---
title: 'Associate General Counsel at Vast'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/associate-general-counsel-vast-houston-e50ka7r2rwys'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-12'
---

# Associate General Counsel at Vast

- **Company:** Vast
- **Location:** Houston, TX / Long Beach, CA / Washington, DC
- **Posted:** 2026-11-07
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-12
- **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/vast/jobs/4728072006?gh_jid=4728072006

## Job description

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and capital-efficient approach. Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station to support a continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and supporting a growing space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Haven Demo’s 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to design, build, and operate its own spacecraft in orbit. Next, Haven-1 is targeted to become the world’s first commercial space station, with launch anticipated in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules. Additionally, the company recently announced two new offerings leveraging its space station components and the heritage of Haven Demo: Vast Satellite, a high-power satellite product line; and Vast Lunar Systems, power, communications, and habitats for the Moon.

Headquartered in Long Beach, California, and with more than 1,000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital, Vast has built the facilities capable of manufacturing America’s next space station. The company plans to develop future habitats and systems for Mars, dedicated modules for government partners, and other crewed systems designed to unlock the expanding long-term space economy.

Vast is looking for an Associate General Counsel, reporting to the General Counsel, to lead the regulatory and national security compliance framework that governs how Vast designs, builds, exports, licenses, and operates spacecraft. You will be the in-house legal lead for export controls, FCC and spectrum licensing, CFIUS, facility clearance and FOCI mitigation, and space policy. You will lead and strengthen the compliance foundation that supports Vast’s national security, satellite, and international business.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach, CA; Washington DC; or Houston, TX  locations.

Responsibilities:

- Export Controls: Lead Vast’s export compliance program, including serving as the company’s Empowered Official with purview over all aspects of the company’s compliance with both the ITAR and EAR. Support export classification determinations and export authorizations (including TAAs, DSP5s, EAR licenses and  license exceptions). Advise cross-functionally across all business teams on technology transfer, foreign person access, deemed exports, and international collaboration. Oversee compliance reviews, audits, investigations, and disclosures as needed
- FCC & Spectrum Licensing: Oversee FCC licensing for Vast’s missions, including Part 25 applications, experimental licenses, and spectrum coordination. Coordinate with NTIA and international administrations on filings and interference matters. Support Vast’s ground segment providers and customers in their applications
- CFIUS & Foreign Investment: Advise on CFIUS implications of financings, strategic investments, joint ventures, and international partnerships. Work with outside counsel in support of any necessary filings and related compliance obligations
- Facility Clearance & FOCI Mitigation: Serve as lead legal point of contact for Vast’s facility clearance (FCL) strategy and its relationship with DCSA under 32 CFR Part 117 (NISPOM). Structure and implement FOCI mitigation instruments, such as board resolutions, Security Control Agreements, Special Security Agreements, and Proxy Agreements, and partner with Security on governance, outside director, and compliance requirements
- Space Policy & Regulatory Engagement: Monitor and analyze legislative and regulatory developments affecting commercial space, including FAA payload reviews, NOAA remote sensing licensing, mission authorization, and space traffic management. Partner with Government Affairs on rule making comments, agency engagement, and policy positions
- Cross-Functional Partnership: Work closely with Security, Engineering, Supply Chain, Business Development, Government Affairs, Finance, and outside counsel so that compliance supports business speed instead of slowing it down
- Special Projects: Support the Legal team on special projects as requested, and work independently with internal legal support staff and other partners

Minimum Qualifications:

- JD with admission to practice law in a state bar in good standing, and ability to practice in-house in California,  the District of Columbia, or Texas
- 9+ years of experience in a legal role at a law firm, aerospace and defense company, or space company, with substantial experience in export controls and national security regulatory matters
- Strong problem-solving, verbal, and writing skills
- Good judgment and the ability to balance risk and productivity in a business environment
- Process-oriented, collaborative, and able to work independently in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Skills & Experience:

- In-house experience at an aerospace and defense prime contractor or a space company, leading export, trade compliance, or national security regulatory functions
- Hands-on experience negotiating FOCI mitigation agreements with DCSA and supporting facility clearance processes
- Experience preparing CFIUS filings and negotiating or administering mitigation agreements
- Experience with FCC Part 25 licensing, ITU coordination, or satellite spectrum matters
- Familiarity with FAA payload reviews and NOAA commercial remote sensing licensing regimes
- Experience building or scaling a trade compliance program in a high-growth environment
- Active U.S. security clearance (Secret or above)
- Ability to inspire trust, forge relationships quickly, and earn the confidence of engineering and business stakeholders
- Demonstrated legal and business judgment, technical acumen, communication skills, and strategic thinking, with excellent time management and prioritization
- Comfort with rapid change and a drive to learn new technologies, products, and substantive legal areas

Additional Requirements:

- Ability to travel up to 25% of the time
- Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones

We calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.

## COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.

## EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast is governed on the basis of merit, 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.

## About Vast

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Aerospace, space infrastructure, commercial space stations
- **Target customers**: B2B (government space agencies, research institutions, pharmaceutical/biotech companies, satellite operators), B2C (private astronaut missions)
- **Mission or purpose statement**: “Our long-term vision is to create artificial gravity stations, allowing humanity to live and work in space without long-term harm to the body.” – Jed McCaleb

## Products & Services
- **Haven-1**: The world’s first commercial space station, a single-module habitat launching in 2027 aboard a Falcon 9. Designed for 4-crew missions of up to 30 days, with microgravity research lab (10 payload slots), large window dome, always-on Wi-Fi, and Starlink laser communications. [vastspace.com](https://www.vastspace.com/)
- **Haven-2**: A planned multi-module space station designed as a commercial successor to the ISS. First module (based on Haven-1 but stretched) to launch on Falcon Heavy in 2028, with full configuration of eight modules by 2032. Will compete for NASA’s Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) Phase 2. [wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vast_(company))
- **Haven Demo**: A 500 kg demonstration satellite launched in November 2025, successfully tested communications, power, propulsion, and deorbit capabilities. Operated for three months before controlled reentry in February 2026. [vastspace.com](https://www.vastspace.com/)
- **High-Power Satellite Buses**: Leveraging in-house space station technology, Vast has expanded into designing and building high-power satellite buses for commercial and government customers. [vastspace.com](https://www.vastspace.com/)

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed. However, the company raised $500M in March 2026 ($300M equity + $200M debt). [wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vast_(company))
- **Key Metric**: Total funding to date – at least $500M (March 2026), plus prior undisclosed rounds led by founder Jed McCaleb.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Balerion Space Ventures, IQT, Qatar Investment Authority, Mitsui & Co., MUFG, Nikon Corporation, Stellar Ventures, Space Capital, Earthrise Ventures, Jed McCaleb. Partners include SpaceX (launch provider, Starlink), Impulse Space (propulsion), AnySignal, TRL11, Addvalue, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, CASIS, UK Space Agency, European Space Agency, NASA (CCSC-2 agreement). [wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vast_(company)) [vastspace.com](https://www.vastspace.com/)
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - Won the sixth commercial ISS astronaut mission contract (Feb 2026), with ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet as commander. 
  - Signed multi-mission agreements with France (to ISS and Haven-1) and the Czech Republic (via ESA). 
  - Completed primary structure of Haven-1 – the first U.S. space station flight article built in over 20 years. 
  - Headcount grew from 606+ (Oct 2024) to “1000+ team members” by mid-2026. 
  - Former NASA CEO Steve Isakowitz and veteran astronauts Andrew Feustel and Garrett Reisman joined as advisors/team members. [vastspace.com](https://www.vastspace.com/) [wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vast_(company))

## Competitive Advantages
- **First-mover in commercial space stations**: Vast is the only operational commercial space station company to have flown and operated its own spacecraft in orbit (Haven Demo). 
- **Hardware-rich, low-cost approach**: Rapid iteration and in-house manufacturing enable faster development than competitors. 
- **Artificial gravity vision**: Long-term differentiator for human health in space – a key gap in current ISS and other station designs. 
- **Strong talent pipeline**: Leadership includes serial entrepreneurs (Max Haot, Jed McCaleb) and top SpaceX and NASA veterans (CTO Alex Hudson, COO Kris Young, astronaut Andrew Feustel). 
- **Strategic partnerships**: Deep relationships with SpaceX, international space agencies, and research institutions provide launch, funding, and mission opportunities.

## Strategic Focus
- **Haven-1 launch and crewed missions**: Complete assembly, launch in 2027, and execute the first Vast-1 crew mission (4 astronauts, ~14 days). 
- **Haven-2 development**: Compete for NASA’s CLD Phase 2 contract (decision expected July 2026) to become a primary ISS replacement. 
- **Expand microgravity research network**: Partner with pharmaceutical, biotech, and materials science companies for in-space manufacturing and R&D. 
- **International expansion**: Secure additional government astronaut missions (France, UK, Czech Republic) and explore Indian launch capabilities. 
- **High-power satellite bus business**: Leverage in-house technology to capture commercial and defense satellite contracts.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: “All in” – bottom-up engineering, first principles, extreme ownership, rapid progress, and celebration of wins. Emphasizes respect, curiosity, and excellence. [vastspace.com](https://www.vastspace.com/careers)
- **Benefits**: Long-term equity incentive, 401(k), generous PTO with annual cash-out, paid parental leave, comprehensive medical/dental/vision, subsidized meals, fitness memberships, and wellness benefits. [vastspace.com](https://www.vastspace.com/careers)
- **Work environment**: In-office in Long Beach, CA. State-of-the-art 115,000 sq ft facility with manufacturing operations. 
- **Engineering culture**: Agile, risk-tolerant, and driven by passion for space. Team includes former SpaceX, NASA, and top aerospace engineers. 
- **Impact**: Directly building the future of long-term space habitation – a mission-driven environment with ambitious timelines and tangible results.

## Sources
1. [vastspace.com](https://www.vastspace.com/)
2. [vastspace.com/careers](https://www.vastspace.com/careers)
3. [wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vast_(company))
4. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/vastspace)

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