PubSec Counsel

About Ditto: Ditto is redefining how data moves at the edge. Our mission is to make it seamless for developers to build resilient, real-time applications, regardless of network conditions. Whether you're in a stadium, airplane, or remote military base, Ditto's peer-to-peer sync engine ensures devices stay connected and data stays consistent, even without internet. With more than $145 million in funding and trusted by organizations like Chick-fil-A, Delta Airlines, and the U.S. military, Ditto powers mission-critical experiences across aviation, retail, travel, hospitality, defense, and more. As a globally distributed, fast-growing startup, we’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the wide range of perspectives needed to solve the world’s hardest connectivity problems. This PubSec Counsel role will own public sector contracting and public sector legal compliance at Ditto, primarily for U.S. Federal Government and defense-focused programs. They will serve as our in-house subject matter expert on government contracting and compliance and provide strategic legal counsel across the full lifecycle of our public sector contracts. The PubSec Counsel will have a broad mandate in building and implementing the legal framework for our public sector business to expand. This is a great fit for an experienced federal contracts attorney who wants ownership over a growing, mission-critical part of the business. The ideal candidate is someone who's helped build a federal contracting function, including compliance, at a startup before. We're flexible on years of experience for the right person - what matters most is depth of public sector contracting and compliance knowledge combined with the ability to balance risk management with the speed of execution our business demands. As a Senior Commercial Counsel (Public Sector), you will… - Partner with PubSec Sales and Finance on government-related pursuits, contract negotiations, execution, and long-term compliance - Review, draft, negotiate, and support a variety of government contracts and bid documents, including RFPs and RFIs, teaming agreements, statements of work (SOWs), amendments, task orders, teaming agreements, collaboration agreements, distribution, reseller agreements, and subcontracts. - Advise on FAR, DFARS, and related agency regulations, including clause applicability, flow-down requirements, and U.S. federal government data rights provisions, including IP and technical data rights in software developed under government funding - Provide guidance on compliance topics including cost accounting, audits, data rights, cybersecurity obligations, sam.gov http://sam.gov administration, and procurement integrity - Develop and oversee compliance efforts and programs, including scalable processes, templates, and training related to government contracting compliance - Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure systems are in accordance with all legal, regulatory, and contractual requirements as the business grows - Support state and local (SLED) and international public sector deals as a secondary focus What You’ll Need… - Deep federal contracting expertise: hands-on experience with the FAR, DFARS, GSA Schedules, IDIQ vehicles, OTAs, and DoD requirements, ideally as in-house counsel at a tech company selling to government customers, with experience on both the prime and sub side - Sound business and legal judgment: comfort with ambiguity, balance making independent calls with engaging the right stakeholders, and provide risk-based guidance that is pragmatic and goes beyond simply flagging issues - High EQ and a collaborative instinct: the communication skills and presence to partner effectively with sales, finance, senior leadership, and counterparties - Self-direction and ownership: manage your own workload, build processes from scratch, and thrive without a large team behind you - Comfort in fast-paced, high-growth environments: manage shifting priorities and stay effective when the structure around you is still taking shape - A JD from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one state Nice to haves… - Experience standing up or scaling a federal contracts function at a startup, including compliance infrastructure and, ideally, formation or operation of a federal-specific subsidiary - Hands-on experience with government audit and compliance frameworks, including one or more of: DCAA audits, FedRAMP, NIST 800-171, or CMMC. - Exposure to other government contracts beyond core federal work, such as SLED or international public sector procurement, export control regulations, and commerciality determinations - Familiarity with contract lifecycle management tools such as Ironclad or similar platforms. - An active US Government security clearance, or the ability to obtain one. - A proactive and curious attitude about how AI can support your role through automation, ideation, or more thoughtful decision-making THE BENEFITS OF BUILDING WITH US We offer competitive salaries and meaningful equity. We believe everyone on the team should have a stake in what we’re building. Benefits vary by region to make sure you're covered in the ways that matter most. In the US, that includes health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, plus a 401(k) and flexible spending accounts. Regardless of where you live, everyone at Ditto can utilize flexible time off. And while we work remotely, our Atlanta and San Francisco offices are open if you ever want a place to work or meet up with teammates. APPLY ANYWAY At Ditto, we know game-changers don’t always come wrapped in a “perfect” resume. Years of experience? Every single bullet point checked? Meh. That’s not what drives us. What does matter? - Grit. - Curiosity. - Adaptability. - And a genuine spark for what we’re building. So if you’re fired up about our mission but not sure you tick every box - hit that apply button anyway. Use your application to show us how you’ll make an impact here. We’re always on the lookout for exceptional humans who want to grow, stretch, and build something meaningful with us. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Ditto is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. Ditto is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please let us know.