Contracts Administrator Senior

Job Description

Ready to bring your contracting expertise to a place where innovation meets mission? As a Contracts Administrator Senior within a leading industry prime contractor, you will drive the strategies, negotiations, and decisions that power some of the nation’s most advanced, high visibility programs.

This is your opportunity to be at the front line — shaping competitive proposals, negotiating pivotal agreements, and ensuring our teams have what they need to deliver exceptional performance on programs that matter.

This is the ideal role for someone who loves the energy of competitive pursuits, thrives in a collaborative environment, and wants to play a strategic role in programs that directly support national security, scientific discovery, and technological advancement. If you're driven by complex acquisition challenges, high stakes negotiations, and the chance to influence major programs, this is where your expertise will shine.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the development of contract specifications, performance work statements, and terms & conditions across U.S. Government contract vehicles, including cost type, fixed price, OTA, and IDIQ contracts —while also structuring and negotiating commercial agreements and international contracts that support global program execution.
• Guide the full lifecycle of prime contract activity—from initial strategy and proposal development through award, execution, and closeout—ensuring excellence and compliance with FAR, CAR, DFARS, and agency regulations.
• Review and shape complex proposals, collaborating with engineering, finance, and program leadership to build competitive, compliant solutions.
• Negotiate directly with Government and customer counterparts, and major partners, navigating cost, schedule, performance, and risk to secure strategically aligned contract outcomes.
• Develop polished, executive ready contract packages, enabling efficient decision making and award readiness.
• Administer awarded contracts with precision, ensuring deliverables, finances, reporting, and performance remain aligned with evolving program needs.
• Lead contract modifications, including scope adjustments, funding changes, option exercises, and administrative updates that keep programs moving forward.
• Maintain a regular and predictable work schedule.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships within the department, the Strategic Business Units, Strategic Capabilities Units and the Company. Interact appropriately with others in order to maintain a positive and productive work environment.
• Perform other duties as necessary.

On-Site Work Environment: This position requires regular in-person engagement by working on-site three or more days each normally scheduled week in the primary work location. Travel and local commute between company campuses and other possible non-company locations may be required.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in an office environment, laboratory, cleanroom, or production floor. Required Education, Experience, & Skills
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field plus 4 or more years related experience.
• Each higher-level degree, i.e., Master’s Degree or Ph.D., may substitute for two years of experience. Related technical experience may be considered in lieu of education. Degree must be from a university, college, or school which is accredited by an agency recognized by the US Secretary of Education, US Department of Education.
• Experience in a contracts function within an industry prime, or equivalent experience supporting NASA, NOAA, or other U.S. Government contracting activities, with exposure to multiple contract types and acquisition environments.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to interface, collaborate, and negotiate effectively across internal teams, leadership, customers, and partner organizations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work independently, prioritize effectively, and manage workload with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment and decision‑making, ensuring compliance with internal policies, procedures, ethical standards, and applicable federal, state, and international regulations.
• High proficiency with business systems and digital tools, including maintaining accurate contract records, conducting research, and preparing clear, concise presentations.
• Mid‑level, hands‑on knowledge of the FAR, with the ability to interpret, apply, and communicate U.S. Government acquisition regulations.
• Experience with commercial contracting, including drafting, negotiating, and/or managing agreements in commercial markets. #LI-LO1 Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills
• 6 or more years of progressive contracting experience, ideally in a lead or senior level capacity within an industry prime environment.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including mentoring junior staff, guiding complex contract strategies, or serving as a key decision maker in major proposal or negotiation efforts.
• Advanced experience supporting NASA, NOAA, or other U.S. Government contracting activities, particularly involving complex or high visibility programs.
• Commercial contracting experience, including structuring and negotiating agreements across domestic commercial markets.
• International contracting experience, such as navigating export considerations, foreign supplier agreements, cross border regulations, and global program execution challenges.
• Proficiency with digital business systems and contracting tools, with the ability to analyze data, interpret trends, and support decision making.
• In depth working knowledge of the FAR, DFARS, and agency supplements, with the ability to help interpret or advise on complex regulatory scenarios.

Pay Information Full-Time Salary Range: $82779 - $140723

Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.

Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics. About BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it’s what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts – defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team—making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you’ll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference.

Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, Space & Mission Systems is a leading provider of national defense and civil space applications, advanced remote sensing, scientific and tactical systems for government and commercial customers. We continually pioneer ways to innovate spacecraft, mission payloads, optical systems, and other defense and civil capabilities. Powered by endlessly curious people with an unwavering mission focus, we continually discover ways to enable our customers to perform beyond expectation and protect what matters most.

This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.

Multiple positions may be available on this opening.