Description:

About the role:
The Senior Legal Counsel at Sierra Space will serve as a strategic business partner and trusted advisor to executive leadership, independently managing high-stakes legal matters while proactively mitigating risk and enabling business objectives in the aerospace industry. Reporting directly to the General Counsel, this role requires a seasoned legal professional with deep expertise who can autonomously balance complex legal considerations with commercial imperatives in a fast-paced, innovative environment, while providing mentorship to junior legal staff and serving as a catalyst for organizational excellence.

About You:
Our mission is driven by an unyielding commitment to advancing space-based technology in service of our customers and safeguarding national security. We seek individuals who are passionate about innovating beyond boundaries and relentlessly pursuing solutions that protect, preserve and empower – to join us in this critical mission.

We're looking for team members who align with our values, mission and goals – while also meeting the minimum qualifications below. The preferred qualifications are a bonus, not a requirement.

Key Responsibilities:

Provide strategic legal counsel that directly influences executive decision-making on matters affecting company operations, risk management, growth initiatives, and long-term business strategy
Lead the drafting, review, and negotiation of complex, high-value commercial contracts and agreements, including master supplier agreements, technology licensing arrangements, joint venture structures, strategic partnerships, and commercial real estate transactions
Lead or play a key advisory role in M&A transactions, capital markets activities, and other strategic business transactions, providing comprehensive legal oversight from due diligence through integration
Serve as a strategic advisor on employment law matters, providing counsel on executive compensation, workforce restructuring, and complex HR initiatives with significant legal or business impact
Develop, implement, and continuously improve company-wide policies and procedures; assess effectiveness and drive enhancements aligned with evolving business needs
Manage and provide strategic direction to outside counsel relationships; evaluate performance, control costs, and ensure alignment with business objectives
Design, implement, and lead comprehensive compliance programs tailored to aerospace industry regulations; drive continuous improvement and proactively address emerging compliance risks
Advise senior leadership on corporate governance best practices; prepare materials for and support Board of Directors and committee meetings on sensitive and strategic matters
Proactively monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting the aerospace and defense sectors; translate implications into actionable guidance and strategic recommendations
Develop and execute enterprise-wide legal risk mitigation strategies; build scalable frameworks that support organizational growth
Translate complex regulatory requirements into pragmatic operational plans and business processes; partner with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless implementation
Champion a culture of ethics, integrity, and accountability throughout the organization; serve as a role model for professional excellence
Provide legal mentorship and guidance to junior legal staff; may supervise direct reports or coordinate legal workstreams

Required Qualifications:

Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school
Active bar membership in good standing in relevant jurisdiction(s)
Minimum of 8-12 years of progressive legal experience, with a combination of law firm and in-house experience strongly preferred; aerospace, defense, or heavily regulated industry experience highly desirable
Proven track record of providing strategic legal counsel that influences business outcomes at the executive level; demonstrated ability to independently manage complex, multi-faceted legal matters with minimal supervision
Demonstrated leadership in managing cross-functional legal projects and guiding teams through complex initiatives
Exceptional legal writing, negotiation, and advocacy skills with ability to distill complex legal issues into clear, actionable guidance for diverse stakeholders at all organizational levels
Strong business acumen with demonstrated ability to balance legal risk against commercial objectives and deliver pragmatic, business-focused counsel

Preferred Qualifications:

Deep expertise in multiple legal disciplines including complex commercial transactions, corporate governance, sophisticated employment matters, corporate and securities law, commercial real estate, intellectual property strategy, and regulatory compliance frameworks
Substantial experience advising on capital markets transactions and M&A, including public and private securities offerings, complex debt financings, public and private company acquisitions, joint ventures, spin-offs, and corporate restructurings, with proven ability to navigate intricate regulatory frameworks, manage deal teams, and provide strategic legal counsel that shapes transaction outcomes
Comprehensive, current knowledge of laws, regulations, and legal frameworks specific to aerospace and defense, including ITAR/EAR export controls, FAR/DFARS procurement regulations, FCC licensing, FAA regulations, and emerging commercial space law and policy
Track record of successfully managing outside counsel across multiple matters and practice areas; ability to set clear expectations, evaluate quality, and optimize legal spend
Strong financial and budget management acumen; experience managing significant legal budgets while maintaining rigorous quality standards
Experience designing and implementing enterprise-wide compliance programs, conducting comprehensive risk assessments, and leading remediation efforts
Experience providing counsel to boards of directors, audit committees, and executive leadership on governance, fiduciary duties, and high-stakes strategic matters

Compensation:
Pay Range:

$227,611.00 - $312,965.50
Your actual base compensation will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, experience, internal equity and market competitiveness.

Skills & Attributes

Strategic and anticipatory thinking with ability to identify emerging legal and business issues before they become problems
Exceptional judgment, analytical rigor, and creative problem-solving abilities in high-pressure, ambiguous situations
Strong executive presence and leadership capabilities; ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive organizational change
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills; ability to build compelling legal arguments and deliver persuasive presentations to executive and board-level audiences
Ability to manage competing priorities, work effectively under pressure, and consistently meet critical deadlines
Unwavering commitment to ethical standards, professional responsibility, and integrity
Proactive, solutions-oriented approach that anticipates legal needs and delivers business-enabling counsel
Collaborative and relationship-focused work style with proven ability to build trust and credibility across all organizational levels and with external stakeholders
Embodies company values and holds self and others accountable to the highest standards of professional excellence