Space Systems Commercial & Legal Contracts Specialist

Accountabilities: In this role, you will oversee commercial and contractual activities throughout the business development, negotiation, and execution lifecycle, ensuring appropriate risk management and alignment with strategic objectives. Your responsibilities will include: Contract Drafting and Negotiation: Prepare, review, and negotiate commercial agreements related to satellite sales, constellation programs, and associated services. Draft and support negotiations for satellite procurement agreements, master supply agreements, non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), memoranda of understanding (MoUs), teaming agreements, and strategic partnerships. Review contractual provisions covering liability, indemnities, warranties, intellectual property, acceptance criteria, payment milestones, and termination rights. Identify contractual risks and recommend commercially practical solutions that protect business interests. Support customer negotiations alongside senior commercial leadership and legal teams, ensuring agreements accurately reflect negotiated commercial and technical commitments. Sovereign Missions and Strategic Agreements: Support contractual structures for sovereign satellite programs involving government customers, local industrial partners, and prime contractors. Assist with agreements covering local Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT), Technology Transfer (ToT), Transfer of Knowledge (ToK), and intellectual property licensing. Review contractual requirements relating to localization, industrial participation, export controls, and regulatory compliance, coordinating with specialist legal counsel when necessary. Support the development of contractual frameworks for joint ventures, strategic partnerships, and local operating arrangements. Balance customer sovereignty requirements with commercial interests and intellectual property protections. Commercial and Legal Risk Management: Assess commercial and contractual exposure across international business opportunities. Identify risks associated with delivery schedules, performance guarantees, liquidated damages, payment security, and customer acceptance conditions. Collaborate with Finance and Legal teams to establish appropriate contractual protections and approval processes. Review customer tender conditions and government procurement requirements. Maintain accurate records of negotiated terms, contractual deviations, and outstanding issues, escalating significant risks to relevant decision-makers. Bid, Proposal and Commercial Support: Review contractual requirements within Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Quotations (RFQs), and government tenders. Support the preparation of commercial proposals, contractual responses, and Best and Final Offer (BAFO) submissions. Coordinate with Engineering and Program Management teams to ensure technical commitments are commercially and contractually achievable. Contribute to the development of commercial terms, milestone payment structures, and delivery conditions. Support internal contract reviews and approval processes before customer submissions. Contract Execution and Governance: Monitor contractual obligations following contract award and support the transition of executed agreements to program delivery teams. Track contract amendments, variations, milestone obligations, and customer commitments. Assist with contractual disputes, claims, and change requests in coordination with Legal. Maintain an organized contract repository and contribute to improvements in contractual processes, documentation, and templates. Ensure effective contract governance while maintaining efficient commercial execution. Requirements The ideal candidate combines strong commercial contract management expertise with legal knowledge, sound business judgment, and the ability to manage complex international agreements independently. The following qualifications and skills are expected: Between 5 and 8 years of relevant experience in commercial contracts, legal operations, contract management, or commercial law. Law degree or recognized legal qualification strongly preferred. Qualification as a practicing solicitor or lawyer is an advantage. Demonstrated experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial agreements. Strong understanding of contractual risk allocation, liability provisions, indemnities, intellectual property rights, and payment protections. Experience working with government customers, defense contractors, or complex technology suppliers. Strong commercial judgment and the ability to translate legal considerations into practical business recommendations. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with senior commercial leadership and cross-functional teams. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail when managing complex contractual requirements. Additional qualifications considered an advantage: Experience in aerospace, satellite manufacturing, defense, or the space industry. Exposure to government-to-business or government-to-government procurement processes. Experience with technology transfer, intellectual property licensing, and international industrial partnerships. Familiarity with export controls, sanctions, and cross-border contractual requirements. Experience supporting high-value international programs, particularly across the Middle East and Europe. Understanding of contractual structures involving local prime contractors, subcontractors, and sovereign government customers. Key Personal Attributes: Commercially Pragmatic: Understands how to enable business opportunities while managing contractual and legal risks. Legally Astute: Able to identify contractual exposure and recommend proportionate protections. Confident Communicator: Comfortable engaging with customers, external legal counsel, and senior executives. Independent: Capable of taking ownership of contract preparation, reviews, and negotiations. Solution-Oriented: Focuses on resolving challenges and facilitating progress rather than simply identifying obstacles. Detail-Driven: Able to manage complex contractual requirements while maintaining focus on broader commercial objectives. Measures of Success: Faster preparation, review, and negotiation of commercial agreements. Stronger contractual protections and reduced commercial exposure. Effective management of legal and contractual matters during sovereign mission negotiations. Reduced reliance on senior commercial leadership for day-to-day contract administration. Successful transition of negotiated agreements into program execution. Improved coordination between commercial, legal, finance, engineering, and program management teams. Benefits Annual compensation of approximately $180,000 . Fully remote working arrangement. Full-time employment opportunity. Opportunity to work on complex international satellite programs and strategic space infrastructure projects. Exposure to government, defense, and commercial customers across global markets. Opportunity to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams spanning engineering, finance, legal, and commercial operations. Professional development through involvement in high-value international negotiations and strategic partnerships. Opportunity to contribute to the growth of innovative satellite technology and sovereign space capabilities.