---
title: 'Senior Legal Counsel – Technology & Trade Compliance at Kepler Communications'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-legal-counsel-technology-trade-compliance-kepler-communications-toronto-kc2bcj2prx2d'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-07'
---

# Senior Legal Counsel – Technology & Trade Compliance at Kepler Communications

- **Company:** Kepler Communications
- **Location:** Toronto, Canada
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-10-21
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-07
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/kepler/0bbcf7f5-08c9-4159-ae80-815ae8dd0220

## Job description

At Kepler Communications, we're not just imagining the future of on-demand space connectivity - we're leading it! Our mission is to provide real-time on-orbit connectivity for critical missions, enabling a new era of data-driven intelligence and innovation. With 33 satellites launched to date, Kepler operates the first commercial optical data relay constellation, enabling real-time, continuous space communications while supporting advanced on-orbit compute and hosted payload capabilities. Industry-leading technology is only part of the story. What sets Kepler apart is our team: bold thinkers, skilled builders, and passionate problem-solvers who thrive on pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space. We believe great ideas come from diverse perspectives, and we’re committed to creating an environment where you can grow, lead, and make a global impact.

If you’re ready to reach higher, move faster, and do work that shapes the future space economy - this is your launchpad. Come build the future with Kepler!

What We Offer:

- Competitive compensation with a robust equity plan to share in our success.
- Comprehensive coverage for health, dental, and vision insurance—including dependents.
- Unlimited vacation, supportive parental leave policy, and company-wide holiday shutdown.
- Semi-annual company-wide parties and frequent in-office team events.
- Relocation packages available for approved roles.
- $1,500 annual professional development fund to support your growth.
- Fully stocked Toronto office kitchen with snacks, drinks, games and top-notch kitchen appliances.
- Town Halls, Celebration Calls, and Company-wide events to stay connected and engaged.
- We’re a certified Great Place to Work®, seven years in a row!

As Senior Legal Counsel – Technology & Trade Compliance, this isn’t your typical legal position. At Kepler, you’ll be embedded in a fast-moving team, helping to shape how we operate globally by balancing legal precision with bold innovation. You’ll provide hands-on legal expertise across a vast array of commercial agreements and government engagements, all while supporting cutting-edge space technology projects. As we push the boundaries of space-based connectivity, your work will ensure Kepler remains not only compliant but competitive in a highly regulated and technically complex landscape. Your decisions will directly influence how we launch, partner, build, and operate globally.

Key Responsibilities:

Technology & Commercial Contracting

- Draft, negotiate, and review a wide variety of commercial and technology contracts, including NDAs, software licenses, supplier/vendor agreements, and customer agreements

- Support Kepler’s intellectual property strategy development

- Serve as a legal point of contact for engineering, project management, business development, regulatory, and supply chain teams for contracting and operational legal issues

Government Contracting & Proposals

- Support negotiations and compliance for government contracts and funding agreements in Canada (ISED, CSA), the United States (NASA, SDA), and Europe (ESA)

- Review and advise on flow down requirements, IP provisions, export controls, and other government terms

- Provide legal support on RFP responses, grant applications, and strategic proposals, working closely with business development and program teams

Legal Advisory

- Provide strategic legal counsel to internal teams on contractual and governance matters

- Advise on legal matters across a broad range of corporate initiatives, coordinating with external counsel as needed

- Support Kepler’s internal compliance programs, including those related to privacy, data governance, and information security

Training & Policy Development

- Draft and maintain internal legal procedures, manuals, and compliance protocols

- Contribute to team knowledge-sharing and build scalable legal operations and document templates, leveraging Kepler’s AI solutions

Required Skills & Qualifications:

- JD or LLB degree with license to practice law in Ontario (or eligibility to be licensed)

- 5+ years of relevant experience in related legal and compliance functions

- Exceptional judgment and integrity

- Strong negotiator and communicator, with the ability to articulate complex concepts to diverse audiences and effectively engage with stakeholders at various levels

- Willingness to work on projects of all types and resourcefulness to bring legal expertise on a variety of topics

- Demonstrated ability to independently draft and negotiate a range of commercial and technology contracts

- Ability to work hybrid 3+ days in our Toronto HQ

Bonus Points:

- Expertise in export controls and international trade law

- Demonstrated expertise in Canadian CGP and U.S. ITAR/EAR frameworks

- Experience acting as a Designated Official under the CGP or equivalent role

- Experience in the aerospace, satellite, or defense industry

- Familiarity with OFAC sanctions, dual-use technology, and international treaties

- Privacy and data protection experience

- Bilingual (English/French) is an asset

- Security clearance or eligibility to obtain one

Actual total compensation will be determined at the Company’s discretion and is based on a variety of job-related factors, which may include, but are not limited to, relevant knowledge, skills, experience, performance, and education and/or training. The Company encourages all qualified applicants to apply, even if the posted salary range does not align with their expectations, as it does not reflect our total compensation package. Job Type: This is for a current vacancy

Employment Equity & Accommodation Statement Kepler Communications is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, including women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

If you require accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, please contact our People & Culture team at accommodation@kepler.space, and we will work with you to meet your needs.

## About Kepler Communications

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Building an internet-for-space communications infrastructure with a hybrid optical and RF satellite constellation for real-time data relay.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series C, $92M raised)
- **Headquarters**: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- **Founded**: 2015
- **Founders**: Not publicly disclosed (founded by a group of graduate students)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Space communications / Satellite telecommunications
- **Target customers**: B2B, government (space agencies, defense), satellite operators (LEO and beyond)
- **Mission**: “Delivering on-orbit data at lightspeed… modernize communications to missions in LEO and beyond.”

