Senior Contracts Specialist

About Varda

Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.

From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.

Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.

Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.

Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.

About This Role

As the Senior Contracts Specialist at Varda, you will negotiate complex, first-of-kind agreements at the forefront of the commercial space industry.

Our Mission Management team sits at the heart of an operation unlike anything in the industry, manufacturing in orbit and returning products to Earth at hypersonic speeds. You'll own first-of-kind agreements spanning microgravity pharmaceutical manufacturing, hypersonic reentry vehicles, and novel government space programs, working directly with the Contracts Manager to turn audacious science into executable contracts that make it all possible.

This is a rare opportunity for a contracts professional who wants their work to matter. As a critical member of a lean, high-impact team, you'll manage the full contract lifecycle, from pre-award strategy and proposal support through negotiation, FAR/DFARS compliance, export-control management, and post-award execution, across both government and commercial customers. Your attention to detail and cross-functional communication will directly determine how fast Varda can move.

Responsibilities

Represent Varda to customers and serve as the counterpart contracting officer for both government and commercial missions

Lead or support contract negotiations with our customers, while establishing and maintaining a positive working relationship

Efficiently remove blockers to contract signature while protecting the company's interests

Provide comprehensive contract support and coordination across teams to ensure mission management, operations, proposals, sales, product, and leadership teams are informed of, and are in compliance with signed contracts and regulations

Efficiently manage the contract closeout process, including final deliveries, payments, and resolving outstanding issues

Manage compliance efforts with government contracts and regulatory entities , including in particular the FAR, DFARS, and export-control regulations

Create and maintain contract and business files

Efficiently manage the contract closeout process, including final deliveries, payments, and resolving outstanding issues

Advise management of their rights and obligations under the contracts

Review, and provide recommendations on all types of contracts and agreements as needed

Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of contracts and agreements, including non-disclosure agreements, contracts, customer agreements, and partnership agreements

Basic Qualifications

BA/BS degree in law, business, finance or a related discipline, with consideration given to equivalent professional experience

A minimum of 4-6 years of hands-on experience years of contract management experience with emphasis on government contract management experience

Experience with government contract types, including Firm Fixed Price (FFP) and Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements

Working knowledge of government contract compliance requirements under the FAR, DFARS, and NASA FAR Supplement (NFS)

Experience negotiating non-disclosure agreements

Demonstrated ability to construct and deliver persuasive written and verbal arguments in a negotiation setting

Proven ability to manage competing priorities and deliver against aggressive deadlines

Experience with export-controlled materials and regulatory compliance under ITAR and EAR

Willingness to travel up to 10% of the time (as needed)

Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance

This full-time position requires 100% onsite work in El Segundo CA.

Preferred Skills and Experience

Active Top Secret/SCI eligible clearance

Demonstrated experience structuring or executing commercial agreements in a dual-use or regulated technology environment, including IP licensing, data rights, or export-controlled deliverables

Direct hands-on experience in spacecraft integration, satellite manufacturing, or GMP/regulated pharmaceutical production environments, industries where process discipline, documentation integrity, and mission criticality are non-negotiable

Pay Range

Salary Range: Senior: $155,000 - $175,000/per year

This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA

Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance

You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards

Benefits

Consider your benefits covered for launch. At Varda, we invest in benefits and perks that support your health, financial well-being, and life beyond work. Benefits vary by position, with packages designed specifically for our regular full-time employees and interns.

Regular Full-Time Positions:

Health & Wellness

Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays

100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options

Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance

$120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses

12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)

Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic

Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents

Financial & Retirement

Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up

401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)

$20/pay period cell phone reimbursement

Relocation support for new hires, if needed

Workplace Experience & Perks

Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly

Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations

Complimentary EV charging

Benefits for Internship Positions:

Health & Wellness

Paid observed holidays.

100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options.

$120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses.

Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents.

Financial

$20/pay period cell phone reimbursement.

Up to $4,000 gross up in relocation support, if eligible

Up to $850 commute credit through Lyft or car rental reimbursement, if eligible.

Workplace Experience & Perks

Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly

Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-s