Senior Legal Counsel

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. Vast is developing next-generation space stations to ensure a continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and unlocking a new space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Using an incremental, hardware-rich and low-cost approach, Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station. Haven Demo’s 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Next, Haven-1 is expected to become the world’s first commercial space station when it launches, followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.Vast is seeking a SeniorLegal Counsel to join our growing legal team, reporting directly to the General Counsel. This role will focus primarily on commercial contracts (approximately 50%)—particularly within supply chain and manufacturing; data privacy and intellectual property support (approximately 30%); as well as other critical legal matters supporting the design and construction of next-generation human-rated space stations. The remaining 20% will be focused on special projects.This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.Responsibilities: Commercial Contracts – Supply Chain & ManufacturingDraft, negotiate, and manage commercial agreements, with a focus on supply chain, and manufacturing.Support sourcing, engineering, and operations teams in structuring processes and contracts that balance legal protection and operational efficiency.Provide guidance in coordination with subject matter experts on key legal terms, including IP rights, indemnities, warranties, and regulatory compliance.Build and scale robust internal processes and partner with others on implementation and improvement of business systems.Data Privacy & Intellectual Property SupportSupport the development and management of data privacy programs, including compliance with applicable privacy laws and regulations.Advise on the protection, licensing, and enforcement of intellectual property assets.Enhance internal processes and coordination across departments to safeguard proprietary information and trade secrets.Leverage knowledge of related areas such as supply chain, ethics & compliance, and technology transactions.Strategic Legal Advisory & Cross-Functional SupportProvide timely, business-oriented legal advice to stakeholders across multiple departments.Identify and manage legal risks while enabling innovation and execution speed.Support sensitive legal matters such as claims, investigations, compliance concerns, and dispute resolution.Collaborate on special projects. Minimum Qualifications:JD with active admission to a U.S. state bar in good standing; eligible to practice in-house in California.5+ years of experience in a legal role within a law firm, private company, or government agency.Subject matter expertise in commercial contracting.Experience supporting supply chain and manufacturing legal operations.Strong verbal and written communication skills; excellent judgment and problem-solving abilities.Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.Preferred Skills & Experience:Deep understanding of aerospace industry legal frameworks, especially related to government and technology contracts.Strong relationship-building skills with both internal teams and external partners.Proactive and pragmatic approach to legal counseling and risk management.Demonstrated ability to manage shifting priorities and take initiative in unfamiliar legal areas.Familiarity with internal policy development and enforcement in a highly regulated environment.Additional Requirements:Ability to travel up to 15% of the time.Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends.Specific certifications, as appropriate.Pay Range: California$164,000—$232,000 USDCOMPENSATION AND BENEFITSBase salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUSThe person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.EQUAL OPPORTUNITYVast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.