Contracts Specialist

Job description

Who We Are: Venus Aerospace is revolutionizing rocket engine propulsion. With the first generational leap in rocket engine technology since Apollo, our proprietary Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine and Venus Detonation Ramjets deliver historic efficiency and performance across aerospace applications. We are building the next generation of propulsion platforms that enable breakthrough capabilities in space, defense, and commercial high-speed flight. Our team thrives on solving the toughest engineering challenges and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in aerospace. At Venus, we’re looking for bold engineers and innovators who want to make history and redefine the future of propulsion. The Role: Contracts Specialist Venus Aerospace is seeking an experienced Contracts Specialist to join our Legal team and support a broad range of commercial and government contracting activities, with a strong emphasis on government‑facing and government‑adjacent agreements. This is not an attorney role but is ideal for a seasoned contracts professional with deep experience in the defense, aerospace, or other regulated industries where U.S. Government contracting frameworks are central. In this role, you will report to the General Counsel. You will work closely with Finance, Operations, Business Development, and Engineering teams to manage the full lifecycle of complex contracts that touch federal agencies, defense primes, and other highly regulated stakeholders. ### What You'll Get To Do - Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of commercial and government‑adjacent agreements, including NDAs, purchase orders, teaming agreements, consulting agreements, and subcontracts. - Manage all legal contract lifecycle management (CLM), including amendments, renewals, change orders, and close‑out activities. - Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies, particularly in government‑facing environments (e.g., FAR/DFARS‑related frameworks). - Maintain organized contract files and support configuration management processes for contract‑related documentation. - Coordinate closely with cross‑functional stakeholders to ensure alignment between contract terms, operational realities, and compliance requirements. - Support development and continuous improvement of contract templates, playbooks, checklists, and workflows. - Provide guidance to internal teams regarding contract interpretation, obligations, and risk assessments. - Assist with due diligence, regulatory disclosures, and accountability documentation as needed. - Partner with Finance, Operations, and Program Managers to ensure contract deliverables, reporting obligations, and milestones are properly understood and tracked. ### What You Have - Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain, Logistics or related field. - 10+ years of experience working with commercial contracts in a government‑facing or government‑adjacent environment. - Experience in defense, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, or other regulated sectors with significant government interfaces. - Demonstrated expertise with common contracting frameworks, including familiarity with FAR, DFARS, ITAR/EAR, or similar regulatory structures. - Meticulous record-keeping skills, strong attention to detail, and the ability to manage complex matters with minimal oversight. - Excellent written and verbal communication skills and comfort working cross‑functionally. - High integrity, sound judgment, and professionalism in handling confidential or sensitive information. ### What Will Set You Apart - Prior work in an in‑house Legal or Contracts department supporting engineering, R&D, or government programs. - Contracts administration credentials (DAWIA, NCMA, or other formal certification a plus). - Experience supporting rapid‑growth or technology‑driven organizations. - Familiarity with contract management systems and collaborative document workflows. - Candidates located in the Houston, TX area are preferred due to the collaborative nature of the role, though remote candidates may be considered.