Legal Operations Manager

Saronic Technologies is a leader in revolutionizing defense autonomy at sea, dedicated to developing state-of-the-art solutions that enhance maritime operations for the Department of Defense (DoD) through autonomous and intelligent platforms.

As Legal Operations Manager, you will play a key role in shaping and scaling the legal function. You’ll be responsible for implementing legal technologies, establishing operational processes, and directly communicating with and supporting stakeholders at every level. You will be a key asset in building the legal operations function and overseeing the connective tissue between legal, compliance, finance, engineering, and executive teams—ensuring the legal department operates as a strategic thought partner and enabler of growth. This role reports to the Legal Operations Lead. The Legal Operations Lead reports to Saronic’s General Counsel.

Key Responsibilities:

• Legal Technology & Systems
• Identify, implement, and manage legal technology tools (e.g., contract lifecycle management, document management, entity management, and e-billing)
• Build technical workflows from the ground up that support business pipelines using the existing Saronic stack, automation tools, and collaboration platforms
• Create dashboards and reporting mechanisms for legal KPIs, including contract turnaround times, compliance metrics, and spending
• Operational Excellence
• Use Sharepoint, Outlook, ServiceNow, Confluence, and other platforms to manage, collaborate, store, and share company work product
• Establish and maintain templates, playbooks, SOPs, and knowledge management systems
• Build and optimize scalable processes for key legal workflows, including contract intake, NDA and contract processing, vendor onboarding, and IP management
• Partner with counsel to determine how to best convey guidance, processes, or general matters using project management and presentation tools
• Develop training materials and policies used at the company level to onboard users onto legal systems and processes
• Participate in and contribute to cross-functional initiatives to align legal processes with business priorities and ensure excellent delivery of legal and compliance services
• Vendor and Outside Counsel Management
• Work closely with Security, IT, and Procurement leaders to support the role of legal and compliance as key stakeholders in the TPRM process
• Partner with the General Counsel and Head of Contract Strategy to establish Outside Counsel Billing Guidelines and support efficient engagement with external counsel
• Compliance & Risk Management
• Partner with internal stakeholders (compliance, engineering, HR, IT) to ensure that relevant and actionable guidance is integrated into daily operations
• Assist in internal audits, due diligence preparation, and regulatory inquiries and required filings with local and state governments

Qualifications:

• Required
• 5+ years of experience in legal operations
• Based in or willing and able to relocate to Austin, TX
• Experience working in a high-growth startup environment
• Significant prior experience working with legal and compliance teams, with a robust understanding of common matters, work product, needs, and operational requirements
• Strong project management skills and a track record of driving cross-functional initiatives to completion
• Proven experience deploying tools including multi-system automations, CLM platforms, matter management systems, and e-billing systems
• A proactive, tech-forward mindset and passion for using systems to drive efficiency
• A structured, detail-oriented approach to problem-solving and a talent for simplifying complexity
• A high level of discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive legal and business information

• Preferred
• Legal or paralegal training (JD, LLM, or paralegal certification) is a plus but not required
• High EQ with the ability to support a diverse set of problem sets and stakeholders
• Interest in technical concepts, applications, and processes, including emerging legal and compliance solutions

Physical Demands

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Occasional standing and walking within the office.
• Manual dexterity to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment.
• Visual acuity to read screens, documents, and reports.
• Occasional reaching, bending, or stooping to access file drawers, cabinets, or office supplies.
• Lifting and carrying items up to 20 pounds occasionally (e.g., office supplies, packages).

Benefits:

Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance plans covering a range of services

Saronic pays 100% of the premium for employees and 80% for dependents

Dental and Vision Insurance: Coverage for routine dental check-ups, orthodontics, and vision care

Saronic pays 99% of the premium for employees and 80% for dependents

Time Off: Generous PTO and Holidays

Parental Leave: Paid maternity and paternity leave to support new parents

Competitive Salary: Industry-standard salaries with opportunities for performance-based bonuses

Retirement Plan: 401(k) plan

Stock Options: Equity options to give employees a stake in the company’s success

Life and Disability Insurance: Basic life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage

Additional Perks: Free lunch benefit and unlimited free drinks and snacks in the office

This role requires access to export-controlled information or items that require “U.S. Person” status. As defined by U.S. law, individuals who are any one of the following are considered to be a “U.S. Person”: (1) U.S. citizens, (2) legal permanent residents (a.k.a. green card holders), and (3) certain protected classes of asylees and refugees, as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

Saronic does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.