Legal Counsel

About the role

Join SCS Engineers as a strategic legal advisor and trusted business partner. In this highly visible role, you'll work directly with company leaders to provide practical legal guidance, negotiate complex construction and commercial contracts, support projects from bid to closeout, and help manage risk across the organization.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary legal advisor to assigned business unit leaders, including operations, project management, and engineering teams.
• Provide practical, risk-based guidance aligned with business goals, profitability, and successful project execution.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including EPC, design-build, construction, subcontractor, supplier, and professional services agreements.
• Provide front-line legal support in resolving project disputes, including delay claims, scope disputes, cost overruns, and differing site conditions.
• Manage claims, disputes, and litigation, including managing contract-related risks.
• Support project lifecycle legal needs, providing legal support across all phases of pre-bid, execution, and closeout.
• Ensure adherence to Company policies and deliver training programs for project teams (contracts, ethics, environmental compliance).

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree required.
• Admission to the California Bar required.
• Minimum of four (4) years of legal experience in a law firm, with a focus on construction and/or environmental matters required.
• Litigation experience is a plus.
• Engineering and/or construction management experience is a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Copilot.

Qualifications

• Minimum of four (4) years of legal experience in a law firm, with a focus on construction and/or environmental matters required.
• Litigation experience is a plus.
• Engineering and/or construction management experience is a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Copilot.

Skills

• Strategic legal partnership
• Contract drafting and negotiation
• Risk management and mitigation
• Claims and dispute resolution
• Project lifecycle support
• Corporate governance and compliance

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, and Disability Insurance
• 100% employer-funded Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and 401K including employer match
• Annual Bonus Program
• Student Debt Employer Contribution Program
• Paid holidays, PTO, and Paid Parental Leave

Pay

USD $150,000.00 - USD $210,000.00 /Yr.

Schedule

Based in our Long Beach Headquarters and expected to be in the office at least 4 days/week.

Additional Information

Please note that our pay ranges are determined by several factors, including relevant experience, internal pay equity, and location. They do not include any of the amazing benefits of being an employee-owner, which are listed below.

SCS is building a world where environmental systems and infrastructure strengthen the health, safety and resilience of communities — from reducing methane emissions at landfills to producing alternative energy, from repurposing contaminated properties to sequestering carbon. As a 100% employee-owned firm, we bring a long-term perspective, personal ownership and shared success to everything we do. We live our values every day: We care. We are a team. We are tenacious. Join us and be part of a team where your work has real impact — on the world and on your own growth.