Legal Counsel (Commercial)

Vast is looking for a Legal Counsel, reporting to the General Counsel, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of human-rated space stations.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location. 

Responsibilities: 

• Commercial Contracts: Structure, negotiate, and execute transactions ranging from standard agreements to highly complex deals, ensuring alignment with business objectives and regulatory requirements
• Business Enablement: Provide practical, business-oriented legal guidance that enables teams to move quickly while maintaining appropriate risk controls. Act as a key resource for navigating legal challenges and ensuring Vast’s success with customers–in the U.S. and around the world
• Special Projects: Support our General Counsel and Associate General Counsel on special projects, as requested, and work independently with our internal legal support staff and other internal partners
• Intellectual Property Management: Oversee and manage Vast’s intellectual property portfolio, including coordination of patent, trademark, and trade secret matters; support IP strategy, filings, maintenance, enforcement, licensing, and related risk mitigation in alignment with business objectives and technology development
• Process & Template Development: Help build and improve contract templates, playbooks, intake processes, and approval workflows to support faster, more consistent customer contracting across the business
• Risk & Compliance: Identify and manage legal, regulatory, and operational risks related to commercial transactions, including supply chain, intellectual property, confidentiality, data privacy, export controls, and compliance obligations

Minimum Qualifications:

• 2+ years of experience in a legal role at a private company or law firm
• Subject matter expertise in commercial contracts and intellectual property 
• 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
• Process-oriented and team player
• Good judgment and the ability to balance risk and productivity in a business environment
• Ability to work independently or collaboratively in a fast-pace environment 

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• A strong ability to inspire trust, forge relationships quickly, and earn the confidence and cooperation of business stakeholders
• 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; eager 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

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time
• Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones