual property, termination, and dispute resolution.
• Support development agreements, licensing arrangements, teaming agreements, and domestic and international partnerships.
• Partner with supply chain and manufacturing teams on supplier performance, scope changes, delivery issues, and contractual disputes.
• Support real estate, construction, and facilities agreements; coordinate with government contracts, export control, and other legal specialists.
• Build contract templates, negotiation guidelines, approval processes, and training; manage outside counsel and track contractual obligations and material risks.

Requirements

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar, with eligibility to practice in-house in California.
• 5+ years of relevant transactional experience at a law firm, in-house legal department, or a combination of both.
• Independent experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements.
• Strong understanding of commercial risk allocation and intellectual property provisions.
• Ability to translate legal issues into clear recommendations and practical solutions.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-moving environment.
• Availability to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
• U.S. citizenship or nationality, U.S. lawful permanent residence, refugee or asylee status, or eligibility to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations under ITAR.

Nice to have

• Experience supporting manufacturing, aerospace, defense, hardware, or other technology businesses.
• 5+ years of relevant transactional experience at a law firm, in-house legal department, or a combination of both.
• Familiarity with supply agreements, contract manufacturing, capital equipment purchases, and construction contracts.
• Experience with international transactions and cross-border commercial relationships.
• Familiarity with government contracting requirements and their application to suppliers and subcontractors.
• Experience building legal processes at a growing company.

Culture & Benefits

• Startup environment focused on rapid innovation, advanced manufacturing, and national security.
• Performance-based incentives and equity participation.
• Healthcare, dental, vision, retirement savings, and paid time off.
• Funding for continuing education, training, and career development.
• Transparent compensation tiers and decision-making.