## Products & Services
- **Kepler Network (Optical Data Relay Constellation)**: A hybrid optical and RF satellite network providing always-available, real-time connectivity for space-to-space, space-to-ground, and air-to-space communications. Supports SDA-compatible optical terminals, IP mesh networking, and hosted payloads. Data throughput up to 2.5 Gbps (Tranche 1), with 100 Gbps planned for Tranche 2.
- **RF Satellite Constellation**: A fleet of 21 RF satellites with proven flight heritage, offering global coverage for mission-critical communications.
- **Hosted Payloads & On-Orbit Compute**: Customers can host payloads on Kepler satellites and leverage on-orbit processing capabilities.
- **Priority Spectrum Holding**: Services that grant operators access to Kepler’s regulatory filings and spectrum rights.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue ~$13M (LinkedIn estimate) | Total Funding >$200M (since 2016)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: IA Ventures (lead, Series C), Costanoa Ventures, Canaan Partners, Tribe Capital, BDC Capital’s Industrial Innovation Venture Fund; partners include Tesat-Spacecom, General Atomics, Cailabs, Space Development Agency (SDA)
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew 28.7% YoY to 183 employees; launched first tranche of optical relay satellites (10 satellites) in January 2026; awarded prime position on SDA’s HALO contract (Oct 2024); demonstrated first bidirectional air-to-space optical link (Sept 2025) and space-to-ground optical laser link (May 2025); 39 active job postings (yearly increase of 160%).

## Competitive Advantages
- **Vertical Integration**: In-house production facility for satellite design, build, test, and deployment – rare among commercial space companies.
- **Patented Technology**: Tested and deployed on 33 satellites in orbit, providing proven flight heritage.
- **SDA Compatibility**: Built to SDA optical communication standards, enabling interoperability with any SDA-compatible spacecraft and eligibility for U.S. defense contracts.
- **IP Mesh Networking**: Demonstrated on-orbit networking using standard internet protocols, allowing multiple satellites to communicate over a single ground link.
- **First-Mover in Optical Data Relay**: One of the few commercial operators with an operational optical relay network in LEO.

## Strategic Focus
- **Deploy Tranche 2** (target ~2028) with 100 Gbps optical links, backward compatible with Tranche 1 and supporting both SDA and European ESTOL standards.
- **Expand on-orbit compute capacity** with higher GPU density for edge processing.
- **Grow defense and government customer base** through SDA contracts and international partnerships.
- **Scale the optical constellation** to provide global, always-available connectivity for space missions.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Values drive, empathy, and agility; described as “passionate” and “collaborative” with a focus on making an impact in space communications.
- **Work Model**: Hybrid – full-time regular positions based in Toronto, Ontario. Some roles may require on-site presence for satellite production and testing.
- **Engineering Environment**: Vertical integration means engineers work across the full lifecycle – design, production, testing, and deployment – solving complex challenges in optics, RF, thermal management, and software.
- **Growth Trajectory**: Rapid headcount growth (28.7% YoY) and major contract wins signal strong momentum; 39 open positions across engineering, manufacturing, product, and program management.
- **Hiring Process**: Human recruiters are involved at every step; AI tools assist with initial screening but do not replace human judgment.
- **Diverse Team**: Employees across 10 countries, with a majority in Canada (65%) and growing presence in the US, UK, and Europe.

## Sources
1. [Kepler About Page](https://kepler.space/about/)
2. [Kepler Careers Page](https://kepler.space/careers/)
3. [LinkedIn Company Profile](https://linkedin.com/company/kepler-communications-inc-)
4. [Kepler Jobs on Lever](https://jobs.lever.co/kepler)
5. [New Space Economy Company Profile](https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2026/04/24/kepler-communications-company-profile/)

## Other roles at Kepler Communications

- [Supply Chain Intern (Jan 2027) (4 months)](https://feeny.ai/job/supply-chain-intern-jan-2027-4-months-kepler-communications-toronto-4rpndpjerhgq) — Toronto, Canada
- [Lead (Chief) Satellite Systems Engineer (Contingent)](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-chief-satellite-systems-engineer-contingent-kepler-communications-toronto-ks72e8wc9haz) — Toronto, Canada
- [Senior Embedded Software Designer (6+ month Contract)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-embedded-software-designer-6-month-contract-kepler-communications-canada-jw3p3cjscyrw) — Canada
- [FPGA Digital Design Engineer (6+ month Contract)](https://feeny.ai/job/fpga-digital-design-engineer-6-month-contract-kepler-communications-toronto-rfnbffb7x9x8) — Toronto, Canada
- [Strategic Communications Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/strategic-communications-specialist-kepler-communications-toronto-wy59xwf3dwfr) — Toronto, Canada
- [IT Intern (January 2027) (4 months)](https://feeny.ai/job/it-intern-january-2027-4-months-kepler-communications-toronto-qzxqv5fe8jqr) — Toronto, Canada
- [FPGA Digital Design Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/fpga-digital-design-engineer-kepler-communications-toronto-06zbekgzz5nn) — Toronto, Canada
- [Software Engineering Intern (January 2027)](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineering-intern-january-2027-kepler-communications-toronto-78211rnfaeje) — Toronto, Canada
- [General Counsel, Legal and Regulatory Affairs](https://feeny.ai/job/general-counsel-legal-and-regulatory-affairs-kepler-communications-canada-761sg6eq6wv0) — Canada
- [Senior Program Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-program-manager-kepler-communications-toronto-e8tq2g6avj0q) — Toronto, Canada