Astroscale UK is seeking a Procurement Contracts Officer to join our busy Procurement and Supply Chain team.

This role is centred on legal and contractual support, working closely with Procurement Managers to review, negotiate, and manage supplier contractual terms and conditions. You will provide essential support throughout the contracting process-ensuring legal robustness, risk mitigation, and compliance with regulatory frameworks.

This is not a buyer role; instead, it focuses on contractual governance, legal interpretation, and negotiation support across multiple programmes.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be expected to

• Prepare, review, and maintain supplier Non-Disclosure Agreements, ensuring alignment with approved legal templates and confidentiality standards.
• Provide specialised legal and contractual support to Procurement Managers during the preparation and review of RFP/RFQ/RFI packs, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and risk awareness in all contractual documentation.
• Monitor and enforce supplier adherence to legal, regulatory, and compliance obligations, including export control requirements.
• Support Procurement Managers in negotiating supplier terms and conditions, providing legal insight and helping shape negotiation positions that mitigate risk and protect Astroscale's interests.
• Prepare, issue, track, and manage contractual documents through all stages of the contract lifecycle, ensuring timely follow-up through to signature.
• Ensure meticulous documentation, record-keeping, and archiving of all contractual agreements in line with company policy.
• Identify, analyse, and escalate contractual risks, developing and advising on mitigation strategies and ensuring the Procurement Manager is supported with clear risk guidance.
• Collaborate closely with internal Legal, Compliance, and Procurement teams to align contractual terms with organisational policies, legal frameworks, and risk appetite.
• Support Procurement Managers in managing supplier relationships for contractual matters, resolving issues promptly and maintaining compliance throughout the relationship.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of contractual processes, templates, and tools to strengthen efficiency, clarity, and compliance.

Essential Skills

Must be eligible for UK Security Clearance (SC), and able to access UK and US export controlled information and maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.

• Prior experience in contract management, legal contract administration, or contractual governance within procurement-ideally in space, aerospace, or defence.
• Strong knowledge of UK, US, and international trade compliance frameworks.
• Experience using procurement tools and contract lifecycle management systems.
• Ability to interpret, draft, and apply contractual, legal, and regulatory requirements with a high degree of accuracy.
• Excellent communication skills, with the capability to draft clear contractual documents and engage with suppliers in a professional, legally informed manner.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary
• Opportunity to work with a highly talented, diverse & dynamic international team with cutting edge technology
• Flexible working around core hours in a friendly and supportive environment
• Optional 9/75 working pattern
• Hybrid working available (dependent on individual role requirements)
• 25 days holiday (increasing yearly up to a maximum of 28 days) + 8 days Bank Holiday
• Life insurance and long-term sick pay
• Private healthcare (taxable benefit)
• Relocation allowance considered
• State of the art office and cleanroom facility
• Regular social events

Location

Astroscale UK (Harwell).

About Astroscale

Founded in 2013, Astroscale is the global leader in on-orbit servicing, dedicated to the secure and sustainable development of space for the benefit of future generations. We provide trusted and value-added solutions for government and commercial clients from their geography of choice, to drive the long-term, circular space economy. Astroscale is also collaborating with government and commercial stakeholders to develop norms, regulations, and incentives that promote the sustainable growth of space.

Since our first successful launch in March 2021, Astroscale has proven rendezvous and proximity operations technologies in orbit during the ELSA-d and ADRAS-J missions, establishing the company as a leader in on-orbit servicing. Astroscale spacecraft have been selected for pioneering missions with JAXA, the U.S. Space Force, the European Space Agency, the UK Space Agency, and Eutelsat OneWeb. As more satellite operators adopt on-orbit servicing to routinely inspect, service and remove, the potential of a circular space economy - and a future of no waste in space - is being unlocked.

At Astroscale we pride ourselves on our inclusive culture. Our essential criteria are based solely on the requirements necessary to perform the role. If any criteria could present a barrier, we are open to discussing reasonable adjustments and are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process. Astrsocale is also open to supporting job share arrangements, to further our flexible working offering.

Note to recruitment agencies: Astroscale operates a preferred Supplier List, and we do not accept unsolicited agency approaches. Please do not forward candidate CVs or details in response to this advert, or to any Astroscale employee.