We are seeking a highly skilled Contracts Manager to own the full lifecycle of contracts with the Department of War (DoW) and other U.S. Government agencies. The ideal candidate brings deep federal contracting expertise, strong FAR/DFARS knowledge, and proven experience executing complex R&D, prototype, and commercial agreements, including Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) under 10 U.S.C. § 4022. This role is critical to our growth strategy and requires an execution-focused professional who can operate independently in a fast-paced environment.
Responsibilities and Duties
- Own cradle-to-grave contract management for DoW and other U.S. Government contracts, from pre-award planning through execution, modification, and close-out.
- Lead contractual execution for R&D, prototyping, and advanced technology programs, including OTAs under 10 U.S.C. § 4022.
- Serve as the primary contractual interface with U.S. Government contracting officers, prime contractors, and subcontractors.
- Review and interpret RFPs, RFIs, solicitations, awards, and task orders to identify requirements, risks, compliance obligations, and flow-down clauses; advise internal stakeholders accordingly.
- Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of agreements, including government contracts and OTAs, IDIQs and task orders, GSA MAS and NASA SEWP orders, subcontracts, teaming agreements, NDAs, purchase orders, and commercial agreements.
- Apply expert knowledge of FAR and DFARS, with emphasis on FAR Part 12, IDIQ/task-order execution, and OTA compliance considerations.
- Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations (FAR, DFARS, ITAR/EAR, NIST SP 800-171/CMMC, supply chain requirements, and other DoW/IC mandates); maintain audit readiness for DCMA, DCAA, and Inspector General reviews, and advise leadership on regulatory changes.
- Partner cross-functionally with Capture, Business Development, Program Management, Engineering, Finance, and Legal to align contract terms with technical, schedule, pricing, IP, data rights, export controls, funding, invoicing, and cost allowability considerations.
- Monitor contract performance, deliverables, and modifications; maintain accurate contract records and correspondence.
- Proactively identify and mitigate contractual risks, escalating issues early with clear, actionable recommendations.
- Develop and maintain standard templates, policies, procedures, and playbooks to improve efficiency and consistency.
- Lead or support internal and external audits, CPARS/vendor evaluations, and contract close-out activities, including funds release and lessons learned.
- Drive contract management process improvements, including use of CLM tools, dashboards, and KPIs.
Qualifications and Skills
- Bachelor’s degree in business, law, finance, or related field; advanced degree or certifications (e.g., CPCM, NCMA, PMP) preferred.
- Minimum 7 years of U.S. Government contracting experience with direct DoW program execution.
- Demonstrated cradle-to-grave experience executing OTAs under 10 U.S.C. § 4022 for R&D and/or prototype programs.
- Deep knowledge of FAR/DFARS; familiarity with NIST cyber requirements, ITAR/EAR, supply-chain flow-downs, small business rules, and audit/close-out procedures.
- Experience across multiple contract types, including FFP, T&M, CPFF, OTA, IDIQ, GSA, and subcontracts; direct experience with GSA MAS and/or NASA SEWP required.
- Strong negotiation, analytical, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience with contract management systems and CRM tools (e.g., HubSpot) a plus.
- Demonstrated ability to balance compliance and business objectives in a dynamic environment.
- U.S. Citizenship required; active Secret clearance preferred.
Benefits
- Flexible working hours
- Stock Options
- Unlimited PTO
- Health Insurance (includes dental & vision)
- Medical flex spending
- Life Insurance
- Retirement Plan - 401k
- Enhanced maternity & paternity leave
- Learning and development opportunities
About Auterion
We are building the leading software platform for AI-powered autonomous systems for enterprise and government customers. Our team is supporting the most important missions and solving the most challenging problems.
At Auterion, we bring together the sharpest minds who love to solve the hardest problems. Join a vibrant team built on innovation, openness, and excellence, where you’ll be empowered to develop ideas, collaborate across all levels, and make an impact that matters.
Top Skills
What We Do
At Auterion we care about providing enterprise with an ecosystem of software-defined drones, payloads, and third party applications within a single easy to use platform based on open-source standards.
We’re leaders in an open-source movement bigger than ourselves and we’ve been on the same mission for over a decade, since our co-founder Lorenz Meier created Pixhawk, MAVLink, QGC, and PX4 (the world’s most widely used open-source drone autopilot operating system).
Our mission is to be the drone platform of choice for enterprise, government, and drone manufacturers while accelerating the drone industry by driving forward open standards to create a common, future-proof roadmap in a thriving, open ecosystem of buyers and vendors.
At Auterion, we bring together the sharpest minds who love to solve the hardest problems. Join a vibrant team built on innovation, openness, and excellence, where you’ll be empowered to develop ideas, collaborate across all levels, and make an impact that matters.
