Government Contracts Attorney

About this role

Our Company

Whisper Aero is pioneering a more compelling and connected future by delivering cleaner, quieter, and more efficient propulsion solutions. Today's open rotor propulsion systems are challenged by safety, noise, and performance limitations at all scales. Whisper's breakthrough technologies allow aircraft to fly anywhere at any time without disturbing communities, at greater speeds, and with incredible improvements in efficiency and cost. Their innovations also enable a new generation of air moving products that can blend into the soundscapes of daily life. Whisper was founded by industry veterans, Mark Moore and Ian Villa, and continues to innovate a future that’s as considerate as it is compelling with its world-class team in Tennessee.

Whisper Aero is a next-generation aerospace company developing cleaner, quieter, and more efficient electric propulsion systems for the future of aviation and autonomous aircraft. Our team brings deep experience from NASA, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Joby Aviation, GE, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce.

  We are a fast-growing, technically driven startup working across commercial and government applications, including Department of Defense, NASA, and SBIR/STTR programs. We are looking for a  Government Contracts Attorney  who can help us navigate the increasingly complex government contracting environment while moving quickly and pragmatically alongside our engineering, business development, and leadership teams.

The Opportunity

This is a highly hands-on role for an attorney who understands government contracting and enjoys operating in a  fast-moving startup environment . You will have significant ownership and the opportunity to build Whisper Aero's government contracts infrastructure as the company grows. You will be the company's subject-matter expert to leadership and cross-functional teams on government contracts, proposals, negotiations, compliance, and relationships with primes, subcontractors, and government customers. The ideal candidate is not someone who simply identifies legal issues—they are someone who can  understand the business objective, identify the risk, develop a practical solution, and help the team execute.

What You'll Do

Government Contracts & Business Development

• Advise executive leadership, business development, engineering, finance, and program teams on federal contracting opportunities, risks, obligations, and negotiation strategy.

• Evaluate proposed government opportunities and help the company determine whether and how to pursue them.

• Draft, review, and negotiate prime contracts, subcontracts, teaming agreements, nondisclosure agreements, and related government contracting documents.

• Advise on contract formation, administration, modifications, amendments, extensions, and closeout.

• Negotiate with government agencies, prime contractors, subcontractors, and other strategic partners.

• Advise leadership on contract risk allocation, commercial terms, data rights, liability, and compliance obligations.

FAR / DFARS / SBIR / STTR

• Provide practical guidance on the  FAR and DFARS , with particular emphasis on DoD contracting.

• Advise on  SBIR/STTR Phase I, II, and III  contracting requirements, including marking requirements.

• Interpret and advise on government contract clauses and determine how they apply to Whisper Aero's business, technology, and obligations.

• Identify applicable FAR/DFARS clauses and required flowdowns for subcontractors and suppliers.

• Monitor changes to applicable government contracting regulations and advise internal stakeholders on their impact.

Intellectual Property & Government Data Rights

• Coordinate with in-house IP counsel to ensure alignment of government contract requirements and Whisper Aero's IP strategy, including protections and obligations regarding technical data, software, proprietary information, SBIR/STTR data rights, limited rights, restricted rights, and government-purpose rights .

• Develop and maintain practical guidance regarding data-rights assertions and restrictive markings.

• Work directly with engineering and technical teams to ensure government deliverables and technical data are properly marked and handled.

• Help establish processes for identifying and protecting pre-existing, privately developed, and contract-generated IP and technical data.

Contract Compliance & Portfolio Management

• Conduct periodic audits of the company's government contract portfolio to identify obligations, risks, gaps, and upcoming requirements.

• Build and maintain a centralized understanding of Whisper Aero's contractual obligations.

• Develop and maintain  contract obligation and compliance matrices , including FAR/DFARS clause requirements and subcontractor flowdowns.

• Develop and maintain  flowdown matrices  for prime contracts, subcontracts, suppliers, and other third parties.

• Partner with engineering, program management, finance, security, and operations teams to ensure ongoing compliance.

• Establish practical processes for contract administration and compliance that can scale as the company grows.

• Identify potential compliance issues early and work with leadership to develop appropriate mitigation strategies.

Prime / Subcontractor Agreements

• Develop and maintain templates for:

• Subcontractor agreements

• Prime contractor agreements

• Teaming agreements

• NDAs

• Supplier agreements

• Other government-contracting-related agreements

• Review and negotiate flowdown provisions.

• Advise internal teams on the obligations Whisper Aero is accepting from primes and passing through to subcontractors.

• Ensure subcontract terms appropriately protect Whisper Aero's IP, data rights, commercial interests, and contractual position.

Other Transactions & Emerging Contracting Models

• Advise on  Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements , including OTAs for prototype and production activities.

• Evaluate alternative gov

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