Contracts Specialist

Contracts Administrator

Aerospace & Defense | Government & Commercial Contracts

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Contracts Administrator to play a critical role in managing a diverse portfolio of commercial and U.S. Government contracts, including prime contracts with the Department of Defense. This position offers high visibility, significant ownership, and the opportunity to directly support nationally relevant aerospace and defense programs.

You will manage contracts from proposal through closeout, acting as a trusted advisor to program teams and leadership while ensuring compliance, mitigating risk, and enabling program success in a fast-paced environment.

What You'll Do

• Own the full contract lifecycle for commercial and government contracts, from proposal support through execution, modification, and closeout.

• Draft, review, negotiate, and execute a wide range of agreements, including:

• Subcontracts

• Consulting agreements

• Purchase orders

• NDAs and other commercial agreements

• Support and review DoD prime contracts, ensuring compliance with FAR and DFARS requirements.

• Serve as a contracts subject-matter expert, advising program teams on rights, obligations, risks, and contract interpretation.

• Partner cross-functionally with program management, engineering, finance, and leadership to align contractual requirements with operational and business objectives.

• Track deliverables, milestones, and deadlines to support on-time performance and reduce contractual risk.

• Maintain accurate, organized, and audit-ready contract documentation.

• Support proposal development (RFPs/RFQs) by identifying contractual risks and recommending negotiation strategies.

• Mentor and support junior contracts staff, helping to strengthen consistency and best practices across the contracts function.

• Contribute to continuous improvement of internal policies, procedures, and compliance processes.

• Operate independently, quickly learning systems and processes and making immediate, meaningful contributions.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.

• 6+ years of experience in government contracting.

• Hands-on experience drafting, negotiating, and administering commercial contracts.

• Working knowledge of FAR and DFARS, with at least 1-3 years of direct experience.

• Experience supporting U.S. Department of Defense contracts or working in aerospace, defense, or a closely related regulated environment.

• Proven experience in:

• Contract administration

• Contract negotiation

• Proposal support

• Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain complex contractual issues.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a practical, business-focused mindset.

• Self-starter mentality with the ability to work independently and confidently without formal or structured training.

• Collaborative, solutions-oriented approach and ability to build trust across teams.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) or prior legal experience.

• Experience working with or supporting the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA).

• Experience with R&D contracting.

• Familiarity with ISO quality standards in a manufacturing or production environment.

• Prior experience in the aerospace and defense industry, including understanding compliance culture and program structures.

• Experience supporting high-visibility or nationally significant defense programs.

Why Join Us?

• High-impact role with real ownership and visibility.

• Opportunity to support mission-critical aerospace and defense programs.

• Dynamic, fast-growing environment where your expertise directly influences program success.

• Collaborative culture that values accountability, continuous improvement, and professional growth.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of San Diego, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $48.00 - $58.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: - Medical, dental & vision - Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital - 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available - Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) - Short and long-term disability - Health Spending Account (HSA) - Transportation benefits - Employee Assistance Program - Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in San Diego,CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 2, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® double diamond winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io (%View email address on click.appcast.io) for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.