Contract Specialist I

Contract Specialist I Paragon Space Development has been delivering groundbreaking life support and thermal control solutions for extreme environments since 1993, serving space, defense, and commercial markets with innovative engineering excellence. We recognize that our people are the power behind that success, and we strive to create a work environment where talented individuals can do the best work of their lives, bringing creativity, curiosity, and teamwork to complex challenges every day. We seek individuals who enjoy solving difficult problems, thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic setting, and want a role where their contributions truly matter. Paragon is committed to fostering an inclusive culture that supports personal and professional growth, encourages innovation, and values collaboration across disciplines. Detail-oriented and highly adaptable Contract Specialist I supporting a small business operating in a high-growth phase within the engineering and manufacturing sector. Operates with a high degree of responsibility and accountability while managing multiple contracts across varying stages of the lifecycle in a high-ops-tempo environment. Demonstrates the ability to quickly reprioritize, stop, and restart tasks in alignment with program office requirements and executive leadership direction without compromising compliance, schedule, or quality. Performs contract administration and coordination activities while receiving mentorship and technical guidance from the Senior Contract Specialist to ensure alignment with regulatory requirements, company policy, and strategic objectives. Effectively partners with program management, engineering, finance, supply chain, and leadership to ensure contractual alignment with technical, cost, and schedule objectives. Exercises sound judgment, discretion, and independent decision-making while appropriately elevating complex or high-risk matters. Thrives in dynamic environments requiring agility, cross-functional collaboration, and disciplined contract administration to support complex engineering and manufacturing deliverables during periods of rapid organizational growth. Responsibilities Contract Administration & Lifecycle Support Support cradle-to-close contract administration activities for prime contracts and subcontracts within a small business operating in a high-growth phase. Draft routine contractual documents, including NDAs, subcontract templates, modifications, and administrative amendments, for Senior Contract Specialist review and approval. Maintain organized contract files, documentation logs, and version control to ensure audit readiness and traceability. Track deliverables, funding, key milestones, and option periods to support program execution and compliance. Develop increasing proficiency in contract lifecycle management processes to support progression toward greater independent contract ownership. Operational Execution in a High-Tempo Environment Monitor and manage daily contract-related requests, including NDA processing, secure file transfer (SFTP) coordination, proposal extensions, confirmations, and document routing. Attend daily technical and program meetings to maintain situational awareness of scope, schedule, and funding impacts. Demonstrate the ability to reprioritize, pause, and resume assignments in alignment with program office and leadership direction. Risk Identification & Scope Awareness Identify potential scope changes, funding impacts, performance risks, and contractual misalignments during technical discussions and elevate findings to the Senior Contract Specialist. Support preparation of change documentation, subcontract modifications, and equitable adjustment materials as directed. Build analytical skills in contractual risk assessment and mitigation through mentorship and applied experience. Subcontract & Cross-Functional Coordination Support subcontract administration activities, including tracking revisions, funding updates, compliance documentation, and flowdown requirements. Coordinate with engineering, program management, finance, and supply chain to gather required documentation and ensure contractual alignment. Escalate complex contractual interpretation matters to the Senior Contract Specialist while developing independent issue-resolution capability. Document Control & Technical Proficiency Draft, revise, and format contractual documents in Microsoft Word using advanced tools including tracked changes, bookmarks, cross-references, structured formatting, and protected templates. Maintain document integrity to prevent formatting errors, broken references, or unintended clause modifications. Utilize Microsoft Excel to track contract status, obligations, and modifications in a non-automated contract management environment. Contribute to standardized templates and process improvements in preparation for future implementation of contract lifecycle management software. Successful performance in this role may lead to expanded authority and advancement within the Contracts function as the organization continues to grow. Minimum Qualifications Contract Specialist I Education & Experience Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Business/Global Leadership or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and professional experience. 23 years of experience in contract administration, procurement, or related functions in engineering, manufacturing, or technical environments Familiarity with government or commercial contracts, including NDAs, subcontract flowdowns, and basic contract clauses, preferred but not required Technical & Functional Skills Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Word (advanced formatting, bookmarks, tracked changes) and Excel (tracking, tables, basic formulas, pivot tables). Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple documents and contracts accurately in a non-automated contract management environment. Ability to quickly understand contract language, scope, and obligations to support risk identification and workflow prioritization. Interpersonal & Professional Skills Strong communication skills, including the ability to clearly document and escalate issues to leadership or the Senior Contract Specialist. Comfortable working in a high-ops-tempo environment with dynamic priorities, where tasks may be paused and restarted frequently. Proficient in virtual collaboration tools, particularly Microsoft Teams, and able to communicate effectively with team members across multiple time zones. Demonstrated professional judgment, discretion, and tact when collaborating with internal and external stakeholders. Self-motivated, adaptable, and able to learn from mentorship to progressively take on greater contract responsibility.

Created: 2026-03-11