Contracts Strategy Lead, U.S. Government

About Nominal Nominal is building the connected test and operations platform powering the world's most advanced hardware systems, from spacecraft and autonomous vehicles to next-generation defense programs. Our platform gives hardware engineering teams a single place to ingest data, analyze performance, automate test execution, and collaborate across every phase of development, so they can move faster without sacrificing safety or precision. We're a fast-moving team that owns problems end-to-end, works across disciplines, and thrives at the intersection of hardware and software. Nominal is building the connected test and operations platform powering the world's most advanced hardware systems, from spacecraft and autonomous vehicles to next-generation defense programs. Our platform gives hardware engineering teams a single place to ingest data, analyze performance, automate test execution, and collaborate across every phase of development, so they can move faster without sacrificing safety or precision. We\'re a fast-moving team that owns problems end-to-end, works across disciplines, and thrives at the intersection of hardware and software. We serve top-tier commercial and defense customers, from autonomy leaders like Anduril and Shield AI to next-generation aerospace teams like Hermeus and REGENT, and performance engineering teams like Pratt Miller Motorsports, alongside mission partners within the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force on programs where failure isn’t an option. We’re backed by Sequoia, General Catalyst, Founders Fund, Lux Capital, and Lightspeed. Our team draws from SpaceX, Palantir, Anduril, Applied Intuition, and other leading companies, united by a common mission: giving hardware engineers the tools to build the future with speed, safety, and confidence. About the role Nominal is hiring a Contracts Strategy Lead, U.S. Government to help scale how we partner with government customers. You’ll work alongside our Government & Public Sector, Legal, Finance, Capture, and Program teams to structure complex opportunities, negotiate with acquisition organizations, and translate Nominal’s commercial software business into government-compatible acquisition strategies and contracts. As the lead individual contributor for U.S. Government contract strategy, you’ll bring deep acquisition expertise while partnering closely with experienced leaders across the company. You’ll own complex work from day one and help develop repeatable approaches that support the continued growth of our Government & Public Sector business. This is not a traditional contract administration role. We’re looking for someone who understands government acquisition, thinks commercially, and enjoys solving difficult contracting challenges alongside cross-functional teams. What You'll Do Shape Government Opportunities Structure U.S. Government opportunities from proposal through award. Translate Nominal’s commercial software model into government-compatible pricing, licensing, and acquisition approaches. Review solicitations, agreements, and contract vehicles while identifying risks and recommending a path forward. Partner with Capture, Business Development, Finance, Legal, and Program teams on complex pursuits. Lead Contract Negotiations Engage directly with Contracting Officers, acquisition teams, prime contractors, and strategic partners. Develop negotiation strategies that balance customer needs with Nominal’s commercial objectives. Educate government stakeholders on commercial software models and modern acquisition approaches. Support proposals, pricing submissions, statements of work, and contract negotiations. Advance Our Contract Strategy Develop reusable contract language, negotiation guidance, and preferred positions. Improve contract-strategy frameworks, review processes, and workflows. Build internal best practices that make government contracting more consistent and scalable. Identify acquisition pathways and partnership structures that support future growth. Support Program Execution Support contracts through execution, renewal, expansion, and modification. Partner with Program teams to ensure contractual requirements are understood and successfully delivered. Help resolve contracting questions that arise during program execution. Carry lessons from active programs into future acquisition and negotiation strategies. About You You have a strong foundation in U.S. Government acquisition and apply procurement rules with sound business judgment. You enjoy solving ambiguous problems rather than simply following established playbooks. You communicate effectively with government, legal, technical, and business stakeholders. You can translate commercial software business models into practical government contracting approaches. You are comfortable independently owning complex work while collaborating across teams. You are excited to help build better ways of working as Nominal continues to scale. Qualifications 5+ years of experience supporting U.S. Government contracts, acquisitions, or contract strategy. Experience as a Contracting Officer, acquisition professional, contracts strategist, or in a comparable role. Strong working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and common U.S. Government acquisition vehicles. Experience negotiating or supporting complex government contracts involving software or technology. Experience supporting programmatic acquisitions, multi-year programs, or larger-scale contract vehicles. Ability to translate commercial software pricing, licensing, and delivery models into government-compatible structures. Experience partnering with Legal, Capture, Finance, Program, and technical teams. Strong written, verbal, and customer-facing communication skills. Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance. Willingness to travel up to 25%. Skills that accelerate us Active Secret clearance is preferred, but not required. Experience in both DoD acquisition and commercial technology. Experience at a defense technology, dual-use, government SaaS, or growth-stage company. Experience with programmatic acquisition and sustained government programs. Experience with nontraditional acquisition pathways such as OTAs, CSOs, or SBIR/STTR. Experience helping pilots or prototype efforts transition into larger programs. Experience improving contract processes, playbooks, templates, or negotiation guidance. Experience working with prime contractors, resellers, teaming partners, or strategic partners. Benefits/Perks 100% coverage of medical, dental, and vision insurance Unlimited PTO and sick leave Free lunch, snacks, and coffee Professional Development Stipend Annual company retreat All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. ITAR Requirements To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Compensation The base pay range for this role is $185,000 – $210,000 per year. #J-18808-Ljbffr