Associate General Counsel, Government Contracts

About the role

The Associate General Counsel, Government Contracts will report to the General Counsel and will serve as a key subject-matter expert on government contracting, providing strategic legal guidance across the lifecycle of U.S. government and defense-related programs. This is a senior, high-impact role for an experienced government contracts attorney who is comfortable operating with autonomy, advising executive leadership, negotiating agreements, tracking and advising on compliance, and enabling a fast-growing business to succeed in a highly regulated environment. You will help shape how Hadrian engages with government customers and defense primes while balancing compliance, risk, and execution velocity.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key legal advisor on U.S. government contracts and subcontracts , including prime and subcontractor relationships
• Advise on FAR, DFARS, and related agency regulations , including clause applicability and flow-down requirements
• Partner with Business Development, Program Management, Finance, and Operations on government-related pursuits, contract negotiations, execution, and longterm compliance
• Review, negotiate, and support: government contracts and task orders; subcontracts with defense primes and government suppliers; teaming agreements, CRADAs, and other collaboration agreements
• Provide guidance on compliance topics including cost accounting, audits, data rights, cybersecurity obligations, and procurement integrity
• Support internal stakeholders on contract performance issues, modifications, claims, disputes, and terminations
• Develop scalable processes, templates, and training related to government contracting compliance
• Collaborate with Legal Operations and Compliance teams to ensure systems support regulatory requirements
• Retain and manage outside counsel and consultants (and associated budgets) as needed for specialized government contracting matters

Requirements

• JD from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction
• 10-15+ years of experience practicing government contracts law in a firm and/or in-house environment
• Significant experience supporting defense, aerospace, or national security-related programs
• Deep working knowledge of FAR/DFARS and government contracting principles
• Experience advising on both prime contracts and subcontracts
• Strong business judgment and ability to draft contract language, think creatively, tackle novel legal questions, and provide practical, risk-based guidance
• Excellent communication skills and confidence engaging with senior leaders
• Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, high-growth environments
• What Sets You Apart:
• In-house government contracts experience at a defense, aerospace, or manufacturing company
• Prior experience at a defense prime, major subcontractor, or government-focused law firm
• Familiarity with classified or export-controlled programs
• Experience supporting scaled production or manufacturing programs for government customers
• Builder mindset who thinks from first principles and with interest in shaping processes and infrastructure, not just advising on individual contracts
• Ability to balance regulatory rigor with execution speed in a startup environment
• A security clearance

Benefits

Additional Information

Hadrian - Manufacturing the Future Hadrian is building autonomous factories that help aerospace and defense companies manufacture rockets, satellites, jets, and ships up to 10x faster and up to 2x cheaper. By combining advanced software, robotics, and full-stack manufacturing, we are reinventing how America produces its most critical parts. We're accelerating our mission with the launch of Factory 3 in Mesa, Arizona, a 290,000-square-foot facility creating 350 new jobs. We are expanding rapidly to support thousands of future hires, launching Hadrian Maritime to expand into naval production, and introducing a Factory-as-a-Service model that delivers complete systems instead of individual parts. Hadrian is backed by leading investors including T. Rowe Price, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, and Andreessen Horowitz, our fast-growing team is united around reindustrializing American manufacturing for the 21st century and beyond.

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