SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.
COMMERCIAL COUNSEL
As a Commercial Counsel on the SpaceX Legal Team, you will enable SpaceX’s procurement of critical goods and services by providing legal review and solutions-based counseling to Supply Chain, Purchasing, Facilities and other cross-functional partners on complex legal and business issues in the United States and internationally.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Draft, negotiate, and review a range of commercial contracts, including purchase orders/agreements, service agreements, license agreements, long-term supply agreements, non-disclosure agreements , and other agreements related to the acquisition of goods and services
- Identify and mitigate legal risk by implementing appropriate processes, trainings, and controls for the supported SpaceX teams
- Provide legal analyses of applicable laws, regulations, and industry practices, particularly related to the procurement of goods and services
- Work closely with Supply Chain, Purchasing, and Facilities Teams to provide legal counseling throughout all stages of the procurement lifecycle, including RFPs, RFQs, purchase agreements, license agreements and dispute resolution
- Manage SpaceX’s form Purchase Order and Standard Terms and Conditions
- Support continuous improvements of forms, policies, and processes to streamline and simplify procurements, including using AI and other technologies to improve efficiency and efficacy
- Work cross functionally with business teams across the company to analyze legal risks, devise creative solutions, and develop strong, trusted advisor relationships
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- JD or foreign equivalent from an accredited law school
- 5+ years of legal experience
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Experience at a well-regarded law firm
- Experience as an in-house lawyer, ideally within the tech and/or manufacturing sectors and with direct contact with Supply Chain, Purchasing, and Facilities Teams
- Experience providing legal advice related to commercial procurement transactions, including international transactions, and ideally with Fortune 1000 companies
- Experience managing legal issues for a high-growth multinational company
- Experience building and maintaining relationships with clients in various geographies and comfortable advising all levels of management
- Ability to communicate effectively with business stakeholders
- Knowledge of applicable regulatory issues
- Comfortability with and responsive to rapid developments and changes in direction as well as working with technologies and products and in practice areas without much precedence
- The ideal candidate is diligent and proactive and has demonstrated excellent legal and business judgment, technical acumen, communication skills, and strategic thinking, along with the ability to work independently and cross-functionally
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be admitted to the bar, in good standing, in at least one U.S. State
- This position is based in Hawthorne, CA (near Los Angeles)—though other SpaceX offices will be considered—and requires being onsite at a SpaceX office; remote work will not be considered
- Must be able to work extended hours and weekends, as needed
Pay Range:
Level 3: $190,000.00 - $255,000.00
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.
ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
- To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.
SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX 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.
Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [email protected].
Skills Required
- JD or foreign equivalent from an accredited law school
- 5+ years of legal experience
- Admission to the bar and good standing in at least one U.S. state
- Must work onsite at a SpaceX office; remote work is not considered
- Must be able to work extended hours and weekends as needed
- Must meet ITAR eligibility requirements as a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or person eligible to obtain required authorizations
- Experience at a well-regarded law firm
- In-house legal experience, ideally in technology or manufacturing and supporting Supply Chain, Purchasing, or Facilities
- Experience advising on commercial procurement transactions, including international transactions
- Experience managing legal issues for a high-growth multinational company
- Experience building relationships with clients across geographies and advising management at various levels
- Knowledge of applicable regulatory issues
- Strong communication, legal and business judgment, technical acumen, strategic thinking, diligence, and proactive problem-solving skills
SpaceX Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about SpaceX and has not been reviewed or approved by SpaceX.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity grants are a core part of total compensation, with periodic company-run tender offers that create liquidity before any public listing. These mechanisms can make the equity component feel materially valuable in practice.
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Healthcare Strength — The package includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, with on-site clinics and health resources at major sites. This breadth of coverage is presented as a strong element of the offering.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Major locations feature on-site amenities such as fitness facilities, food/coffee, clinics, and other conveniences. These lifestyle perks enhance day-to-day value alongside cash and equity.
SpaceX Insights
What We Do
SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches the world’s most advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk to revolutionize space transportation, with the ultimate goal of making life multiplanetary. SpaceX has gained worldwide attention for a series of historic milestones. It is the only private company ever to return a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit, which it first accomplished in December 2010. The company made history again in May 2012 when its Dragon spacecraft attached to the International Space Station, exchanged cargo payloads, and returned safely to Earth — a technically challenging feat previously accomplished only by governments. Since then Dragon has delivered cargo to and from the space station multiple times, providing regular cargo resupply missions for NASA.
