Associate General Counsel

The role

This person will lead the regulatory and national security compliance framework for spacecraft design, building, exporting, licensing, and operations. They will serve as the in-house legal lead for export controls, FCC and spectrum licensing, CFIUS, facility clearance, and space policy.

What you will do

• Lead Vast's export compliance program and serve as Empowered Official for ITAR and EAR.
• Support export classification determinations and export authorizations.
• Advise business teams on technology transfer, foreign person access, and international collaboration.
• Oversee compliance reviews, audits, investigations, and disclosures.
• Oversee FCC licensing for missions, including Part 25 applications and spectrum coordination.
• Advise on CFIUS implications of financings, strategic investments, and international partnerships.
• Serve as lead legal point of contact for facility clearance strategy and FOCI mitigation.
• Monitor and analyze legislative and regulatory developments affecting commercial space.
• Partner with Government Affairs on rule making comments and policy positions.
• Work closely with Security, Engineering, Supply Chain, Business Development, Government Affairs, and Finance.

Required qualifications

• JD with admission to practice law in a state bar in good standing, and ability to practice in-house in California, the District of Columbia, or Texas
• 9+ years of experience in a legal role at a law firm, aerospace and defense company, or space company, with substantial experience in export controls and national security regulatory matters
• Strong problem-solving, verbal, and writing skills
• Good judgment and the ability to balance risk and productivity in a business environment
• Process-oriented, collaborative, and able to work independently in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time

Nice to have

• In-house experience at an aerospace and defense prime contractor or a space company, leading export, trade compliance, or national security regulatory functions
• Hands-on experience negotiating FOCI mitigation agreements with DCSA and supporting facility clearance processes
• Experience preparing CFIUS filings and negotiating or administering mitigation agreements
• Experience with FCC Part 25 licensing, ITU coordination, or satellite spectrum matters
• Familiarity with FAA payload reviews and NOAA commercial remote sensing licensing regimes
• Experience building or scaling a trade compliance program in a high-growth environment
• Active U.S. security clearance (Secret or above)
• Ability to inspire trust, forge relationships quickly, and earn the confidence of engineering and business stakeholders
• Demonstrated legal and business judgment, technical acumen, communication skills, and strategic thinking, with excellent time management and prioritization
• Comfort with rapid change and a drive to learn new technologies, products, and substantive legal areas

Benefits

• Company equity
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents
• Generous paid time off
• Up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually
• Paid parental leave
• Short and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan
• ClassPass credits
• Personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health
• Snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge
• Lunch subsidized

About the company

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, the company has more than 1,000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital.