Senior Legal Counsel, Real Estate

ABOUT THE TEAM

Anduril operates at a pace unmatched in the defense industry. Consistent with this high-velocity growth, members of Anduril’s Legal team must be exceptionally resourceful, creative, and driven to take immediate ownership of highly complex and time-sensitive matters. This role demands a senior legal professional with a relentless drive to lead initiatives and move a substantial volume of projects forward at an aggressive pace. You will require outstanding negotiating, drafting, and strategic project management skills to coordinate and efficiently close critical transactions on extremely tight timelines, with a singular focus on enabling Anduril to rapidly deploy its cutting-edge technology into operational settings for the United States and its allies. Our team thrives on leveraging innovative solutions and advanced IT tools to enhance efficiency and collaboration.

ABOUT THE JOB

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategically-minded Senior Legal Counsel, Strategic Real Estate to join Anduril’s rapidly expanding Legal team. This is a critical leadership role for a seasoned real estate attorney, responsible for guiding Anduril’s significant and accelerating physical footprint expansion. You will serve as the key attorney and strategic partner to our strategic real estate and facilities teams, focusing primarily on complex, high-value, and strategic tenant-side real estate leasing transactions, property holdings, and overseeing construction projects. You will not just advise, but actively lead negotiations, structure deals, and innovate legal strategies to secure optimal terms for Anduril.

Your expertise will be crucial in navigating intricate real estate landscapes, negotiating and ensuring compliance with state and local tax incentives, and acting as the strategic bridge between finance and operations to maximize benefits. You will possess a mastery of all forms of commercial real estate leases, a strong understanding of property acquisitions/dispositions, and familiarity with construction contracts (including AIA forms). This role demands a candidate who can independently manage a heavy workload, make rapid decisions, and consistently provide clear, actionable, executive-level guidance on complex risks and recommended courses of action.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Serve as a senior, strategic legal advisor and leader within Anduril’s dynamic Legal team, driving key real estate initiatives.
• Lead and strategically manage all legal aspects of Anduril’s complex tenant-side real estate leasing portfolio, including negotiating, structuring, and drafting high-value leases, sublease agreements, and associated real estate transactions.
• Provide expert legal counsel on property acquisitions, dispositions, and strategic real estate development projects.
• Oversee legal aspects of construction contracts and projects, ensuring favorable terms for Anduril as an owner/tenant, with a working knowledge of common contractor templates (e.g., AIA forms).
• Develop and implement legal strategies for securing and optimizing state and local tax incentives related to real estate, actively bridging finance and operations to ensure full realization of benefits.
• Independently lead and manage legal due diligence for all strategic real estate deals and construction bids, identifying critical issues and presenting solutions.
• Advise on and strategically manage dispute resolution related to real estate and construction matters, aiming for proactive mitigation and efficient resolution.
• Ensure Anduril’s real estate and construction activities strictly comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and where relevant, government defense contracting requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement by establishing and refining legal frameworks, SOPs, templates, and processes to streamline reviews and support exponential growth.
• Engage closely with our compliance function to ensure adherence to environmental laws and zoning requirements for all properties.
• Consistently provide concise, high-impact executive-level briefings on key legal risks, strategic options, and recommended courses of action to senior leadership, enabling swift, informed decision-making.
• Partner closely with and provide strategic guidance to the real estate, facilities, and finance teams on all contracts and negotiations.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from a top-tier accredited law school.
• A minimum of 10 years of focused experience as a lawyer with significant expertise in complex, tenant-side commercial real estate leasing.
• Active membership in good standing with the bar in at least one U.S. state, with the ability to become authorized to practice in California (e.g., through California Bar membership or California Registered In-House Counsel status).
• Mastery of commercial real estate lease agreements, including a deep understanding of market terms, negotiation strategies, and creative solutions for complex scenarios.
• Proven ability to thrive in a high-volume, rapidly evolving environment, expertly juggling a substantial portfolio of diverse projects and driving them to completion with urgency and precision.
• Demonstrated capacity to go above and beyond, anticipating needs, proactively identifying solutions, and taking initiative to overcome obstacles to ensure project momentum and strategic outcomes.
• Exceptional proficiency with a wide array of modern IT tools, including advanced capabilities in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and enterprise communication/collaboration platforms like Slack. Candidate must be immediately productive with these tools; formal training will not be provided.
• Superior negotiation, drafting, and verbal communication skills, with a meticulous attention to detail and the ability to articulate complex legal concepts clearly and concisely to non-legal audiences and executives.
• Proven ability to provide independent, high-level legal advice and strategic recommendations to executive leadership on critical business decisions.
• Willing and able to work in Anduril’s Costa Mesa, California office full-time. Our team thrives on in-person collaboration, therefore remote or hybrid arrangements are not available for this role.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 12+ years of experience as a lawyer with a focus on strategic tenant-side real estate leasing and portfolio management.
• In-house experience within a high-growth technology, manufacturing, or defense company with a significant real estate footprint.
• Experience working at a start-up or ability to establish sophisticated templates and processes from scratch in a rapidly scaling environment.
• Familiarity with land use, zoning regulations, and environmental laws as they apply to large-scale real estate development.
• Experience with Defense companies, Robotics, Technology, or other manufacturing-heavy companies.