Senior Legal Counsel

Senior Legal CounselBased on site at Rocket Lab's Headquarters in Long Beach, CA, the Senior Counsel will play a key role in supporting the Legal Department and functional and program management teams across the organization. This role is ideal for a mid-level attorney with experience in contract drafting and negotiations, dispute resolution, and regulatory compliance. The successful candidate will provide strategic legal advice to senior management for a publicly traded company performing U.S. Government contracts, to ensure compliance and support the company's growth and innovation.Manage contractual and operational legal matters for the company, as well as provide legal support for mergers and acquisition transactions, litigation matters and other compliance requirements. This includes:Leadership & Strategic Advisory: Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and business unit and operational leadership; translate business objectives into clear legal strategies and pragmatic risk mitigation.Lead contract and trade compliance teams; set goals, coach performance, and foster a culture of accountability and inclusion.Manage external counsel relationships and budgets, focusing on reviewing legal bills and keeping costs under control.Establish and continuously improve legal processes, policies, and templates to scale support across the enterprise.Commercial and Government Contracts (Sales, Procurement, Operations): Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of agreements, including prime contracts with the US Government and subcontracts for work under US government prime contracts, Master Service Agreements, IP licensing, non-disclosure agreements, real property leases and strategic partnership agreements.Create and implement contract playbooks, fallback positions, templates, and clause libraries to streamline cycles.Collaborate with business teams to balance risk with speed-to-value; maintain visibility into obligations and renewals.Compliance and Trade Compliance (Sanctions, Export Controls, Customs & Ethics): Advise on global trade compliance frameworks (e.g., sanctions screening, EAR/ITAR classifications, licensing, technology transfers, restricted party screening, customs valuation/origin/marking).Develop and maintain policies, SOPs, and training; support audits and investigations; remediate findings.Monitor regulatory developments and industry trends; proactively update policies and training.Cross-Functional Collaboration & Enablement: Partner with Finance (pricing, revenue recognition, indemnities/limitations), IT/Security (data protection and controls), HR (employment matters), and Operations (Supply Chain, quality and logistics).M&A, Corporate Transactions & Due Diligence: Design and execute legal due diligence plans covering contracts, operations, IP, privacy/security, labor & employment, environmental, anti-bribery/anti-corruption, sanctions/export controls, material contracts, and litigation.Coordinate cross-functional integration (risk remediation, policy harmonization, contract novations, entity governance).Manage outside counsel efficiently, balancing cost, speed, and risk.You'll bring these qualifications:Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.Active membership in the California State Bar or Registered In-House Counsel (RIHC).Minimum of 12 years of legal experience.Proven experience as in-house counsel or at a top-tier law firm.Experience in negotiating contracts, non-disclosure agreements and IP licenses.These qualifications would be nice to have:15+ years of experience strongly preferred.Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to articulate and effectively communicate information to various levels of management and program teams.Experience managing a team of professionals. setting goals, coaching performance, and fostering a culture of accountability and inclusion.Extensive knowledge of Government contracts and contract types, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation (DFAR).Experience supporting DoD and NASA prime contracts and/or subcontracts supporting DoD and NASA programs.Familiarity with the compliance requirements of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and the Export Administration Regulations.Demonstrate initiative and the ability to take on greater responsibilities with potential for leadership opportunities over time.Capable of adapting to fast-paced changes, shifting priorities, evolving directions, and addressing unique legal challenges.