VP, Legal

Who We Are GITAI is a vertically integrated space and defense company building the next generation of hardware for low-Earth-orbit missions. At our core is the space robotics technology that has defined GITAI from the beginning. A small, highly capable engineering team applies that foundation across satellite buses, in-orbit servicing robotics, and mission hardware for applications such as Earth observation. Today, a major focus of our work is supporting U.S. national security missions, particularly through proliferated LEO satellite constellations and other next-generation space systems. We design, build, integrate, and test much of our hardware in-house. Electrical, mechanical, software, manufacturing, integration, and test teams work closely together, allowing a small team to own complete systems rather than isolated components. This vertical integration helps us move quickly, learn directly from hardware, and shorten the path from architecture to a working system. We are still early. The systems, the company, and the market are all being built at the same time. Requirements change, technical problems are often ambiguous, and many answers do not yet exist. We are looking for exceptional engineers who want broad ownership, can work across disciplines, and are willing to stay close to the hardware until the mission succeeds. Your Mission The VP, Legal will help build and operate the legal function behind GITAI’s next stage of growth as a space robotics company. This role reports to GITAI’s General Counsel and works closely with leadership, program management, engineering, finance, HR, security, and outside counsel. The mission is to make legal work a practical operating function for the business, not a slow approval layer. This is not a pure advisory role. You will draft, redline, negotiate, organize, escalate, and close. You will handle legal issues close to the actual work: U.S. government programs, commercial contracts, export-controlled technical data, suppliers, strategic partnerships, corporate governance, fundraising support, employment matters, and the operating risks that come with building real hardware for space and defense applications. GITAI needs a legal leader who can protect the company without stopping the company. The right person can make sound risk calls under time pressure, write clearly, negotiate directly, and build legal systems that are strong enough for government and defense work but light enough for an early-stage startup. What You’ll Drive Help the General Counsel build a legal function that enables GITAI to move faster, close better deals, and take smart risks as the company scales. Review, interpret, and advise on RFPs, purchase orders, customer terms, supplier terms, contract documents, and agency requirements. Support proposal, negotiation, and execution work for government, commercial, and strategic programs by identifying key business and legal terms early. Draft, redline, and negotiate agreements with customers, suppliers, contractors, consultants, partners, and other third parties. Translate legal issues into clear business choices: what we can accept, what we should negotiate, what needs escalation, and what should stop the deal. Work closely with program management, engineering, procurement, finance, HR, security, and leadership to keep contracts, customer obligations, supplier commitments, and internal execution aligned. Help structure practical positions on deliverables, acceptance terms, payment terms, IP rights, data rights, confidentiality, liability, indemnity, warranty, termination, cybersecurity, export control, and security requirements. Build and improve contract templates, negotiation playbooks, approval paths, tracking systems, and internal guidance so the company can move with speed and discipline. Support new customer opportunities, supplier relationships, strategic partnerships, and new business initiatives from early review through negotiation and execution. Manage outsi…