Any, United States (Remote)PermanentIn-House

General Counsel, Aerospace and Defense Industry

Job Description

Full-Time | Permanent | Remote | Southern California Preferred

Latitude is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as the first General Counsel and in-house legal hire of a growing aerospace and defense technology company that develops advanced radar systems and communications technologies for government and commercial customers. This is an opportunity to establish and lead the company's legal function, work directly with executive leadership, and serve as the company's principal legal advisor.

The General Counsel will oversee the company's legal affairs, with a particular emphasis on government contracting, regulatory compliance, and commercial transactions. The ideal candidate will have experience advising government contractors, preferably in the aerospace or defense industry, and a strong understanding of federal contracting requirements, regulations, and associated legal risks. The role requires an attorney who can independently draft and negotiate complex agreements, advise leadership on significant business and legal decisions, and help the company navigate the legal requirements associated with its continued growth. Beyond government contracting, the General Counsel will serve as a legal generalist, providing practical guidance on a range of corporate and operational matters.

As the company's first in-house attorney, the General Counsel will have significant responsibility for establishing the legal function and developing appropriate policies and processes. This position is particularly well suited to an experienced in-house attorney who is ready to assume broader leadership responsibilities and help shape the company's continued growth.

Key Responsibilities:

Serve as the company's principal legal advisor, providing strategic and practical guidance to executive leadership on legal, regulatory, and business matters.
Lead legal support for government contracts, including drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and advising on federal government agreements, subcontracts, teaming agreements, and related transactions.
Advise on compliance with applicable government contracting laws and regulations, including the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS).
Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements, including customer, vendor, supplier, licensing, technology, services, and confidentiality agreements.
Identify and manage legal and regulatory risks associated with the company's operations, government contracting activities, and growth initiatives.
Provide legal guidance on employment and human resources matters, coordinating with specialized outside counsel as appropriate.
Supervise and manage outside legal counsel.
Establish and improve legal processes, contract management practices, compliance procedures, and other foundational elements of the company's in-house legal function.
Work collaboratively with business, finance, engineering, operations, and other internal stakeholders.

Basic Requirements for the General Counsel:

JD from an ABA-accredited law school.
Licensed to practice law and in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction. California bar admission is preferred but not required. Candidates must be eligible to practice in-house in accordance with applicable licensing requirements.
10+ years of legal experience, including substantial experience advising companies on government contracting and commercial legal matters.
In-house legal experience strongly preferred, particularly with a company operating in the aerospace, defense, or government contracting industries.
Ability to provide practical guidance on employment law and human resources issues, including recognizing matters that require specialized outside counsel. Familiarity with California employment law is preferred.
Advise on corporate governance matters, support Board of Directors meetings, and assist with corporate policies and procedures.
Ability to work independently, prioritize competing demands, and provide timely, business-oriented legal advice in a growing organization.
Outstanding professional references.

Position Details of the General Counsel:

Type of role: In-House General Counsel
Schedule: Permanent (full-time)
Location: Southern California preferred. The company's headquarters is located in Southern California, and the position offers flexibility to work remotely. However, the General Counsel will be expected to attend in-person meetings at company headquarters and participate in Board of Directors meetings as needed. While candidates located in Southern California are preferred, highly qualified candidates elsewhere in the United States will also be considered.

Compensation:

Pay: Annual base salary of $225,000-$250,000, depending on experience and qualifications, plus equity participation through restricted stock units (RSUs).

Benefits: In addition to pay, a competitive employee benefits package is also provided.

This is a permanent, direct-hire opportunity. The selected candidate will be employed directly by the company.

Confidentiality

Latitude will not propose you to prospective clients without your prior consent. Candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.

About Latitude

Latitude is a full-service flexible legal talent company serving corporate legal departments and law firms nationwide. From Fortune Global 100 companies to start-ups and Global 50 law firms to boutiques, clients turn to us for top-tier attorneys and other legal professionals.

Latitude specializes in providing highly skilled former in-house counsel and Big Law attorneys for flexible contract engagements and permanent positions in dozens of practice areas, including commercial contracting, data privacy, M&A, employment, litigation, and more.

Founded in 2013, Latitude is a Chambers and Partners globally-ranked flexible legal staffing company.

Latitude Contract Engagements & Secondments

Outstanding attorneys and other legal professionals choose Latitude for contract, consulting, and secondment opportunities because we offer competitive compensation and benefits, sophisticated and engaging work, access to work with top-tier clients and peers, and a refreshing blend of freedom with self-designed boundaries. Our own experience as practicing attorneys and our client relationships enable us to effectively tailor our candidate proposals to the specific practice strengths and interpersonal attributes that matter most to our clients and to match our candidates with the opportunities that will be most fulfilling to them.

Our Specialty: Highly Skilled Contract Attorneys. Latitude Attorneys have the level of skill, experience, and judgment as would be expected of a permanent member of our client's corporate legal department or law firm and the versatility to step into challenging environments and hit the ground running. Latitude Attorneys serve on a full- or part-time contract basis, and work remotely or on-site at the client office.

FAQ

Q: What other legal jobs do you have?

A: If you're interested in working with Latitude but do not think this particular legal job is the right one for you, we encourage you to explore our other open opportunities or fill out a General Application by visiting us at https://jobs.latitudelegal.com/s/

Q: Should I apply for this specific position if I have previously applied for another Latitude position?

A: Yes, it is better to apply to each Latitude job for which you are qualified and interested so that we immediately know of your interest in that specific role. This also enables you to share additional information about your qualifications or interest specific to each role. If you do not meet all of the qualifications for a position but think you would still be highly effective in the role, it can be helpful to include a brief explanation in your application.

Q: How can I reduce the risk of missing Latitude's email inviting me to interview for this position?

A: Please safe-list Latitude's URL domain name (latitudelegal.com) in your spam filter so that an email from one of our recruiters does not get caught in your spam folder. Our recruiters will never contact you by email from a URL other than latitudelegal.com

Q: My current legal team needs help. How can I see some Latitude candidates for my legal team?

A: The fastest way is to submit the very short form on our website contact page. A member of our client services team will be back in touch with you very fast to learn more about your need so we can provide you with on point candidates to consider.

For more information about Latitude, please visit us at https://latitudelegal.com.

Thank you for your interest in Latitude!

Latitude is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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