Legal Counsel
At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. We are building artificial gravity space stations, allowing long-term stays in space without the adverse effects of zero-gravity. Our initial crewed space habitat will be Haven-1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station when it launches into low earth orbit in August 2025. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.
Vast is looking for a Legal Counsel, reporting to our Associate General Counsel based in Long Beach, to provide an array of legal support to include employment law and compliance, commercial contracts, litigation management, and other matters required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations
This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.
Responsibilities:
- Employment Law: Provide clear, practical, and solution-focused day-to-day legal advice and counseling on a wide range of complex issues to the People team, including performance management, investigations, accommodations, and other employment-related matters across the United States.
- Policies & Procedures: Proactively improve and strengthen internal policies and procedures to support compliance and best practices, including internal process reviews, new policy roll-outs and implementation, and regular policy updates and training programs.
- Litigation: Manage litigation matters and disputes, as assigned. Support the internal legal team and work with outside counsel and guide the litigation process through resolution.
- Special Projects: Support our Legal Team on special projects, as requested, and work independently with our internal legal support staff while supervising their work product.
Minimum Qualifications:
- 3+ years of experience in a legal role at a private company, law firm, or government agency
- Subject matter expertise in federal and state employment law, including California
- 2+ years of litigation experience
- JD with admission to practice law in a state bar in good standing and able to practice in-house in California
- Strong problem-solving experience and skills
- Strong verbal and writing skills
- Good judgment and the ability to balance risk and productivity in a business environment
- Ability to work independently or collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- A strong ability to inspire trust, forge relationships quickly, and earn the confidence and cooperation of business stakeholders.
- Experience drafting and enforcing policies compliant with FAR Part 22, and other government contract requirements.
- Diligent and proactive, you have demonstrated excellent legal and business judgment, technical acumen, communication skills and strategic thinking, along with the ability to work independently and cross-functionally with excellent time management and prioritization skills
- Comfortable with and responsive to rapid developments and changes in direction; willing to learn new tech, products, and substantive legal areas to support multiple roles within the legal department
- Familiarity with the aerospace industry and its unique legal challenges
- Ability to identify and mitigate legal risks while enabling business objectives
- Experience with employment litigation and compliance investigations experience
- Eagerness to learn new areas of law and triage issues
Additional Requirements:
- Ability to travel up to 15% of the time
- Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs unassisted
- Specific certifications, as appropriate
Salary Range: California
$145,000 - $195,000 USD
U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS
The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
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