Legal Counsel

Job description

At ispace U.S., we’re not just going to the Moon—we’re redefining how we get there. Our missions push the boundaries of human and robotic exploration, driven by our belief: “Expand our Planet. Expand our Future.” By providing cost-effective lunar transportation, we are pioneering a future where space is within reach for scientific discovery, commercial ventures, and sustainable exploration. With locations in Japan, Luxembourg, and the United States, ispace is rapidly growing and leading the way in lunar exploration and development. Our U.S. branch is based in Englewood, Colorado, and focuses on high-capacity payload lunar landers designed to support future lunar missions. Our team is made up of innovators, problem-solvers, and visionaries committed to making space more accessible and fostering the next generation of space exploration. Let’s go to the Moon together! Our team is growing, and we are actively seeking talented individuals who share our passion for space. ispaceUS is seeking a practical, business-minded **Legal Counsel** to provide legal guidance across our growing U.S. organization. This role will partner with leadership and teams across Engineering, Programs, Business Development, Finance, People Operations, Supply Chain, and our global ispace organization. We are looking for a Legal Counsel who is **pragmatic, collaborative, responsive, and comfortable with ambiguity**. This individual will serve as a trusted partner who understands our business and mission, identifies risk, and helps teams find practical and compliant paths forward. The ideal candidate can balance legal and regulatory risk with business and mission objectives and is comfortable operating in the fast-paced commercial space environment ### Key Responsibilities - Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements, including NDAs, supplier/vendor agreements, professional services agreements, licensing arrangements, partnerships, and customer contracts. - Advise leadership and business teams on contractual obligations, risk, intellectual property, confidentiality, liability, and general corporate matters. - Support U.S. government contracting matters, including **FAR/DFARS** requirements and contractual flow-downs. - Provide guidance on **ITAR, EAR, export controls**, technology transfer, and international collaboration. - Support compliance with applicable aerospace, commercial space, and government regulations. - Partner with People Operations on employment law matters, policies, employee relations, investigations, and separation matters. - Support corporate compliance programs, policies, risk management, and internal investigations. - Coordinate with outside counsel and external advisors as needed. - Collaborate with global ispace teams on cross-border agreements and international business activities. ### Basic Qualifications - J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school and active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar. - **5+ years of relevant legal experience** in a law firm, corporate legal department, government environment, or combination thereof. - Experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts. - Strong business judgment with the ability to provide practical, solutions-oriented legal advice. - Excellent written, verbal, organizational, and interpersonal skills. - Ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic, highly technical environment. ### What Makes You Stand Out! - Experience in **aerospace, defense, satellite, commercial space, or advanced technology**. - Experience with **FAR/DFARS, ITAR, EAR, and U.S. export controls**. - Experience supporting NASA, Department of Defense, or other federal government customers. - Knowledge of intellectual property, technology licensing, employment law, cybersecurity, or regulatory compliance. - Experience working within a global organization.