Senior Counsel, Government Contracts

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Colorado, +1 more state.

📋 Description

• Directly report to the Chief Legal Officer.

• Oversee and provide support for intricate federal government research and development contracting, which constitutes about 70–80% of the position.

• Negotiate, interpret, and manage OTAs, federal research and development contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, assistance instruments, subcontracts, subawards, teaming agreements, and collaboration agreements.

• Prepare and oversee proposal, pre-award, and post-award documentation, including solicitations, modifications, and statements of work.

• Manage contract modifications, claims, disputes, and compliance communications.

• Counsel business and program teams on FAR, DFARS, agency supplements, and relevant federal contracting requirements throughout the opportunity, award, and performance lifecycle.

• Identify and assist in managing risks related to intellectual property and data rights, cost and pricing, audits, cybersecurity, export control, domestic sourcing, labor, payment, and flow-down requirements.

• Lead internal coordination on critical government-contracting matters, including proposal strategy, approval pathways, contract interpretation, performance risks, and customer communications.

• Collaborate with Export Control and technical stakeholders on national-security and export-control considerations, including ITAR/EAR requirements.

• Create practical templates, playbooks, and training resources for business and program teams.

• Work alongside business development, program management, engineering, and finance on bid and proposal strategies, risk allocation, and program execution.

• Assist in internal governance, approval frameworks, documentation, and escalation processes for high-risk or nonstandard terms.

• Provide training to commercial, technical, and program teams.

• Support cross-functional regulatory, corporate, and strategic matters within a lean legal team.

⛳️ Requirements

• JD from an accredited law school with exceptional academic credentials.

• 8+ years of pertinent legal experience, with significant responsibility for federal government contracting; experience at a top-tier law firm, in-house defense contractor, or in a government-contracts practice is highly preferred.

• Extensive experience in negotiating and advising on complex federal government contracts and associated subcontracts, subawards, and teaming arrangements.

• Demonstrated knowledge of FAR and DFARS; substantial experience with OTAs is essential.

• Experience supporting Department of Defense or other federal research and development programs, preferably as a prime contractor or with a major defense, aerospace, technology, or research organization.

• Familiarity with intellectual property and data-rights issues under government contracts, including technical data and computer software rights, as well as flow-down and compliance requirements.

• Excellent executive communication skills and the capacity to translate complex government-contracting risks into actionable, business-oriented guidance.

• Preference for familiarity with ITAR/EAR and associated export-control issues.

• An ownership mindset with an inclination towards action.

• Ability to balance urgency with technical and legal excellence.

• Openness to coaching business teams and a willingness to seek coaching and feedback in return.

• Comfort in giving and receiving direct feedback.

• Strong discipline in documentation, process development, and follow-through.

• Intellectual curiosity regarding emerging technologies and regulated markets.

• Resilience in a resource-limited, rapidly changing environment.

• Authorization to handle software or technology governed by U.S. export control laws and regulations without the need for sponsorship for an export license may be a condition of employment.

🏝️ Benefits

• 100% company-covered medical, dental, vision, short/long-term disability.

• Employer-funded Health Savings Account.

• Unlimited paid time off (PTO).

• 401(k) matching.

• Company-funded Life and AD&D Insurance.

• Flexible Savings Account.

• Paid Family Medical Leave, Maternity/Paternity Leave.

• Employee Assistance Program.

• Student Loan Repayment.

• Equity Package.