Senior Counsel, Contracts

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.

Valued at $1.6B, 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.

The Role

The Senior Counsel, Contracts will serve as a senior legal leader and primary owner of commercial contracting at Hadrian, responsible for setting standard terms, advising on complex deals, and building scalable systems to support a rapidly growing business.

This role is ideal for an experienced in-house lawyer who is comfortable operating with significant autonomy, partnering closely with executives and senior leaders, and making high-impact judgment calls in an environment where speed, scale, and compliance must coexist.

What You’ll Do

• Act as the primary legal owner for Hadrian’s commercial contracting function, with responsibility for quality, consistency, and scalability

• Partner in negotiation and execution of complex, high-value agreements, including: customer manufacturing, services and long-term supply agreements; strategic partnerships and collaboration agreements; and vendor, sourcing, and capacity-related contracts critical to factory operations

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on contract structure, risk tolerance, and deal strategy

• Provide expert guidance on data rights, pricing models, warranties, indemnification, limitations of liability, and dispute risk

• Support deals involving regulated or government-adjacent customers, balancing business objectives with compliance considerations

• Design and continuously improve contract templates, playbooks, approval frameworks, and internal processes to support scale

• Identify systemic risks and recurring friction points and proactively implement solutions

• Manage and direct outside counsel where appropriate, ensuring cost-effective and high-quality support.

What We’re Looking For:

• Minimum of 4 years of experience managing FAR/DFARS supply chain compliance and JD from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction

• 8-10+ years of legal experience, with in-house experience leading complex commercial contracting and time at a law firm

• Demonstrated ability to operate as a senior individual contributor with minimal oversight

• Experience supporting high-growth, operationally complex businesses (e.g., manufacturing, hardware, infrastructure, or technology)

• Strong business judgment and the ability to balance legal risk with execution speed

• Exceptional communication skills and executive presence

• Comfort working in ambiguous, fast-changing environments and setting direction where none exists

What Sets You Apart:

• Experience serving as the first or early legal hire at a scaling company

• Exposure to government-adjacent customers or contracts (experience with government contracts is a strong plus)

• Background in aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, or other highly regulated industries

• Familiarity with ITAR, export controls, or similar regulatory frameworks

• A builder mindset with a track record of creating durable systems and processes

• Ability to operate as both a strategic advisor and hands-on executor

Compensation

For this role, the target salary range is $185,000 - $250,000 (actual range may vary based on experience).

This is the lowest to highest salary we reasonably and in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. An employee's pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors, including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans for employees

• 401k

• Relocation support may be provided for certain situations, based on business need.

• Flexible vacation policy

ITAR Requirements

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.

Hadrian Is An Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the Company’s policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. The Company does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race inclusive of traits historically associated with race (including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, such as braids, locks and twists), color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, national origin (including, in California, possession of a drivers license), ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, height or weight, medical condition, family care status, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, exercise of reproductive rights, any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws, or any combination of the above characteristics. When necessary, the Company also makes reasonable accommodations for disabled candidates and employees, including for candidates or employees who are disabled by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.

Compensation Range: $185K - $250K