Government Contracts and Commercial Senior Counsel

Stoke Space is hiring a Government Contracts and Commercial Senior Counsel in Kent, King County — a full-time leadership position for a senior legal professional to guide contract strategy and regulatory compliance as we scale our commercial spaceflight operations.

About the Role

As Senior Counsel, you will be the principal legal voice stewarding government contracts, commercial partnerships, and regulatory matters across our launch and operations business. You'll build legal strategy, manage complex negotiations, and ensure compliance across federal, state, and industry regulations as Stoke Space develops and deploys Nova, our fully reusable launch vehicle.

What You'll Do

• Lead negotiation, review, and execution of government contracts, including those with federal agencies and prime contractors
• Manage commercial contract lifecycle: formation, performance, amendment, and dispute resolution
• Advise on regulatory compliance specific to commercial spaceflight, launch licensing, and payload regulations
• Develop contract templates, policies, and frameworks to standardize processes across the business
• Partner with operations, sales, and executive leadership on risk assessment and mitigation for new partnerships
• Build and mentor a lean legal team as the company scales
• Monitor and interpret changes to aerospace, export control, and commercial space regulations

What We're Looking For

• 12+ years of legal experience, with at least 5 years focused on government contracts or commercial space/aerospace law
• Deep familiarity with federal acquisition regulations (FAR), DFARS, and commercial spaceflight regulations
• Proven ability to negotiate complex, high-value contracts under time and technical constraints
• JD required; bar admission in any US state required
• Background in export control, ITAR, or space industry law is strongly preferred
• Track record building or leading small legal teams
• Ability to translate legal complexity into clear business guidance

About Stoke Space

Stoke Space is building Nova, a fully and rapidly reusable launch vehicle designed for daily flight operations. Our mission is to enable a thriving space economy by fundamentally reducing launch costs, increasing availability, and improving reliability. We're headquartered in Kent, Washington, and are backed by leading investors committed to making space accessible.

How to Apply

To apply, complete your application directly on this page, or you'll be redirected to the employer's application platform to finish submitting there.