How to apply for Government Contracts Attorney

About Whisper Aero

Whisper Aero builds electric propulsion systems for aircraft and air-moving products, focused on making them quieter and more efficient. The team comes from NASA, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Joby Aviation, GE, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce. The company works across commercial and government programs, including Department of Defense, NASA, and SBIR/STTR work, and is based in Tennessee with this role listed as remote in the US.

About the role

This attorney handles government contracting matters for a startup that sells into DoD, NASA, and SBIR/STTR programs. The work sits alongside engineering, business development, and leadership, so the role is about moving deals and compliance forward quickly rather than building a large legal bureaucracy. You would help the company navigate contract vehicles, certifications, and regulatory requirements that come with federal work.

A typical day

A typical day could include reviewing a teaming agreement or SBIR proposal, answering a FAR/DFARS question from an engineer, and coordinating with business development on a DoD or NASA opportunity. You would also track compliance deadlines, update contract files, and flag risks to leadership. Because the role is remote, most interaction would be over video calls or written messages with the Tennessee-based team.

Who Whisper Aero is looking for

• Has direct experience with US government contracts, including FAR/DFARS, and at least one of: DoD, NASA, or SBIR/STTR programs.
• Can work as a solo or near-solo legal function and give practical advice to engineers and BD staff, not just formal legal memos.
• Understands small-business and startup contracting issues such as SBIR data rights, cost accounting, flow-downs, and teaming agreements.
• Is comfortable with remote work and can support a Tennessee-based team across time zones.
• Has a JD and active bar membership in at least one US state, or can register as in-house counsel where required.

Tips for this application

• Lead your resume with government contract types you have personally handled (for example: SBIR Phase I/II, OTAs, GSA schedules, CPFF or FFP contracts) and the agencies involved.
• Name specific FAR/DFARS clauses or areas you have worked on, such as data rights, cybersecurity (DFARS 252.204-7012), or cost allowability.
• In your cover letter, address how you would support a small, fast-moving team rather than a large legal department. Give one example of a contract issue you resolved quickly.
• If you have aerospace, defense, or deep-tech clients, say so. If you do not, explain how you would get up to speed on electric propulsion and SBIR-specific rules.
• Check whether Whisper Aero expects the attorney to be licensed in Tennessee or to work as remote in-house counsel. Address your bar status directly in the application.

What to cover in your cover letter

Focus on your hands-on government contracting experience and the specific agencies or programs you have supported. Explain how you have worked with technical or business teams to close contracts or resolve compliance issues. Show that you understand SBIR/STTR data rights and small-business contracting. State your bar status and your ability to work remotely with a Tennessee-based team.

Research before applying

• Read Whisper Aero's website and any public materials on its electric propulsion technology and its government programs.
• Look up the founders, Mark Moore and Ian Villa, and their backgrounds to understand the company's technical direction.
• Review recent SBIR/STTR awards to Whisper Aero or similar aerospace startups to see the types of contracts they pursue.
• Check whether Whisper Aero has any public news about DoD or NASA partnerships, and note the contract vehicles mentioned.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How you would handle SBIR/STTR data rights and protect Whisper Aero's intellectual property in government contracts.
• Your experience with FAR/DFARS flow-downs and how you would manage them in a small company without a large contracts team.
• How you would advise engineers and BD staff on bid protests, teaming agreements, or non-disclosure agreements with primes.
• How you would set up or improve contract review and compliance processes for a startup scaling its government work.
• Your approach to cost accounting, DCAA audits, or incurred cost submissions if you have that experience.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a generic legal resume that does not name specific government contract types, agencies, or clauses you have worked on.
• Writing a cover letter that focuses on big-law or large-company process instead of showing you can operate pragmatically in a startup.
• Ignoring the SBIR/STTR and small-business aspects of the role, which are central to Whisper Aero's government work.
• Failing to state your bar admission status or willingness to meet Tennessee in-house counsel requirements.