Associate General Counsel (Aerospace)

Location: Long Beach, California or Washington, District of Columbia, United States. Full-time, exempt position with travel of up to 25% and occasional evenings or weekends required for critical mission milestones.

Salary: $237,000–$337,000 USD annually for California; level and compensation vary based on experience and capability.

Company

hirify.global develops human-rated space stations, satellite products, spacecraft, and space infrastructure for government, corporate, private, and allied customers.

What you will do

• Advise on and negotiate national security and defense contracts with the Department of War, Space Force, Space Development Agency, NRO, and other government customers, covering the full contract lifecycle.
• Structure satellite bus and payload sales, on-orbit services, hosted payload and data agreements, launch services agreements, and teaming or joint development arrangements.
• Support transactions with allied governments and international commercial partners while balancing export, security, and commercial requirements.
• Provide practical legal guidance on risk controls and business execution for U.S. and international customers.
• Lead cross-functional deal execution with business development, capture, program management, security, finance, engineering, internal legal staff, and outside counsel.
• Support Legal team special projects and work independently with internal partners.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree, admission to a state bar in good standing, and ability to practice in-house in California or the District of Columbia.
• 9+ years of legal experience at a law firm or private company, including substantial government contracts and/or national security transaction experience.
• Working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and regulatory frameworks applicable to national security programs.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.
• Strong problem-solving, verbal, and writing skills, with good judgment and the ability to balance risk and productivity.
• Process-oriented, collaborative, and able to work independently in a fast-paced environment.

Nice to have

• Experience in the satellite, space, aerospace, or defense industry.
• Experience negotiating OTs, SDA or Space Force agreements, or national security space program subcontracts.
• Hands-on experience with export licensing, CFIUS/FOCI mitigation, facility clearances, or classified program contracting.
• Active U.S. security clearance at Secret level or above.
• Background with a prime contractor, government agency, or law firm with a national security or space practice.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with business stakeholders, along with legal and business judgment, technical acumen, communication, strategic thinking, and strong prioritization.
• Comfort with rapid change and willingness to learn new technologies, products, and legal areas.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time employees receive company equity and medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents.
• Benefits include paid time off, paid parental leave, disability and life insurance, and access to a 401(k) retirement plan.
• Exempt staff may receive 20+ vacation days, with the ability to cash out unused vacation annually.
• Additional benefits include ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare, discounts, snacks, drinks, coffee, dinner meals, and subsidized lunch.
• Work includes up to 25% travel and may require evenings or weekends during critical mission milestones.