Senior Contracts Manager (Aerospace & Defense)

Location: Gardena, CA, United States; onsite

Salary: $125,000–$185,000 per year plus equity and benefits

Company

Aerospace and defense startup headquartered in Gardena, California, founded by professionals from SpaceX, Anduril, and Lockheed Martin.

What you will do

• Review, negotiate, administer, and maintain customer contracts, subcontracts, NDAs, teaming agreements, purchase terms, and related contractual instruments.
• Assess contract types, terms, warranties, indemnities, liability limits, termination provisions, delivery requirements, acceptance criteria, and payment terms.
• Evaluate FAR/DFARS clauses, customer flowdowns, data rights, intellectual property provisions, export-sensitive terms, and subcontract requirements.
• Support Business Development and Proposal teams by identifying contractual requirements, exceptions, representations, and risks during solicitations.
• Coordinate with Pricing, Finance, Security, Compliance, Programs, Legal, Engineering, and Supply Chain on contractual, financial, operational, and compliance matters.
• Manage modifications, change orders, claims, equitable adjustments, closeout, deliverables, notices, option dates, funding limits, and periods of performance.

Requirements

• 7–12 years of experience in defense contracts, government contracting, program contracts, legal operations, subcontract administration, or related work.
• Strong working knowledge of FAR/DFARS, OTAs, CSOs, fixed-price and cost-type structures, data rights, flowdowns, and government-contract administration.
• Experience with contracts involving hardware, manufacturing, R&D, prototypes, or defense technology is strongly preferred.
• Strong commercial judgment and ability to distinguish material contractual risks from issues that can be resolved pragmatically.
• JD or legal background is helpful but not required.

Culture & Benefits

• High-urgency environment focused on moving quickly and solving complex defense problems.
• Equity compensation.
• Healthcare, vision, dental, and 401(k) benefits.
• Lunch provided.