Principal Legal Counsel

BLUE ORIGIN

Principal Legal Counsel providing strategic legal counsel for labor, employment, compensation and benefits at Blue Origin. Supporting Talent Acquisition and Total Rewards teams with legal expertise.

Posted 6/29/2026full-timeFlorida, Washington • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $230,773 - $323,081 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Provide strategic counsel across all labor, employment, compensation, and benefits matters.
Advise on the design and administration of compensation programs, including base pay, long-term incentive plans, and compensation fairness, and ensure compliance with applicable tax and regulatory requirements.
Serve as the primary legal contact for the Talent Acquisition team on hiring practices, conflicts of interest review, offer letters, background check compliance, and immigration coordination.
Serve as the primary legal contact for the Talent Culture & Total Rewards team on leaves, accommodations, compensation, benefits, and incentive programs, including ERISA, ACA, COBRA, and HIPAA compliance.
Advise on labor strategy and lawful employer communications.
Oversee employment litigation strategy, manage outside counsel relationships and budget, and advise on high-exposure and executive-level employment matters.
Lead the development and maintenance of enterprise-wide employment policies, compliance programs, and training for HR and business leaders.
Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and proactively advise leadership on compliance obligations and strategic implications.
Serve as the internal lead for international employment matters, coordinating with local outside counsel as Blue Origin expands into new jurisdictions.

Requirements

What you’ll need

J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in good standing (Washington State bar or ability to waive in preferred).
15+ years of legal experience, with a combination of law firm and in-house experience strongly preferred.
Demonstrated expertise across the full spectrum of federal and state employment laws, including Title VII, ADEA, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, and NLRA.
Significant experience advising on compensation matters, including compensation fairness.
Substantial experience advising on ERISA-governed benefit plans, including health and welfare plans.
Proven track record managing complex employment litigation and agency proceedings, including oversight of outside counsel.
Experience advising CHROs and senior HR leadership on sensitive, high-stakes workforce matters.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex legal issues clearly and persuasively to executive audiences.
Strong business acumen and a track record of delivering practical, risk-calibrated legal advice in a fast-paced environment.
Demonstrated ability to build credibility and influence at all levels of an organization.
Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance
Paid parental leave
Short and long-term disability
401(k) with a company match of up to 5%
Education Support Program
Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)
Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.
Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation.

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

Employment LawCompensation Program DesignLitigation ManagementCompliance ProgramsLabor StrategyERISA ComplianceFLSA KnowledgeADA KnowledgeNLRA KnowledgeBackground Check Compliance

Soft Skills

Strong Business AcumenAbility To InfluenceCredibility BuildingPersuasive CommunicationRisk-Calibrated Legal Advice

Certifications

Active Bar MembershipWashington State Bar (Preferred)