3mo ago
$185,000 – $230,000 per year

Contracts Strategy Lead, U.S. Government

United StatesUnited States·New Yorkfull-timelead
Legal & ComplianceOtherContractsStrategy Lead
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Quick Summary

Overview

About Nominal Engineers today are building some of the most ambitious machines humanity has ever seen. They should have AI that’s purpose-built for them.

Technical Tools
Legal & ComplianceOtherContractsStrategy Lead
Engineers today are building some of the most ambitious machines humanity has ever seen. They should have AI that’s purpose-built for them.

Nominal is building the Hardware Intelligence Platform that gives engineers increased visibility into complex physical systems, helps them make better decisions, and ultimately gets their products into the real world faster. It brings together the systems, data, intelligence, and applications hardware engineering requires to meet the AI moment. Hardware engineering teams use Nominal to simulate, test, manufacture, and operate the physical systems that keep the world moving, from spacecraft and autonomous vehicles to next-generation energy systems and robotics.

Our customers span aerospace, defense, manufacturing, transportation, energy, and robotics. They include Anduril, Shield AI, Wisk Aero, Pratt Miller Motorsports, Antares, and Shinkei Systems, amongst others, alongside programs within the U.S. Air Force and Navy. Our team draws from SpaceX, Palantir, Anduril, Applied Intuition, Tesla, and other leading companies, united by a common mission: giving hardware engineers the tools to build the future with speed, safety, and confidence. We're a fast-moving team that owns problems end-to-end, works across disciplines, and thrives at the intersection of hardware and software.

Some of the world’s leading technology investors, including Sequoia, Lightspeed, Founders Fund, General Catalyst, Lux Capital, and Insight Partners, are backing Nominal’s ambition to change how machines are built and operated. We’re looking for teammates who want to take on hard problems and help make a new generation of world-changing hardware possible.

About the Role

~1 min read
Nominal is hiring a Contracts Strategy Lead, U.S. Government to help scale how we partner with government customers. You’ll work alongside our Government & Public Sector, Legal, Finance, Capture, and Program teams to structure complex opportunities, negotiate with acquisition organizations, and translate Nominal’s commercial software business into government-compatible acquisition strategies and contracts.

As the lead individual contributor for U.S. Government contract strategy, you’ll bring deep acquisition expertise while partnering closely with experienced leaders across the company. You’ll own complex work from day one and help develop repeatable approaches that support the continued growth of our Government & Public Sector business. This is not a traditional contract administration role. We’re looking for someone who understands government acquisition, thinks commercially, and enjoys solving difficult contracting challenges alongside cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

~1 min read
  • Structure U.S. Government opportunities from proposal through award.
  • Translate Nominal’s commercial software model into government-compatible pricing, licensing, and acquisition approaches.
  • Review solicitations, agreements, and contract vehicles while identifying risks and recommending a path forward.
  • Partner with Capture, Business Development, Finance, Legal, and Program teams on complex pursuits.
  • Engage directly with Contracting Officers, acquisition teams, prime contractors, and strategic partners.
  • Develop negotiation strategies that balance customer needs with Nominal’s commercial objectives.
  • Educate government stakeholders on commercial software models and modern acquisition approaches.
  • Support proposals, pricing submissions, statements of work, and contract negotiations.
  • Develop reusable contract language, negotiation guidance, and preferred positions.
  • Improve contract-strategy frameworks, review processes, and workflows.
  • Build internal best practices that make government contracting more consistent and scalable.
  • Identify acquisition pathways and partnership structures that support future growth.
  • Support contracts through execution, renewal, expansion, and modification.
  • Partner with Program teams to ensure contractual requirements are understood and successfully delivered.
  • Help resolve contracting questions that arise during program execution.
  • Carry lessons from active programs into future acquisition and negotiation strategies.

  • You have a strong foundation in U.S. Government acquisition and apply procurement rules with sound business judgment.
  • You enjoy solving ambiguous problems rather than simply following established playbooks.
  • You communicate effectively with government, legal, technical, and business stakeholders.
  • You can translate commercial software business models into practical government contracting approaches.
  • You are comfortable independently owning complex work while collaborating across teams.
  • You are excited to help build better ways of working as Nominal continues to scale.

Requirements

~1 min read
  • 5+ years of experience supporting U.S. Government contracts, acquisitions, or contract strategy.
  • Experience as a Contracting Officer, acquisition professional, contracts strategist, or in a comparable role.
  • Strong working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and common U.S. Government acquisition vehicles.
  • Experience negotiating or supporting complex government contracts involving software or technology.
  • Experience supporting programmatic acquisitions, multi-year programs, or larger-scale contract vehicles.
  • Ability to translate commercial software pricing, licensing, and delivery models into government-compatible structures.
  • Experience partnering with Legal, Capture, Finance, Program, and technical teams.
  • Strong written, verbal, and customer-facing communication skills.
  • This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance, in order to meet U.S. regulatory eligibility requirements for the access of classified work associated with the role.
  • Willingness to travel up to 25%.
  • Active Secret clearance is preferred, but not required.
  • Experience in both DoD acquisition and commercial technology.
  • Experience at a defense technology, dual-use, government SaaS, or growth-stage company.
  • Experience with programmatic acquisition and sustained government programs.
  • Experience with nontraditional acquisition pathways such as OTAs, CSOs, or SBIR/STTR.
  • Experience helping pilots or prototype efforts transition into larger programs.
  • Experience improving contract processes, playbooks, templates, or negotiation guidance.
  • Experience working with prime contractors, resellers, teaming partners, or strategic partners.

What We Offer

~1 min read
✓🏥 100% coverage of medical, dental, and vision insurance
✓🏖️ Unlimited PTO and sick leave
✓🍽️ Free lunch, snacks, and coffee
✓🚀 Professional Development Stipend
✓🛠️ In-office hardware lab with a $250 project stipend
✓✈️ Annual company retreat
✓👶 12 weeks parental leave
✓🌱 Fertility and family planning ($15,000 lifetime)
✓💪 Wellness stipend ($100/month)
✓🛠️ $500/year hardware sensor stipend
✓💼 401(k)
✓📈 Employee-friendly equity terms
✓🏢 In-office 5 days per week

Location & Eligibility

Where is the job
New York, United States
On-site at the office
Who can apply
US

About this job

Pay per year
$185,000–$230,000 a year
98% above the $105,000 median for Contracts jobs on Jobera (227 salaries).
Who can apply
United States
Posted
115 days ago
Employer
has 82 open jobs on Jobera in 3 countries.

Listing Details

Posted
July 22, 2026
First seen
September 26, 2026
Last seen
November 15, 2026

Posting Health

Days active
49
Repost count
0
Trust Level
32%
Scored at
November 15, 2026

Signal breakdown

freshnesssource trustcontent trustemployer trust
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Contracts Strategy Lead, U.S. Government$185,000 – $230,000 per year