Counsel – Space Programs & Government Contracts

Listing expiry: 24 October 2026

About the role

Role Overview

Lanteris Space LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Intuitive Machines, is seeking an experienced attorney to support its satellite and spacecraft manufacturing business. The role supports civil-space, national-security, commercial and international programs throughout the business lifecycle, from capture and proposal development through contract formation, program execution, disputes and closeout. Reporting to the General Counsel of Lanteris Space LLC, the attorney will provide practical, business-oriented legal advice on customer contracts, supplier and subcontractor matters, and U.S. government contracting and compliance issues. The attorney will independently manage assigned matters and may support Intuitive Machines and its other affiliates as requested.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary legal advisor for assigned spacecraft programs and business matters.
• Advise program leadership on contract interpretation, performance obligations, schedule and cost issues, changes, claims, remedies and risk mitigation.
• Draft, review and negotiate U.S. government, commercial and international customer agreements.
• Draft, review and negotiate subcontracts, teaming agreements and nondisclosure agreements.
• Advise Supply Chain and Program Management on supplier performance, changes, intellectual property and data rights, warranties, schedules, remedies and other risk-allocation matters.
• Advise the business on the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), NASA FAR Supplement and other government-contract requirements.
• Advise stakeholders on contract administration, flowdown requirements, intellectual property and data rights, organizational conflicts of interest and related compliance requirements.
• Partner with Security and Export Compliance on classified information, controlled unclassified information, cybersecurity requirements, export controls and international program activities.
• Support government inquiries, audits, business-system reviews, internal investigations, mandatory-disclosure analyses and disputes as needed.
• Collaborate with Contracts, Supply Chain, Program Management, Security, Export Compliance, Business Development and executive leadership.
• Manage outside counsel on specialized matters as assigned.

Qualifications & Experience

• U.S. citizenship and eligibility to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited U.S. law school.
• Active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar and the ability to satisfy applicable in-house counsel registration requirements.
• Minimum of seven years of relevant legal experience gained in-house, in private practice, with the U.S. government or through a combination of those settings.
• Demonstrated experience advising on U.S. government contracts, the FAR and DFARS.
• Experience reviewing, drafting and negotiating complex contracts.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage matters, collaborate across functions and handle competing priorities.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally according to business needs.
• Experience supporting aerospace, defense, spacecraft, complex technology or manufacturing programs is preferred.
• Experience with government and commercial prime contracts, subcontracts and program execution is preferred.
• Knowledge of government intellectual-property regimes, including license rights involving software and technical data, is preferred.
• Experience with export controls, cybersecurity, controlled unclassified information or international transactions is preferred.
• Experience with internal investigations, government audits, ethics and compliance or contract disputes is preferred.

Additional Details

• Lanteris Space LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Intuitive Machines.
• The position may be based in the Palo Alto, California office or remotely within the United States.
• The position is incentive eligible, with the target based on contribution, company performance and/or individual results; the specific incentive plan and target amount depend on the role and breadth of contributions.
• The disclosed annual base salary ranges are $142,000–$236,000 in Colorado, New Jersey and Delaware; $156,000–$260,000 in the Washington, DC metropolitan area; and $163,000–$271,000 in California.
• For other U.S. states, compensation ranges are developed using geographic labor costs, and ranges may differ by location.
• Starting pay is determined by job-related factors, including experience, qualifications, knowledge, skills, geographic work location and market conditions. Candidates meeting only the minimum requirements should not expect to receive the upper end of the pay range.
• Eligible employees receive benefits including paid time off, health and welfare insurance, and a 401(k) plan. Further benefits information is provided as candidates progress through recruitment.
• The application window is three days from the posting date, and the vacancy remains posted until a qualified candidate is identified. If reposted, the three-day window restarts from the reposting date.
• The posting date is available at the top of the relevant Lanteris Space Systems careers listing.
• The employer states that it is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer and that qualified applicants receive consideration without regard to protected characteristics.