Government Counsel

Burlingame, California
Full-time
$190K - $240K
Posted Nov 12, 2026

Skills

Agile
Procurement
Supply Chain
Compliance

Job description

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.

With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.

Job Summary

The Government Counsel serves as a high-visibility, multi-disciplinary legal strategist reporting directly to the General Counsel & VP of External Affairs. This role requires an agile attorney who can seamlessly pivot between providing sound legal counsel and proactive regulatory advocacy. You will manage the compliance and execution of the company's federal procurement portfolio while simultaneously driving spectrum strategy, securing FCC authorizations, and advancing the company's regulatory interests before government stakeholders.

Core Responsibilities

Legal Counsel & Portfolio Advisory

•Proposal Lead: Act as the primary advisor on proposal development, capture strategies, and risk mitigation across the government portfolio.

•Government Contracts: Draft, review, and negotiate high-value prime contracts, subcontracts, teaming agreements, and strategic joint ventures.

•FAR/DFARS Compliance: Ensure strict adherence to FAR, DFARS, agency supplements, and federal data rights/intellectual property frameworks.

•Dispute Resolution: Manage potential bid protests (GAO/COFC), Requests for Equitable Adjustment (REAs), and Contract Disputes Act (CDA) claims.

Regulatory Affairs & Public Policy

•Spectrum Strategy & Advocacy: Draft public comments, petitions, and positioning papers for pending FCC rulemakings and advocate for the Company’s interests at relevant ITU and UN ICG meetings to protect and expand organizational spectrum interests.

•Agency Engagement: Act as a key liaison and advocate before regulatory bodies, managing licensing, experimental authorizations, and regulatory waivers.

•Policy Integration: Monitor emerging telecommunications or satellite policies and translate them into actionable business and product roadmaps.

•Cross-Agency Compliance: Oversee complex compliance bridging legal and policy, including supply chain security directives, foreign ownership reviews, and national security agreements.

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Required Qualifications & Experience

•Education: Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or equivalent from an accredited law school.

•Bar Admission: Active membership in good standing in California, or the ability to register as in-house counsel in California.

•Experience: 7+ years of legal and regulatory experience. A background that combines top-tier law firm experience with time spent in-house or inside a relevant agency (e.g., FCC, NTIA, DoD) is highly preferred.

•Dual Expertise: Proven track record simultaneously handling complex government contracts (FAR/DFARS) and spectrum/telecommunications regulations.

•Executive Alignment: Strong professional maturity with the ability to operate autonomously in a fast-paced environment where legal and policy priorities frequently overlap.

•Security Clearance: Active Secret clearance (or immediate eligibility to obtain one) is required.

Nice to Have

•CFIUS: Experience managing transactions involving foreign investment in the United States.

•Export Controls: Experience in license application, article classification, and internal compliance.

For U.S. Roles: To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

For U.K. Roles: To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).

For Canada Roles: Successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.