Our client, a commercial orbital launch company, is looking to add an exceptional Senior Counsel/Director, Commercial Counsel (dependent on experience level) to focus on driving large-scale, infrastructure projects from start to finish. The successful candidate will be a strategic partner to the Company’s Infrastructure & Facilities Team and other executive and ownership teams on high-visibility, high-impact development projects, including acquiring and leasing land, building and renovating factories and commercial buildings, building launch and test sites, installing utilities, and developing and updating transportation infrastructure (e.g., water, roads). This person will also support procurement of equipment, gods, and services related to enabling use of facilities at various sites, including construction materials, manufacturing and building equipment, and utilities services.

This is an on-site role based in Long Beach, CA. A remote option is not available.

Our client has two audacious goals: to build the next great commercial launch company and to become America’s leading force in additive manufacturing innovation. Both contribute to the Company’s long-term vision of creating humanity’s industrial base on Mars, paving the way for interplanetary life to expand the possibilities of the human experience. This journey begins right here on Earth – where the Company designs, builds, and flies rockets to deliver customer payloads to orbit. The Company’s medium-to-heavy lift reusable rocket fulfills the growing demand for launch capacity, thanks to the Company’s iterative approach that accelerates design, testing, and development while minimizing costs. Our client’s groundbreaking research and development in 3D printing pushes the boundaries of large-scale additive manufacturing.

This role is more than just a job – it’s an opportunity to shape the future of aerospace technology, additive manufacturing, and the human experience alongside a community of passionate, creative individuals.

Responsibilities:
• Lead legal strategy and execution for infrastructure projects needed to expand the Company’s business operations, including strategy and execution of legal requirements.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of commercial agreements, including purchase and sale agreements, leases, construction agreements (with architects, contractors, etc.), easements, maintenance agreements, and related instruments.
• Advise internal stakeholders on land use, title, entitlements, permitting, and zoning for infrastructure development.
• Manage and resolve commercial disputes and litigation, including with landlords, contractors, and regulatory agencies.
• Partner with cross-functional teams in engineering, test and launch operations, manufacturing, and finance to support new site acquisitions, construction, and facility buildouts.
• Manage and coordinate outside counsel in the context of job responsibilities to ensure cost-effective, strategic outcomes.
• Implement scalable practices for managing infrastructure project risks, contract compliance, and long-term infrastructure planning.
• Negotiate other types of commercial contracts, including supply chain and IT procurement, as needed.
• Play a key role in building out the Commercial Legal function, helping to define best practices, update and design key commercial agreement templates, structure scalable legal support, and contribute to the future shape of the legal department.

Qualifications:
• JD from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one U.S. state.
• 7+ years of post-JD experience

Preferred skills, but not required:
• Proven experience driving large-scale real estate, infrastructure, or construction projects from start to finish, with domain expertise in key subject areas.
• Ability to translate legal complexity into practical guidance for technical and operational teams.
• Excellent contract negotiation, drafting, and project management skills.
• Strategic thinker who thrives in a fast-paced, innovative environment.
• 3+ years of relevant experience at a top law firm.
• In-house experience partnering closely with business and ownership teams at a rapidly scaling, operationally complex company.
• Motivated, self-starter with the ability to wrangle disparate stakeholder groups and relentlessly drive operationally complex matters to conclusion with limited oversight while demonstrating high EQ, business-savvy and teamwork abilities.
• Oriented to considering the business implications of your legal advice, with a keen sense of contextual risk calibration.

Our client’s Legal team is nimble and entrepreneurial, filled with collaborative team players with deep domain expertise dedicated to each other’s and the Company’s success. The Legal team sits at the epicenter of business activities and decision-making and is responsible for identifying and managing risks across the organization to ensure the Company is adequately protected through its rapid growth. Our client’s legal team manages the full suite of legal and regulatory issues, including intellectual property, employment, licensing, procurement, government contracting, commercial contracts, trade compliance, corporate transactions, and governance, among other business- enabling responsibilities. Unique to the Company’s fast-paced, high-growth environment, this team is given the opportunity to work across many teams to support the Company’s ambitious goals.

The current targeted base salary for this position ranges from $220K – $310K, plus a potential bonus and equity. Actual compensation is determined based on several factors, including a candidate’s qualifications and years of directly relevant experience.

Solutus has been selected as the exclusive representative for this incredible search. Interested candidates may contact us at search@solutuslegal.com for consideration. Candidates applying directly to our client will be redirected to Solutus for consideration.