Senior Counsel

At ispace U.S., we’re not just going to the Moon—we’re redefining how we get there. Our missions push the boundaries of human and robotic exploration, driven by our belief: “Expand our Planet. Expand our Future.” By providing cost-effective lunar transportation, we are pioneering a future where space is within reach for scientific discovery, commercial ventures, and sustainable exploration.  
With locations in Japan, Luxembourg, and the United States, ispace is rapidly growing and leading the way in lunar exploration and development. Our U.S. branch is based in Englewood, Colorado, and focuses on high-capacity payload lunar landers designed to support future lunar missions. Our team is made up of innovators, problem-solvers, and visionaries committed to making space more accessible and fostering the next generation of space exploration. 
Let’s go to the Moon together! Our team is growing, and we are actively seeking talented individuals who share our passion for space. 
We are seeking an experienced Senior Counsel to serve as the lead legal advisor for our U.S. organization. This role combines hands-on legal expertise with strategic leadership, supporting a rapidly growing business operating in the aerospace and defense sector.   Reporting to the CEO and partnering closely with the global General Counsel and legal team, the Senior Counsel will lead complex legal matters across government contracting, commercial transactions, regulatory compliance, and corporate initiatives. This individual will play a critical role in shaping the legal infrastructure of the U.S. business as the company scales.   This position is ideal for a senior attorney who thrives in a high-growth, mission-driven environment and enjoys partnering directly with executives, engineers, and business leaders to solve complex legal and strategic challenges.   Ideally, this person would be located in Denver, CO or in the Washington D.C. area.  A true rock star could do this job from anywhere!   

Responsibilities

• Strategic Legal Advisory : Serve as a senior legal advisor to U.S. business and technical leadership on a broad range of matters, including government contracts, commercial contracts, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and financing activities. Partner closely with the CEO and global General Counsel to support key business initiatives and provide practical legal guidance aligned with company objectives. Proactively identify and assess legal and regulatory risks affecting U.S. operations and develop practical mitigation strategies aligned with business goals. Support strategic partnerships, joint ventures, and other corporate transactions, as directed by the General Counsel.
 
• Government Contracting: Provide deep expertise on U.S. government contracting matters, including FAR/DFARS compliance, first-tier subcontracting requirements, negotiations with prime contractors, intellectual property and data rights, and related cost accounting considerations. Advise program, engineering, and business development teams on contractual obligations and compliance considerations for government-funded programs.
 
• Commercial Transactions: Lead and manage complex commercial negotiations end-to-end. Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of agreements, including services agreements, technology development agreements, vendor contracts, and strategic partnership agreements.
 
• Export Controls & Trade Compliance: Oversee the company’s export controls and trade compliance function, including ITAR and EAR compliance, providing legal guidance and strategic oversight while partnering with an established internal trade compliance expert and the global legal team to identify, assess, and mitigate regulatory risks.
 
• Legal Operations & Cross Functional Collaboration: Support international business requirements and compliance with foreign regulatory frameworks, assisting with cross-border transactions and global legal alignment in coordination with the global legal team. Coordinate with and manage relationships with external counsel, regulators, and government agencies as needed, ensuring high-quality and cost-effective legal support. Lead the development and improvement of internal legal processes, templates, policies, and best practices for the U.S. business, building scalable legal infrastructure to support company growth. Communicate complex legal concepts clearly and accessibly to non-legal stakeholders, including executives, engineers, and business development leaders. Contribute to mentoring junior legal or compliance staff as the team grows.

Required Qualifications

• Experience in the aerospace, defense, or advanced