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CesiumAstro creates out-of-the-box communication systems for space and airborne platforms.
The Role
Lead contract administration across aerospace and defense programs; ensure FAR/DFARS/ITAR compliance; draft, review, and negotiate government, commercial, and international contracts; manage contracts team, workloads, and process governance; support proposals, audits, risk mitigation, and cross-functional coordination with Program Management, Supply Chain, Legal, Finance, and Business Development; serve as primary customer contact for contractual issues.
Summary Generated by Built In
Please Note: To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
At CesiumAstro, we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.
We are looking to add a Contracts Manager to our team. If you enjoy working in a startup environment and are passionate about developing leading-edge electronics for satellites, spacecraft, and aerospace systems, we would like to hear from you.
In this position, you will be responsible for leading all aspects of contract administration across multiple aerospace and defense programs. This role provides strategic oversight, process governance, and leadership for the contracts team to ensure compliance with federal regulations (FAR/DFARS), company policies, and customer requirements. The Contracts Administration Manager partners cross-functionally with Program Management, Supply Chain, Legal, Finance, and Business Development to mitigate risk, enable efficient contract execution, and support the company’s financial and operational goals
This is a highly visible position requiring strong business acumen, regulatory expertise, and the ability to build collaborative relationships across internal and external stakeholders.
JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assign resources and manage workloads across multiple programs and contract portfolios.
- Establish performance goals and ensure consistent application of contract management best practices.
- Oversee the administration of U.S. Government (FAR/DFARS), commercial, and international contracts from proposal through closeout.
- Review, draft, and negotiate complex contractual documents, including prime contracts, NDAs, teaming agreements, and modifications.
- Ensure all contractual commitments are executed in accordance with company policies, regulatory requirements, and program objectives.
- Ensure compliance with applicable regulations (FAR, DFARS, ITAR, and other federal acquisition requirements).
- Coordinate with Legal and Export Compliance to identify and mitigate potential contractual and regulatory risks.
- Oversee contract data integrity and documentation to support internal and external audits.
- Support bid and proposal activities by reviewing solicitations, evaluating risk, and developing contract strategies.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for customers on contractual issues, ensuring timely resolution and customer satisfaction.
JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Contract Management, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 8–10+ years of progressive experience in contract administration within aerospace, defense, or government contracting environments.
- Strong working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and ITAR regulations.
- Demonstrated success in managing and negotiating complex government and commercial contracts.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
- Master's degree in business administration, Law, or a related discipline.
- Professional certification such as NCMA CPCM, CFCM, or CCCM.
- Experience managing international defense contracts and export-controlled programs.
- Proven leadership experience with the ability to coach and develop high-performing teams.
- Excellent analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills
- Familiarity with ERP or contract management systems (SAP, Costpoint, Unison, or similar).
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.
CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills. Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.
CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Please note: CesiumAstro does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to CesiumAstro team members will be considered property of CesiumAstro, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.
Skills Required
- U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, conditional resident, asylee, refugee, or eligible for Department of State authorizations
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Contract Management, or related field (or equivalent experience)
- 8-10+ years of progressive experience in contract administration within aerospace, defense, or government contracting environments
- Strong working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and ITAR regulations
- Demonstrated success managing and negotiating complex government and commercial contracts
- Master's degree in Business Administration, Law, or related discipline
- Professional certification (NCMA CPCM, CFCM, or CCCM)
- Experience managing international defense contracts and export-controlled programs
- Proven leadership experience with ability to coach and develop high-performing teams
- Familiarity with ERP or contract management systems (SAP, Costpoint, Unison, or similar)
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance
- Excellent analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills
CesiumAstro Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about CesiumAstro and has not been reviewed or approved by CesiumAstro.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage includes medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, plus FSAs and mental health benefits. Feedback suggests the health package is comprehensive for a growth-stage aerospace firm.
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Retirement Support — Offerings include a 401(k) with company matching and other retirement-plan elements. Feedback suggests core retirement mechanisms are in place alongside standard financial benefits.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Generous PTO, paid holidays, paid sick days, and bereavement leave are included. Feedback suggests time-off options are broad on paper across multiple leave types.
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The Company
What We Do
We build high-throughput, plug-and-play phased array communication payloads for space and airborne platforms. CesiumAstro’s full-stack, multi-mission hardware and software products enable a diverse range of commercial and defense objectives. Full-system engineering design is at the heart of every CesiumAstro product. We deliver high-performance solutions under rapid development timelines.
Why Work With Us
At CesiumAstro, we’re a team. We’re passionate, respectful, and determined colleagues ready to help at a moment’s notice. We’re mentors excited to enable our peers with the knowledge they need to succeed. Together, we’re visionaries committing to building memories that will last a lifetime.
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