Legal Officer: Contracts & Compliance – Space Sector
Our client is seeking a legally trained professional to support its fast-paced and technically complex operations. As a Legal Officer, you will play a critical role in managing commercial contracts and ensuring compliance with international trade and export control regulations, particularly in relation to sensitive space technologies and dual-use goods.
This position requires a detail-oriented legal professional with a strong understanding of contract law and global export regimes, who thrives in environments where legal, technical, and commercial considerations intersect.
Job Purpose:
Support legal and operational integrity in the global space industry by managing commercial agreements and ensuring full compliance with international export control frameworks.
Key Responsibilities:
Contractual & Legal Support
- Draft, review, and negotiate NDAs, supplier agreements, and customer contracts.
- Ensure contractual terms are legally sound, commercially aligned, and risk-conscious.
- Work closely with engineering, procurement, and business development teams to align legal language with project objectives.
- Maintain and update contract templates; support automation of legal workflows.
Export Control & Trade Compliance
- Ensure adherence to EU Dual-Use Regulation, US EAR/ITAR, and other relevant international export control frameworks.
- Classify space-related technologies, components, and software for export control purposes.
- Conduct due diligence and restricted party screenings for international transactions.
- Advise on export licensing requirements and manage license applications.
- Monitor regulatory changes and geopolitical developments affecting trade compliance.
Compliance Program Development
- Help develop and implement internal policies, training, and awareness programs.
- Support internal audits, investigations, and reporting related to compliance.
- Coordinate with regulatory authorities and external legal counsel as required.
Required Qualifications:
- Law degree (LL.B or equivalent); specialization in international trade or commercial law is an advantage.
Required Experience:
- Proven experience in contract law and export compliance, ideally within the aerospace, defense, or space technology sectors.
- Strong knowledge of EU and US export control regimes (e.g., EAR, ITAR, dual-use regulations).
- Proficient in legal drafting and commercial negotiations.
- Fluent in English; additional languages (such as French or Dutch) are a plus.
Desirable Qualifications & Attributes:
- LL.M in international trade or commercial law.
- Experience with legal and compliance aspects of satellite systems or other space technologies.
- Familiarity with legal and compliance management tools.
- Highly organized, analytical, and detail-oriented.
- Comfortable working cross-functionally in a fast-evolving, high-stakes environment.
- Willingness to expand knowledge into technical and regulatory subject matter.
- Comfortable navigating legal grey areas with sound judgment and risk awareness.
If you are interested in this role, please apply today.
angela.olmo@newspacetechnical.com
