Assistant General Counsel – Government Contracts & Compliance

MITRE; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 182,000 - 273,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE Corporation in McLean, VA, seeks an experienced attorney to guide legal strategy across cybersecurity, privacy, AI governance, and government contracting. The role reports to the Associate General Counsel and is based onsite at MITRE’s McLean, Virginia office.

Responsibilities include advising on FAR/DFARS, NIST, CMMC, export controls, and AI-related agreements, while supporting ethics and compliance, privacy notices, and data protection efforts. 5-days onsite required.

Qualifications

• Admitted to practice in Virginia or eligible for Virginia corporate counsel registration.
• 8+ years as an attorney; 4+ years in a law firm; judicial clerkship may count toward up to 1 year.
• Experience advising on information security and privacy/data protection laws.
• Experience drafting, negotiating, and advising on government or commercial contracts.
• Familiarity with AI technologies and related regulatory considerations.

Responsibilities

• Advise on federal cybersecurity, safeguarding requirements, and related contracts.
• Provide legal counsel on information security, breach notification, and governance.
• Advise on privacy laws, data transfers, and international frameworks (GDPR, etc.).
• Support ethics and compliance programs, training, and internal investigations.
• Draft and negotiate technology, software, cloud, vendor, and data-sharing agreements.
• Manage NDAs, MOUs, and teaming agreements with templates and processes.
• Support lifecycle of U.S. government contracts, including FAR/DFARS compliance.

Skills

Communication skills

Legal research

Contract negotiation

AI knowledge

Regulatory compliance

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services.

We’re a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies – collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation’s health, security, and prosperity.

Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose — and help shape the future.

Department Summary

The MITRE Legal Office provides strategic, practical, and timely legal advice and support to all MITRE divisions in support of our mission. As a not-for-profit organization operating federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), MITRE works at the intersection of government, academia, and the private sector to solve complex national challenges in areas including defense, cybersecurity, healthcare, aviation, and homeland security.

MITRE's unique position as a trusted advisor to the federal government requires legal professionals who understand the complexities of government contracting, nonprofit governance, and the ethical obligations that come with serving the public interest. Our legal team partners with technical staff, program managers, and leadership to enable MITRE's important work while ensuring full compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

This position reports to the Associate General Counsel and is based in our McLean, Virginia, office.

Roles and Responsibilities Include:

• Advise on federal cybersecurity and safeguarding requirements, including FAR and DFARS clauses, NIST SP 800-171, CMMC, FedRAMP, and controlled unclassified information (CUI) handling.


• Provide legal counsel on information security matters, including cybersecurity incident response, breach notification obligations, security program governance, and contractual security requirements.


• Advise on compliance with U.S. federal and state privacy and data protection laws and with international frameworks such as the EU and UK GDPR, including cross-border data transfers, data processing agreements, privacy notices, and privacy impact assessments.


• Support MITRE's ethics and compliance program, including developing policies, providing training, conducting internal investigations, and advising on conflicts of interest.


• Advise on the legal and regulatory aspects of AI development, acquisition, and use. Support MITRE’s AI governance program and internal AI use policies and negotiate AI-related agreements and contract terms.


• Draft, review, and negotiate technology, software, cloud services, vendor, teaming, nondisclosure, and data sharing agreements, and support real estate matters, including commercial leases and subleases.


• Manage, on behalf of the Office of General Counsel, the intake, drafting, review, and negotiation of teaming agreements, memoranda of understanding (MOUs), and nondisclosure agreements (NDAs), and develop and maintain a repeatable process, including templates, playbooks, and intake and tracking procedures, to ensure timely responses to business requests.


• Support the full lifecycle of U.S. government contracts, including FFRDC sponsoring agreements, prime contracts, subcontracts, cooperative agreements, CRADAs, and other transaction agreements. This covers FAR/DFARS compliance, intellectual property and data rights, organizational conflicts of interest, and contract disputes.


• Advise on international engagements, including export controls (ITAR/EAR), sanctions (OFAC), anti-corruption (FCPA), and local law considerations.

Minimum Qualifications

• At least 8 years of experience as a practicing attorney, including at least 4 years in a law firm; a judicial clerkship may count toward up to 1 year of this experience;


• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school; active member in good standing of a state bar and licensed to practice in Virginia, or eligible for Virginia corporate counsel registration;


• Demonstrated experience advising on information security and privacy/data protection laws and regulations;


• Working knowledge of the legal, regulatory, and policy issues raised by AI technologies, and experience advising on them;


• Demonstrated experience drafting, negotiating, and advising on government or commercial contracts, such as technology, vendor, or data sharing agreements;


• Demonstrated ability to make informed decisions, manage workload, and meet deadlines;


• Strong verbal and written communication skills;


• Ability to function productively in a fast-paced environment; and


• Excellent attention to detail.


• This position has an on-site requirement of 5 days a week on-site

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with CMMC, NIST SP 800-171, FedRAMP, and controlled unclassified information (CUI) requirements.


• Experience with export controls (ITAR/EAR), sanctions (OFAC), and anti-corruption (FCPA) compliance.


• Experience drafting and negotiating real estate transactions, including leases, subleases, licenses, and facility acquisitions and dispositions.


• Experience with U.S. government contracts, including FAR/DFARS requirements.


• Experience conducting internal investigations and advising on ethics and conflicts of interest, including organizational conflicts of interest.


• Familiarity with nonprofit governance and FFRDC operations.


• Strong interest in science, technology, and national security issues.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

None

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

None

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$181,500 - $227,000 - $272,500 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

MITRE intends to maintain a website that is fully accessible to all individuals. If you are unable to search or apply for jobs and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of MITRE’s employment process, please email [e-mail] for general support and [e-mail] for intern positions. This service is for individuals requiring reasonable accommodation requests. Please note that vendor solicitations will not receive a reply.

Benefits information may be found here.

Copyright 1997-2026, The MITRE Corporation. All rights reserved. MITRE is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation. Material on this site may be copied and distributed with permission only.