Contracts Manager

Why Castelion, Why Now Castelion is moving incredibly fast to develop and deliver advanced defense systems at a time when execution matters more than ever. We believe focus, ownership, and excellence are decisive advantages - and we're building a world-class team to turn bold ideas into real capability. This is a rare opportunity to join at an early stage, where you'll have significant ownership, collaborate with exceptional teammates, and make a direct, measurable impact on our mission and the future of the company - regardless of your function. Contracts Manager The Contracts Manager will be a key member of Castelion's Government Programs organization and will be responsible for contract administration and execution across a portfolio of U.S. Government contracts and agreements. This individual will work directly with program managers, business development, finance, legal, engineering, and government contracting counterparts to ensure Castelion understands and meets its contractual obligations while enabling programs to execute quickly and effectively. The ideal candidate has strong working knowledge of U.S. Government contracting, can independently interpret contractual requirements, and is comfortable taking ownership of complex contract actions from proposal through negotiation, award, performance, modification, and closeout. This role requires someone who can balance sound contracting judgment and compliance with Castelion's bias toward speed, simplicity, and execution. Responsibilities Own contract administration across multiple U.S. Government programs from award through contract completion and closeout Serve as a primary contractual interface with Government Contracting Officers, Contract Specialists, DCMA personnel, and other acquisition stakeholders Partner closely with program managers to understand contractual requirements, milestones, deliverables, funding, and performance obligations and ensure successful execution Review and negotiate U.S. Government contracts, Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs), modifications, task orders, delivery orders, and related agreements Review Requests for Proposal (RFPs), Requests for Information (RFIs), solicitations, and draft contractual documents to identify requirements, risks, and business implications Coordinate proposal preparation and submission across program management, engineering, finance, legal, supply chain, and business development Develop and maintain proposal compliance matrices, contractual assumptions, exceptions, representations and certifications, and other business volumes Review and interpret contract terms, FAR and DFARS clauses, statements of work, CDRLs, data rights requirements, invoicing requirements, and other contractual obligations Lead the preparation and negotiation of contract modifications, requests for equitable adjustment, funding actions, schedule changes, and other contract actions Track contract funding, ceilings, CLINs, period of performance, deliverables, options, and other key contractual milestones Coordinate with finance and program teams to ensure accurate and timely invoicing, payment, and funding management Establish and maintain complete, accurate, and audit-ready contract files and correspondence Support contract compliance activities, Government reviews, audits, and interactions with DCMA, DCAA, and other Government organizations as applicable Support negotiation and administration of non-disclosure agreements, teaming agreements, subcontracts, and supplier agreements when required Partner with legal counsel on complex regulatory, intellectual property, data rights, export control, disputes, and other legal matters Develop scalable contracting processes, templates, tools, and playbooks that enable Castelion to manage an expanding portfolio of Government programs without unnecessary bureaucracy Identify contractual risks early, develop practical mitigation strategies, and drive issues to resolution rather than simply identifying them Establish and maintain strong, trusted relationships with Government customers and contracting counterparts Basic Qualifications Bachelor's degree 5+ years of experience in U.S. Government contract administration, contract management, acquisition, or a closely related field Experience administering Department of Defense contracts or agreements Working knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) Experience reviewing and interpreting Government solicitations, contracts, modifications, and contractual requirements Experience supporting proposal development and contract negotiations Demonstrated ability to independently manage multiple contracts and priorities in a fast-paced environment Strong written and verbal communication, organizational, analytical, and negotiation skills Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance Preferred Qualifications 7+ years of Government contracts experience within aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, or another technically complex industry Experience managing contracts for weapon systems, aerospace systems, missiles, spacecraft, or other complex hardware development and production programs Experience with both traditional FAR-based contracts and nontraditional acquisition vehicles, including Other Transaction Agreements Experience with Firm-Fixed-Price, Cost-Reimbursement, Time-and-Materials, IDIQ, and other Government contract structures Experience supporting prototype development, flight test, production, and/or operational fielding programs Experience with DoD proposal development, source selections, negotiations, contract awards, and post-award administration Knowledge of Government intellectual property and technical data rights requirements Familiarity with CDRLs, DD Form 1423, Government property, contract funding, invoicing, cost and pricing requirements, and Government reporting requirements Experience working directly with DCMA, DCAA, military Service contracting organizations, or other DoD acquisition organizations Familiarity with SBIR/STTR programs and Phase III awards Experience developing and implementing contracting processes within a rapidly growing organization Experience supporting classified programs NCMA certification, CPCM, CFCM, MBA, JD, or other relevant advanced degree or certification Active Secret, Top Secret, or TS/SCI security clearance Castelion offers a generous benefits package. Please refer to the bottom of our Careers page for more details. Other Duties Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Additional Eligibility Requirements This position may require access to classified information or restricted U.S. Government sites, systems, or information, as determined by the Company and/or applicable U.S. Government requirements. If the position is so designated, your employment in the role may be contingent upon your ability to obtain and maintain the required U.S. Government security clearance or other government authorization, and to satisfy any citizenship or other eligibility requirements imposed by applicable law, regulation, executive order, or government contract requirements. You will be notified if and when such requirements apply. Affirmative Action/EEO Statement Castelion is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Castelion is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and hiring process. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, participate in the interview process, or otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io. Requests for accommodation will be considered on an individual basis and handled in accordance with applicable law. Castelion is committed to fostering a workplace where employment decisions are based on qualifications, business needs, and the ability to perform the essential functions of the role, with or without reasonable accommodation. EAR/ITAR Requirements This position requires access to export-controlled information, and as such, employment (or hiring of a contractor) is contingent upon the candidate’s ability to access all applicable export-controlled information without additional export licensing being required by the Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. #J-18808-Ljbffr