General Counsel / Chief Legal Officer

General Counsel / Chief Legal Officer

We are seeking an experienced General Counsel / Chief Legal Officer to serve as the senior legal advisor to a growing organization operating within the technology and defense sector. This is a highly hands‑on leadership opportunity for a seasoned attorney with deep experience in intellectual property, U.S. government contracting, export controls, and corporate governance.The General Counsel / Chief Legal Officer will build and lead the legal function while partnering closely with executive leadership and the Board of Directors. This individual will also serve as Corporate Secretary, directly managing board governance and corporate records in‑house.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the organization's senior legal advisor, providing practical counsel to executive leadership on strategic, operational, regulatory, and corporate matters.
• Build and lead the internal legal function, establishing scalable processes, policies, and infrastructure to support continued growth.
• Develop and manage intellectual property strategy and portfolio protection within a hardware, autonomy, or deep-tech environment.
• Advise on U.S. government contracting requirements, including FAR/DFARS compliance and related contractual obligations.
• Provide guidance on export control matters, including ITAR and EAR requirements.
• Serve as Corporate Secretary to the Board of Directors and directly manage board and committee governance activities.
• Prepare board and committee notices and agendas, record and finalize meeting minutes, and maintain corporate records and the official minute book.
• Prepare and manage corporate consents, resolutions, and other governance documentation.
• Partner with leadership on legal risk management, compliance, commercial agreements, and business strategy.
• Manage relationships with outside counsel while maintaining ownership of core legal and governance responsibilities internally.

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) and active Delaware Bar membership in good standing.
• 10+ years of legal experience, including significant in-house experience within a technology, defense, or aerospace organization.
• Substantive experience developing and managing intellectual property strategy and portfolios within a hardware or deep-tech environment.
• Direct experience with U.S. government contracting, including FAR/DFARS requirements.
• Strong working knowledge of U.S. export controls, including ITAR and EAR.
• Experience supporting a Board of Directors and/or serving as Corporate Secretary, either directly in-house or through coordination with outside counsel.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. TS/SCI security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Texas Bar membership.
• Experience within the drone, autonomous systems, defense technology, or related sectors.
• Familiarity with allied/NATO procurement frameworks and international defense trade compliance.
• Experience serving as a company's first in-house General Counsel or building a legal function from the ground up within a growth‑stage organization.
• Experience advising on Foreign Military Sales (FMS) processes.

The Opportunity

This is a hands‑on, build‑the‑function role for a senior legal leader who can operate effectively at both the strategic and executional levels. The General Counsel / Chief Legal Officer will play an integral role in protecting the organization's intellectual property, navigating the complexities of government contracting and regulatory compliance, and supporting executive leadership and the Board as the organization continues to grow.The successful candidate will bring the judgment and executive presence necessary to advise senior leadership while remaining comfortable directly owning the legal and governance work critical to the organization.