Sr Legal Counsel - Real Estate & Construction
About the role
At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re working to develop reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems within a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight! This role is part of Blue Origin corporate functions, providing centralized support across Blue Origin business unit teams, functions, and locations. As a member of our small and accomplished team of professionals in the Legal and Compliance Department, you will serve as the Department's primary legal support for real estate and construction matters and transactions. You will own this practice area: independently handling transactions and disputes, advising executives and cross-functional partners on risk and strategy, and building the processes, playbooks, and tools that let the practice scale as Blue Origin's footprint grows across the U.S. and internationally. This role may be based in Space Coast, Florida; Greater Seattle, Washington; Hutto, Texas; or Huntsville, Alabama.
Responsibilities
- Serve as lead counsel across Blue Origin's real estate life cycle, partnering with the Facilities, Maintenance, Security, and Operations (FMSO) team from site identification and due diligence through transactional execution and ongoing compliance.
- Draft, review and negotiate agreements across Blue Origin’s U.S. and international real estate portfolio, including letters of intent and other preliminary agreements, leases, licenses, purchase and sale agreements, estoppel certificates, subordination, non-disturbance and attornment agreements (SNDAs), easements, renewals, amendments, and non-disclosure agreements.
- Lead construction legal support, including contract drafting and negotiation, claim management, dispute resolution, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation strategies to advance Blue Origin’s infrastructure development and operational objectives.
- Conduct and improve real estate due diligence, including review of title commitments and exceptions, surveys, easements, and covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs); advise on zoning, land use, entitlements, and permitting matters, coordinating with outside counsel and consultants where specialized local expertise is required.
- Support FMSO and Government Relations on economic incentives, abatements, and site-selection commitments with state and local governmental authorities, including documentation, claw-back exposure, and ongoing compliance obligations.
- Manage landlord and construction disputes in coordination with litigation counsel, including claim evaluation, settlement strategy and negotiation, and direction of outside counsel as required.
- Identify, assess and escalate risks in partnership with cross-functional subject matter experts across regulatory compliance; insurance, risk and recovery; trade compliance; tax; and environmental, health and safety.
- Provide practical, business-oriented counsel to executives and colleagues at every level, and build scalable processes, programs, and tools that improve the Department’s delivery of legal services.