Counsel - Supply Chain

About Forterra

At Forterra, we are unleashing autonomy at scale to transform the battlefield. Our mission is to build the foundational platforms that enable an intelligent ecosystem to coordinate, adapt, and execute with speed and precision even in the uncertainty and disruption of modern conflict. In an era marked by rapid technological change and evolving threats, we design for flexibility, survivability, and operational dominance.

Forterra delivers weapons, sensors, and battlefield effects through integrated autonomous networks reaching operational areas faster, safer, and without placing human lives  systems operate with distributed control, dynamic routing, and real‑time responsiveness, enabling sustained advantage across complex mission environments.

Forterra is seeking a highly skilled Counsel to join its Legal team with primary responsibility for supply chain, while assisting with Growth, Operations, and Technology Transactions. This role requires deep experience supporting complex hardware and software supply chains in regulated environments, including the defense industrial base. The Counsel will serve as a key legal partner to supply chain, operations, engineering, and finance, providing practical, risk‑based guidance across sourcing, manufacturing, logistics, and vendor relationships.

The ideal candidate brings both strategic insight and hands‑on execution, with the ability to independently manage complex negotiations, design scalable contracting frameworks, and advise on supply chain risk, compliance, and resilience in a rapidly evolving environment.

• Independently draft, negotiate, and manage a broad range of supply chain and technology agreements, including supplier master agreements, long‑term supply agreements, contract manufacturing, subcontracting, logistics, and professional services / consulting agreements.
• Serve as the primary legal advisor to supply chain and operations, leading supplier negotiations and advising on sourcing strategies and commercial risk allocation, including indemnification, liability, IP ownership, and termination.
• Advise on legal and regulatory requirements impacting Forterra’s supply chain, including ITAR, EAR, DFARS, Buy American Act, TAA, counterfeit parts prevention, and supplier cybersecurity requirements.
• Support supplier diligence, onboarding, and risk assessments, including evaluation of financial stability, geopolitical risk, sanctions exposure, and compliance posture.
• Develop and maintain standard supply chain contract templates, playbooks, training, and escalation frameworks to support efficient scaling of operations.
• Partner cross‑functionally with engineering, quality, security, and program teams on manufacturing readiness, product changes, obsolescence, and end‑of‑life planning.
• Provide guidance on intellectual property protection and licensing in supplier and manufacturing relationships, including background IP, foreground IP, and data rights.
• Support government and prime contractor programs by aligning supplier terms with customer flow‑down requirements and program obligations.
• Advise on disputes, claims, demands, and supplier performance issues, working closely with internal stakeholders to achieve timely and practical resolutions.
• Monitor legal, regulatory, and industry developments affecting defense and advanced technology supply chains and proactively advise leadership on emerging risks and mitigation strategies.
• Assist with broader transactional, commercial, and corporate matters, as needed.

• 6+ years of relevant hands‑on experience, including significant experience advising on supply chain, manufacturing, and technology transactions, preferably in the defense, aerospace, robotics, or advanced manufacturing sectors.
• Demonstrated expertise in negotiating complex supplier and service agreements, as well as familiarity with government contracting.
• Strong working knowledge of export controls, defense procurement regulations, and supply chain compliance requirements.
• Proven ability to operate independently while partnering closely with cross‑functional business teams.
• High integrity, strong attention…