Senior Manager, Export Controls — Advanced Tech

OpenAI; California (MO); On-site; USD 170,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

OpenAI is hiring a Senior Manager, Export Controls to lead the company’s export controls strategy and operating model. You will refine classification, licensing, and governance across advanced computing, semiconductors, software, hardware, and partnerships.

You’ll partner with Research, Infrastructure, Security, and Legal to scale compliant workflows and enable researchers while maintaining control boundaries. Strong leadership and policy-writing skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience in engineering, computer science, physics, international trade, law, public policy, or a related field.
• Significant experience leading export controls, trade compliance, or a closely related function in advanced computing, semiconductors, electronics, or other high-technology domains.
• Deep expertise in export controls, including classification, licensing, deemed exports, end-use and end-user restrictions, and controls on technical data and software.
• Direct experience working on advanced computing and advanced semiconductor controls.
• Strong leadership judgment and a track record of building and scaling programs in fast-moving technology companies and complex multinational environments.
• Experience translating policy into workflows, systems requirements, service levels, operating guidance, and measurable business outcomes.
• The ability to work credibly with researchers, infrastructure engineers, hardware engineers, chip-design teams, Security, and Legal.
• Experience managing service providers, and cross-functional programs that require speed, discretion, and strong execution.
• Strong writing and communication skills, with the ability to turn complex requirements into clear process documentation and guidance for technical and business audiences.
• Experience building AI-enabled workflows, internal tools, knowledge systems, or agentic processes for policy-heavy or operational work.

Responsibilities

• Refine the export controls strategy and operating model across multiple high-tech domains.
• Own export classification and licensing strategy for controlled data, software, hardware, and research environments.
• Lead the design and operation of compliant controlled environments and governance processes.
• Partner with Research and Infrastructure to support researcher access while maintaining control boundaries.
• Collaborate with technical teams to develop durable classification and control models.
• Translate policy into documented controls, logging, evidence, access boundaries, and exception handling.
• Lead supplier-facing compliance processes including onboarding, certifications, and contractual controls.
• Build and administer Technology Control Plan processes with briefs, materials, tracking, and escalation.
• Develop service levels, metrics, and reporting to improve access velocity and onboarding.
• Build internal tooling and an AI- and agent-enabled operating model.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Policy translation

Cross-functional collaboration

Writing

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in engineering/CS/physics/international trade/law/public policy

Tools

Internal tooling

AI-enabled workflows

Job description

OpenAI is hiring a Senior Manager, Export Controls to lead the company’s export controls strategy and operating model. You will refine classification, licensing, and governance across advanced computing, semiconductors, software, hardware, and partnerships.

You’ll partner with Research, Infrastructure, Security, and Legal to scale compliant workflows and enable researchers while maintaining control boundaries. Strong leadership and policy-writing skills are essential.