ABOUT ROCKET LAB
Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more - all with the goal of opening access to space. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.
S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit, all while we work to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium-lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. Our Space Systems business designs and builds our extensive line of satellites, payloads, and their components, including spacecraft that have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.
SENIOR LEGAL COUNSEL
Based on site at Rocket Lab's Headquarters in Long Beach, CA, the Senior Counsel will play a key role in supporting the Legal Department and functional and program management teams across the organization. This role is ideal for a mid-level attorney with experience in contract drafting and negotiations, dispute resolution, and regulatory compliance. The successful candidate will provide strategic legal advice to senior management for a publicly traded company performing U.Government contracts, to ensure compliance and support the company’s growth and innovation.
Manage contractual and operational legal matters for the company, as well as provide legal support for mergers and acquisition transactions, litigation matters and other compliance requirements. Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and business unit and operational leadership; translate business objectives into clear legal strategies and pragmatic risk mitigation.
Lead contract and trade compliance teams; set goals, coach performance, and foster a culture of accountability and inclusion.
Manage external counsel relationships and budgets, focusing on reviewing legal bills and keeping costs under control.
Establish and continuously improve legal processes, policies, and templates to scale support across the enterprise.
Commercial and Government Contracts (Sales, Procurement, Operations):
Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of agreements, including prime contracts with the US Government and subcontracts for work under US government prime contracts, Master Service Agreements, IP licensing, non-disclosure agreements, real property leases and strategic partnership agreements.
Create and implement contract playbooks, fallback positions, templates, and clause libraries to streamline cycles.
Collaborate with business teams to balance risk with speed-to-value; Compliance and Trade Compliance (Sanctions, Export Controls, Customs & Ethics):
Advise on global trade compliance frameworks (e.g., Develop and maintain policies, SOPs, and training; Monitor regulatory developments and industry trends; proactively update policies and training.
Partner with Finance (pricing, revenue recognition, indemnities/limitations), IT/Security (data protection and controls), HR (employment matters), and Operations (Supply Chain, quality and logistics).
Design and execute legal due diligence plans covering contracts, operations, IP, privacy/security, labor & employment, environmental, anti-bribery/anti-corruption, sanctions/export controls, material contracts, and litigation.
Coordinate cross-functional integration (risk remediation, policy harmonization, contract novations, entity governance).
Manage outside counsel efficiently, balancing cost, speed, and risk.
Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
Active membership in the California State Bar or Registered In-House Counsel (RIHC).
Minimum of 12 years of legal experience.
Proven experience as in-house counsel or at a top-tier law firm.
setting goals, coaching performance, and fostering a culture of accountability and inclusion.
Extensive knowledge of Government contracts and contract types, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation (DFAR).
Familiarity with the compliance requirements of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and the Export Administration Regulations.
Capable of adapting to fast-paced changes, shifting priorities, evolving directions, and addressing unique legal challenges.
Ability to obtain a DoD Top Secret security clearance
Domestic and International travel as necessary to support business needs.
Regularly required to sit, use hands and fingers, operate computer keyboard and controls, and communicate verbally and in writing.
Employees may also receive company equity and access to a robust benefits package including: top tier medical HMO, PPO & a 100% company-sponsored medical HSA plan option, dental and vision coverage, 3 weeks paid vacation and 5 days sick leave per year, 11 paid holidays per year, flexible spending and dependent care savings accounts, paid parental leave, disability insurance, life insurance, and access to a 401(k) retirement plan with company match. Discounted employee stock purchase program, subsidized EV charging stations, onsite gym, food and drinks, and other discounts.
Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at g.This dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality.
Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more - all with the goal of opening access to space. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations.
S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit, all while we work to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium-lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. Our Space Systems business designs and builds our extensive line of satellites, payloads, and their components, including spacecraft that have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.
SENIOR LEGAL COUNSEL
Based on site at Rocket Lab's Headquarters in Long Beach, CA, the Senior Counsel will play a key role in supporting the Legal Department and functional and program management teams across the organization. This role is ideal for a mid-level attorney with experience in contract drafting and negotiations, dispute resolution, and regulatory compliance. The successful candidate will provide strategic legal advice to senior management for a publicly traded company performing U.Government contracts, to ensure compliance and support the company’s growth and innovation.
Manage contractual and operational legal matters for the company, as well as provide legal support for mergers and acquisition transactions, litigation matters and other compliance requirements. Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and business unit and operational leadership; translate business objectives into clear legal strategies and pragmatic risk mitigation.
Lead contract and trade compliance teams; set goals, coach performance, and foster a culture of accountability and inclusion.
Manage external counsel relationships and budgets, focusing on reviewing legal bills and keeping costs under control.
Establish and continuously improve legal processes, policies, and templates to scale support across the enterprise.
Commercial and Government Contracts (Sales, Procurement, Operations):
Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of agreements, including prime contracts with the US Government and subcontracts for work under US government prime contracts, Master Service Agreements, IP licensing, non-disclosure agreements, real property leases and strategic partnership agreements.
Create and implement contract playbooks, fallback positions, templates, and clause libraries to streamline cycles.
Collaborate with business teams to balance risk with speed-to-value; Compliance and Trade Compliance (Sanctions, Export Controls, Customs & Ethics):
Advise on global trade compliance frameworks (e.g., Develop and maintain policies, SOPs, and training; Monitor regulatory developments and industry trends; proactively update policies and training.
Partner with Finance (pricing, revenue recognition, indemnities/limitations), IT/Security (data protection and controls), HR (employment matters), and Operations (Supply Chain, quality and logistics).
Design and execute legal due diligence plans covering contracts, operations, IP, privacy/security, labor & employment, environmental, anti-bribery/anti-corruption, sanctions/export controls, material contracts, and litigation.
Coordinate cross-functional integration (risk remediation, policy harmonization, contract novations, entity governance).
Manage outside counsel efficiently, balancing cost, speed, and risk.
Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
Active membership in the California State Bar or Registered In-House Counsel (RIHC).
Minimum of 12 years of legal experience.
Proven experience as in-house counsel or at a top-tier law firm.
setting goals, coaching performance, and fostering a culture of accountability and inclusion.
Extensive knowledge of Government contracts and contract types, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation (DFAR).
Familiarity with the compliance requirements of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and the Export Administration Regulations.
Capable of adapting to fast-paced changes, shifting priorities, evolving directions, and addressing unique legal challenges.
Ability to obtain a DoD Top Secret security clearance
Domestic and International travel as necessary to support business needs.
Regularly required to sit, use hands and fingers, operate computer keyboard and controls, and communicate verbally and in writing.
Employees may also receive company equity and access to a robust benefits package including: top tier medical HMO, PPO & a 100% company-sponsored medical HSA plan option, dental and vision coverage, 3 weeks paid vacation and 5 days sick leave per year, 11 paid holidays per year, flexible spending and dependent care savings accounts, paid parental leave, disability insurance, life insurance, and access to a 401(k) retirement plan with company match. Discounted employee stock purchase program, subsidized EV charging stations, onsite gym, food and drinks, and other discounts.
Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Rocket Lab Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for the application/interview process for a job in the United States should contact Giulia Johnson at g.This dedicated resource is intended solely to assist job seekers with disabilities whose disability prevents them from being able to apply/interview. These checks will include nationality checks as it is a requirement of this position that you be eligible to access equipment and data regulated by the United States' International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
Under these Regulations, you may be ineligible for this role if you do not hold citizenship of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union, or a country that is part of NATO, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality.