The Role
Provides practical legal guidance across commercial contracts, government contracting, export controls, technology transfer, employment law, corporate compliance, investigations, and cross-border business activities. Drafts and negotiates agreements, advises leadership on legal and regulatory risks, supports aerospace and government customers, coordinates outside counsel, and partners with global teams in a fast-paced commercial space environment.
Summary Generated by Built In
At ispace U.S., we’re not just going to the Moon—we’re redefining how we get there. Our missions push the boundaries of human and robotic exploration, driven by our belief: “Expand our Planet. Expand our Future.” By providing cost-effective lunar transportation, we are pioneering a future where space is within reach for scientific discovery, commercial ventures, and sustainable exploration.
With locations in Japan, Luxembourg, and the United States, ispace is rapidly growing and leading the way in lunar exploration and development. Our U.S. branch is based in Englewood, Colorado, and focuses on high-capacity payload lunar landers designed to support future lunar missions. Our team is made up of innovators, problem-solvers, and visionaries committed to making space more accessible and fostering the next generation of space exploration.
Let’s go to the Moon together! Our team is growing, and we are actively seeking talented individuals who share our passion for space.
ispaceUS is seeking a practical, business-minded Legal Counsel to provide legal guidance across our growing U.S. organization. This role will partner with leadership and teams across Engineering, Programs, Business Development, Finance, People Operations, Supply Chain, and our global ispace organization.
We are looking for a Legal Counsel who is pragmatic, collaborative, responsive, and comfortable with ambiguity. This individual will serve as a trusted partner who understands our business and mission, identifies risk, and helps teams find practical and compliant paths forward. The ideal candidate can balance legal and regulatory risk with business and mission objectives and is comfortable operating in the fast-paced commercial space environment
Key Responsibilities
- Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements, including NDAs, supplier/vendor agreements, professional services agreements, licensing arrangements, partnerships, and customer contracts.
- Advise leadership and business teams on contractual obligations, risk, intellectual property, confidentiality, liability, and general corporate matters.
- Support U.S. government contracting matters, including FAR/DFARS requirements and contractual flow-downs.
- Provide guidance on ITAR, EAR, export controls, technology transfer, and international collaboration.
- Support compliance with applicable aerospace, commercial space, and government regulations.
- Partner with People Operations on employment law matters, policies, employee relations, investigations, and separation matters.
- Support corporate compliance programs, policies, risk management, and internal investigations.
- Coordinate with outside counsel and external advisors as needed.
- Collaborate with global ispace teams on cross-border agreements and international business activities.
Basic Qualifications
- J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school and active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.
- 5+ years of relevant legal experience in a law firm, corporate legal department, government environment, or combination thereof.
- Experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts.
- Strong business judgment with the ability to provide practical, solutions-oriented legal advice.
- Excellent written, verbal, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic, highly technical environment.
What Makes You Stand Out!
- Experience in aerospace, defense, satellite, commercial space, or advanced technology.
- Experience with FAR/DFARS, ITAR, EAR, and U.S. export controls.
- Experience supporting NASA, Department of Defense, or other federal government customers.
- Knowledge of intellectual property, technology licensing, employment law, cybersecurity, or regulatory compliance.
- Experience working within a global organization.
#LI-LH1
At ispace, we believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences, even if you don’t meet every listed requirement. If you’re passionate about our mission and think you can contribute, we encourage you to apply. Your unique skills and experiences may be exactly what we need to grow and succeed together.
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR .here.
ispace is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with ispace 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.
All applicants who are offered employment with ispace US will be subject to a background investigation. Offers of employment are contingent on the successful completion of a background investigation conducted in accordance with Company policies and all applicable laws.
ispace Technologies, US, Inc. is a drug-free workplace.
ispace Technologies, US, Inc. participates in the E-Verify program.
Skills Required
- J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school
- Active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar
- 5+ years of relevant legal experience in a law firm, corporate legal department, government environment, or combination
- Experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts
- Strong business judgment and ability to provide practical, solutions-oriented legal advice
- Excellent written, verbal, organizational, and interpersonal skills
- Ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic, highly technical environment
- Experience in aerospace, defense, satellite, commercial space, or advanced technology
- Experience with FAR/DFARS, ITAR, EAR, and U.S. export controls
- Experience supporting NASA, Department of Defense, or other federal government customers
- Knowledge of intellectual property, technology licensing, employment law, cybersecurity, or regulatory compliance
- Experience working within a global organization
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The Company
What We Do
ispace is a lunar exploration company with a vision to extend human presence to outer space. The company is developing lunar landers and rovers to deliver customer payloads to the Moon and explore the lunar surface. In doing so, we aim to be a vehicle for companies on Earth to access new business opportunities on the Moon and ultimately incorporate the Moon into Earth’s economic and living sphere. The company is currently planning to its first mission to the Moon as early as Q4 2022.
