Principal Legal Counsel, TeraWave

Application close date:

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re working to develop reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems within a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight! 

This role is part of Blue Origin corporate functions, providing centralized support across Blue Origin business unit teams, functions, and locations.

About Blue Origin

Blue Origin was founded to develop reusable launch vehicles and spacecraft to enable a future where millions of people live and work in space. We believe in the power of our mission and the importance of the people who make it possible. Our legal team plays a critical role in supporting that mission by providing practical, business-focused legal counsel across the enterprise.

Position Summary

Blue Origin is seeking a Principal Legal Counsel to join its Legal & Compliance department as the senior legal advisor for the TeraWave business unit. This role will serve as a trusted partner to TeraWave's engineering, product, and operations teams, providing expert legal counsel on complex commercial transactions, regulatory compliance, and risk management in the satellite communications and connectivity services space. The ideal candidate brings deep subject matter expertise, strong business judgment, and the ability to manage complex, high-stakes matters in a fast-moving environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary legal advisor to the TeraWave business unit, providing day-to-day counsel on commercial transactions, regulatory matters, and operational legal issues
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial and technology agreements, including customer master services agreements, service level agreements, capacity and throughput agreements, ground station services agreements, network services agreements, electronic hardware procurement and supply contracts, and licensing arrangements
• Coordinate with regulatory counsel on regulatory frameworks applicable to satellite, telecom, and space operations, including FCC licensing and compliance, spectrum use and coordination, ITU-related considerations, export controls (ITAR/EAR), and data privacy and security requirements for network services
• Partner cross-functionally with engineering, product, sales, operations, regulatory, and government affairs teams to identify and manage legal risk in a practical, business-focused manner
• Develop and maintain scalable contract templates, playbooks, and legal processes to support TeraWave's growth and operational needs
• Monitor and advise on evolving developments affecting satellite communications, connectivity services, and space operations

Qualifications

Required:

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction, with the ability to obtain and maintain in-house counsel registration where applicable
• 12+ years of relevant legal experience, including significant time in-house or in a technology-focused law firm practice supporting complex commercial transactions for technology, network, or communications services
• Demonstrated expertise drafting and negotiating complex commercial and technology agreements relevant to satellite communications and connectivity services, including customer master services agreements, service level agreements, capacity or throughput agreements, network services, electronic hardware procurement and supply contracts, and licensing arrangements
• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks applicable to satellite, telecom, and space operations, including FCC licensing and compliance, spectrum use and coordination, ITU-related considerations, export controls (ITAR/EAR), and data privacy and security considerations for network services
• Proven ability to provide cross-functional advice and translate legal risk for engineering, product, sales, operations, regulatory, and government affairs teams
• Strong risk-spotting, practical counseling, and problem-solving skills, with the judgment to balance legal risk against business objectives
• Effective project management skills with the ability to drive matters to closure, manage outside counsel, and coordinate across stakeholders
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, handle multiple priorities, and deliver clear, concise work product under tight timelines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills tailored to technical and executive audiences

Preferred:

• Prior in-house experience in satellite, telecommunications, or network infrastructure sectors
• Direct experience supporting LEO/MEO constellation programs, ground segment operations, teleport or gateway services, or managed network/connectivity services
• Experience with government contracts or public sector customers, including familiarity with FAR/DFARS and related flow-downs and compliance obligations
• Advanced degree or technical background in engineering, computer science, or telecommunications, or demonstrated ability to partner effectively with highly technical teams
• Experience supporting international operations, cross-border contracting, and global regulatory considerations, including export/sanctions screening and data transfer issues
• Experience with product counseling for network services, including service architecture, uptime/availability commitments, disaster recovery, and resilience obligations
• Comfort with ambiguity and evolving regulatory landscapes, with a track record of building scalable templates, playbooks, and processes

Base Pay Range for:

WA applicants is $230,773.00 - $323,081.85

Other site ranges may differ

Culture Statement

Don’t meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Background Check

• Required for all positions: Blue’s Standard Background Check

• Required for Certain Job Profiles: Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation

• Required for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing (CDL drivers only), vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training.

• Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical

Benefits

• Benefits include: Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability, 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%, and an Education Support Program.

• Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)

• Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.

• Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on “Know Your Rights,” please see here .

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at [email protected] . Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.