Senior Counsel, Export Compliance

Mercedes-Benz Group; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 179,000 - 247,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

Paid time off

Job summary

Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America, Inc. (MBRDNA) is seeking a senior Export Compliance Counsel to guide export control strategy for automotive technologies. The role focuses on EAR compliance, licensing, and program management, partnering with engineering and executive teams.

The position is on-site at multiple U.S. locations, requiring travel as needed and offering relocation support where applicable, with visa sponsorship not provided for this role.

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited U.S. law school and bar admission in good standing.
• Extensive knowledge of EAR, BIS license submissions, and CCL classifications.
• Ability to translate complex export controls into practical guidance for engineers and executives.
• Experience leading and mentoring teams across functions (engineering, procurement, HR, IT).

Responsibilities

• Advise on export control regulations (EAR/BIS); classify products, software, and tech.
• Develop and operate the company’s export control program; manage licensing and recordkeeping.
• Collaborate with engineering and business stakeholders; provide training and audits as needed.
• Present complex concepts to executive leadership in business-friendly terms.

Skills

Trade compliance

Project management

Legal advice

Stakeholder coordination

Regulatory research

Communication

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Bar admission (U.S. state)

Tools

Microsoft 365

Jira

Job description

Tasks

At Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America (MBRDNA), we are committed to delivering world-class automotive technologies that push the boundaries of what is possible. Our teams of highly skilled engineers and designers use cutting-edge software and technology, to enhance the driving experience and reduce environmental impact.

Position Overview

This is an on-site position and will be based at one of our office locations in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Atlanta, Georgia; San Jose, California; or Washington, DC.

Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America, Inc. (MBRDNA) is seeking a senior-level Export Compliance Counsel to serve as a key advisor on export control regulations with a focus on the emerging regulatory landscape for automotive technologies. This role is ideal for an attorney with deep expertise in U.S. export controls applicable to software, encryption, and technology classification. The successful candidate is a business-savvy advisor who translates complex export requirements into practical, actionable guidance for engineering and executive stakeholders.

You will be responsible for navigating the complexities of U.S. export control regulations including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and for managing the development and operation of the company’s export control program. This role will work closely with engineering teams and business stakeholders to support classification, licensing, recordkeeping, end-use/end-user diligence, audits, and training activities. This role may require occasional travel for team meetings and business needs.Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. (If you are a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, asylee or refugee, sponsorship is not required to work in the United States.)
Relocation assistance (domestic or international) is not provided for this position.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of 7 years of combined law firm and in-house experience with trade compliance focusing on U.S. export controls.
• Significant project and program management experience, including experience leading and mentoring teams.
• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited U.S. law school, and admission to practice law and in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.
• Expert (7+ years) knowledge of trade compliance with a strong understanding of the EAR, software classification, licensing matters, deemed exports, and Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI)-structured organizations.
• Ability to manage an export control program and various projects including coordination between Engineering, Procurement, HR, IT, and other stakeholders.
• Experience leading and managing teams
• Ability to classify products, technology, and software under the Commerce Control List (CCL).
• Ability to submit BIS license submissions, particularly with licenses for deemed exports and software classifications.
• Strong analytical, research, and communication skills, with high attention to detail and the ability to work collaboratively with legal, engineering, and business teams.
• Exceptional ability to distill complex legal concepts into clear and concise business-friendly advice, including practical, actionable recommendations, and the ability to advise and present to executive leadership.
• Proven ability to manage high-volume workflows and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Capacity to work independently, as well as part of a team in different time zones.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Teams, Excel, PowerPoint), Jira, and similar tools.
• Ability to quickly adapt to specialized systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• CECP (Certified Export Compliance Professional) certification
• Combined Big Law firm and in-house experience
• Experience leading legal or compliance teams and advising executive leadership in a global organization.
• Strong knowledge or experience counseling on China, European Union (EU), and other foreign export control laws and regulations.
• Experience advising on compliance tool development for a large enterprise; experience with AI as an additional plus.
• Experience working in global tech and/or automotive companies.
• Record of building and managing export compliance programs with a proven ability at managing collaboration between various stakeholders (Engineering, Procurement, HR, IT, and other stakeholders) and enabling the stakeholders with compliance solutions.
• History of successful engagement with U.S. government regulators (e.g., BIS, OFAC, DDTC).
• Willingness to travel occasionally within the U.S. (California and Michigan) for in-person collaboration.

The successful candidate’s starting pay will be determined based on a wide range of factors, including, but not limited to, job-related education, skills and experience, geographic location, and market conditions. In accordance with applicable pay transparency requirements, the current salary ranges for this position in San Jose, California is $194,000 - $247,300 and in Washington, DC is $179,000 - $228,200. Compensation for candidates in other locations may vary based on the factors described above. This range is subject to change and may be modified in the future.

This position may involve access to export-controlled technology, hardware, or software under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), 15 C.F.R. Parts 730-774 and possibly technical data, defense articles and defense services subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 C.F.R. Parts 120-130. As such, Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America may be required to obtain an export license or authorization in accordance with United States law.

Why should you apply?

Here at MBRDNA, you create digital ecosystems around cars, you design a language between humans and machines, you make a car even more intelligent - you make the new reality for cars. MBRDNA was honored as one of the "Best Places to Work" by BuiltIn in January 2024, a testament to our commitment to creating an exceptional work environment. At each of our offices, we foster a culture of collaboration and continuous learning, ensuring every team member can thrive and innovate.

Benefits for Full-Time*Employees Include:

Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families

401(k) with employer match

Up to 15 company-paid holidays

Paid time off (flexible time off for salaried employees), sick time, and parental leave

Tuition assistance program

Wellness/Fitness reimbursement programs

Internships & Contractors excluded from Full-Time Employee benefits

MBRDNA is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and strongly supports diversity in the workforce. MBRDNA only accepts resumes from approved agencies who have a valid Agency Agreement on file. Please do not forward resumes to our applicant tracking system, MBRDNA employees, or send to any MBRDNA location. MBRDNA is not responsible for any fees or claims related to receipt of unsolicited resumes.

Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America, Inc.

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