Legal Counsel

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. We are building artificial gravity space stations, allowing long-term stays in space without the adverse effects of zero-gravity. Our initial crewed space habitat will be Haven-1, scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station when it launches into low earth orbit in August 2025. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.

Vast is looking for a Legal Counsel, reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, to provide an array of legal support, including employment law and compliance, litigation management, commercial contracts, and other matters related to the design and build of artificial-gravity, human-rated space stations.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Responsibilities

• Employment Law: Provide clear, practical, and solution-focused day-to-day legal advice and counseling on a wide range of complex issues to the People and Culture team, including performance management, investigations, accommodations, and other employment-related matters across the United States.
• Policies & Procedures: Proactively improve and strengthen internal policies and procedures to support compliance and best practices, including internal process reviews, new policy roll-outs and implementation, and regular policy updates and training programs. Provide counsel with regard to compliance issues impacting our employees.
• Litigation: Manage litigation matters and disputes, as assigned. Support the internal legal team and work with outside counsel and guide the litigation process through resolution.
• Contracts: Work directly with internals teams on high volume contracts support, including drafting and negotiating employment and contractor-related documents, correspondence, agreements, and processes.
• Special Projects: Support our Chief Legal Officer and three Associate General Counsels on special projects, as requested, and work independently with our internal legal support staff while supervising their work product.
  
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• 3 years of experience in a legal role at a private company, law firm, or government agency
• Subject matter expertise in federal and state employment law, including California
• 2 years of litigation experience
• JD with admission to practice law in a state bar in good standing and able to practice in-house in California
• Strong problem-solving experience and skills
• Strong verbal and writing skills
• Good judgment and the ability to balance risk and productivity in a business environment
• Experience handling matters in 2-3 of the following areas: investigations and related processes, recruitment, employee classification, compensation reporting, diversity and belonging initiatives
• Ability to work independently or collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
  
  
  

Preferred Skills & Experience

• A strong ability to inspire trust, forge relationships quickly, and earn the confidence and cooperation of business stakeholders.
• Experience drafting and enforcing policies compliant with FAR Part 22 requirements.
• Diligent and proactive, you have demonstrated excellent legal and business judgment, technical acumen, communication skills and strategic thinking, along with the ability to work independently and cross-functionally with excellent time management and prioritization skills
• Comfortable with and responsive to rapid developments and changes in direction; willing to learn new tech, products, and substantive legal areas to support multiple roles within the legal department
• Familiarity with the aerospace industry and its unique legal challenges
• Ability to identify and mitigate legal risks while enabling business objectives
• Employment litigation experience
• Willingness to learn new areas of law and triage issues
  
  
  

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 15% of the time
• Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs unassisted
• Specific certifications, as appropriate
  
  
  

Salary Range: California

$179,500—$258,400 USD

Compensation And Benefits

Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, flexible paid time off for exempt staff and up to 15 days of vacation for non-exempt staff, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, free catered meals and snacks and beverages, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, One Medical membership, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks.

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R.

• 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.
  
  
  

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast 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.