Senior Counsel

Who you are

• J.D. and active membership in good standing in at least one U.S. state bar
• 7+ years of relevant experience, including meaningful time in-house
• A strong track record negotiating complex commercial agreements, ideally for hardware, semiconductor, deep-tech, or enterprise technology companies
• Hands-on experience with federal government contracts, including FAR/DFARS, subcontracting, and data rights
• A builder’s mindset. You enjoy creating structure where none exists and are energized, not overwhelmed, by a fast-moving environment
• Sound business judgment and the ability to explain legal risk clearly to engineers and executives
• Law firm training combined with in-house experience
• Experience with OTAs, CRADAs, SBIR/STTR, and cooperative agreements
• Familiarity with EAR/ITAR as applied to transactions
• Experience with international transactions and public company work
• Curiosity about the technology

What the job involves

• This is not a role maintaining someone else’s playbook. You’ll report directly to the VP, Legal, as a key member of a lean, high-impact legal team, working closely with Rigetti’s executive team and having real influence over how the company does business
• You’ll have the opportunity to grow Rigetti’s commercial and government contracting function. That means designing the templates, processes, and negotiating positions the company scales on, and serving as a trusted advisor to leadership. As the business grows, the function you build will grow with it, and so will your role
• The work itself is unlike anything else in tech law. In a single week you might negotiate the sale of a quantum computer, structure a research collaboration on next-generation qubit materials, and advise on compliance in a government program. Many of these questions have never been asked before, and you’ll help answer them
• If you want your legal work to matter, not just to one company but to one of the defining technologies of this century, we’d love to talk
• Lead Commercial Dealmaking:
• Draft and negotiate the agreements that bring quantum computing to market, including quantum system sales, on-premises hardware purchases, cloud/QCS access, maintenance and support, and partner agreements
• Negotiate supplier and procurement agreements across our supply chain, including fab and foundry relationships, specialized equipment, components, SaaS, and facilities
• Partner with the IP team to structure R&D collaborations, joint development, sponsored research, and licensing deals
• Support international transactions through Rigetti’s global entities, coordinating with local counsel as needed
• Own Government Contracting:
• Serve as lead counsel on federal contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and other transactions with AFRL, DARPA, DOE and the national labs, and other agencies
• Advise on FAR, DFARS, and agency-specific requirements across solicitations, proposals, awards, and modifications
• Negotiate subcontracts and teaming agreements in both prime and subcontractor roles
• Guide compliance with cybersecurity requirements, supply chain and domestic sourcing rules, and representations and certifications. Partner with IT, export control, and finance teams where these issues intersect with contract terms
• Grow the Function:
• Create and refine contract templates, playbooks, approval workflows, and tools so the business can move quickly and with confidence
• Train sales, BD, procurement, and program teams on contracting and government compliance
• Help shape the legal department’s growth as Rigetti scales, including future hiring and structure, and serve as a leader and mentor on the team

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage - we cover 98% and 95% of employees’ and dependents’ premiums respectively
• Stock-based compensation for every full time employee
• Flexible vacation policy
• Remote work options
• Generous parental and military leave