Senior Counsel, Trade & Export Compliance
On-siteDistrict of Columbia, United States
Job Summary
Advise the business on complex trade and compliance issues, support hardware and technical data classification under ITAR and EAR, and draft, submit, and manage export licenses and authorizations. Develop technology-control plans, visitor controls, and shipping procedures while partnering with engineering, security, and supply chain teams to protect controlled technical data. Advise on deemed export issues, foreign person access, supplier interactions, and international travel, then train employees on practical compliance expectations. Support internal audits, investigations, and corrective actions to continuously improve the compliance program. Work closely with Legal, Security, and Business Development to identify risks early and help establish the compliance culture for a rapidly growing defense manufacturer. This role requires extended hours, evenings, and weekends, and is based in LA or DC.
Required Qualifications
- J.D. from an accredited law school
- active membership in at least one U.S. state bar
- 4+ years of relevant experience in international trade, export controls, sanctions, or defense compliance
- Strong working knowledge of ITAR, EAR, and export licensing
- Experience supporting defense, aerospace, space, advanced manufacturing, hardware, or another highly regulated technical business
- Ability to translate complex legal requirements into practical guidance for engineers, operators, and business teams
- Strong judgment, ownership, and ability to make decisions in ambiguous, fast-moving environments
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to access export-controlled information, including technical data subject to the ITAR and EAR
- Ability to put in extended hours, including evenings and weekends, when required to meet aggressive timelines
- This role can be based in LA or DC
- ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government–issued security clearance
- U.S. citizenship
Desired Qualifications
- Experience at a defense, aerospace, space, or advanced manufacturing company
- Prior experience working with DDTC, BIS, OFAC, Customs, DoD, or other relevant U.S. government stakeholders
- Experience building or scaling a trade compliance program inside a growing company
- Familiarity with government contracts, CFIUS, foreign ownership/control issues, facility security, or classified programs
- Experience working directly with engineers, manufacturing teams, supply chain teams, security teams, and business development teams
- Comfort operating in a startup or high-growth environment
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