Job description

Why Castelion, Why Now Castelion is moving incredibly fast to develop and deliver advanced defense systems at a time when execution matters more than ever. We believe focus and technical excellence are decisive advantages - and we are building a team that can deliver real capability, not just concepts. This is a rare opportunity to join at an early stage, where your work will directly shape critical systems, influence major technical decisions, and have immediate, real-world impact. Senior Legal Counsel, Government Contracts (This role can be based in Washington DC or Torrance, CA) Castelion is seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel, Government Contracts to serve as a critical partner to our engineering, program management, and business development teams. This role will own the full lifecycle of U.S. government contracting matters, enabling the company to move quickly and compliantly as we scale advanced defense programs. Responsibilities • Lead legal strategy and execution across U.S. government contracts, including DoD programs (FAR/DFARS) • Advise on proposal development, contract negotiation, and program execution • Interpret and apply complex regulatory requirements across contracting, procurement, and compliance • Partner with business development to structure deals and shape acquisition strategies • Support audits, investigations, and interactions with government stakeholders • Develop scalable processes and playbooks to support rapid company growth • Provide pragmatic, risk-balanced guidance in a fast-paced, hardware-driven environment Basic Qualifications • JD from an accredited law school and active bar membership • 5+ years of experience in government contracts law • Deep expertise in FAR/DFARS and DoD contracting environments • Experience at a top law firm, in-house at a defense contractor, or within government • Strong business judgment with the ability to operate autonomously • Proven ability to support high-tempo engineering and program teams • The ability to obtain and maintain a DoD clearance Preferred Skills and Experience • Experience with classified programs and export controls (ITAR/EAR) • Background supporting hardware, aerospace, or defense systems • Familiarity with cost accounting standards (CAS) and compliance frameworks= Other Duties Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Benefits And Perks All full-time employees are granted meaningful long-term equity, sharing in the company's significant growth trajectory. We offer four (4) weeks of paid time off, ten (10) company-paid holidays, and comprehensive health benefits - including 100% employee-covered medical and strong dependent coverage, along with dental and vision plans. We also provide paid parental leave to support growing families, a $100 monthly fitness stipend to promote health and performance, and onsite EV charging for convenience. In addition, employees enjoy perks like catered meals, company-covered food during high-demand periods, and a fully stocked kitchen to stay fueled throughout the day. While this position does not currently require a U.S government-issued security clearance, it may in the near future. Therefore, the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government–issued security clearance is required. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance. Affirmative Action/EEO Statement Employment with Castelion is governed on the basis of 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.

Requirements

Must-haves

Why Castelion, Why Now
This is a rare opportunity to join at an early stage, where your work will directly shape critical systems, influence major technical decisions, and have immediate, real-world impact.
Senior Legal Counsel, Government Contracts (This role can be based in Washington DC or Torrance, CA)
Lead legal strategy and execution across U.S. government contracts, including DoD programs (FAR/DFARS)
Advise on proposal development, contract negotiation, and program execution
Interpret and apply complex regulatory requirements across contracting, procurement, and compliance
Partner with business development to structure deals and shape acquisition strategies
Support audits, investigations, and interactions with government stakeholders
Develop scalable processes and playbooks to support rapid company growth
Provide pragmatic, risk-balanced guidance in a fast-paced, hardware-driven environment
JD from an accredited law school and active bar membership
5+ years of experience in government contracts law
Deep expertise in FAR/DFARS and DoD contracting environments
Experience at a top law firm, in-house at a defense contractor, or within government
Strong business judgment with the ability to operate autonomously
Proven ability to support high-tempo engineering and program teams
The ability to obtain and maintain a DoD clearance
Experience with classified programs and export controls (ITAR/EAR)
Background supporting hardware, aerospace, or defense systems
Familiarity with cost accounting standards (CAS) and compliance frameworks=
Other Duties

Nice-to-haves

Preferred Skills and Experience

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Benefits

Benefits detected in the listing.

Dental

Vision

Paid Time Off

Parental Leave