Counsel

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 is a contractor position with an expected duration of six (6) months, with the possibility of extension. 

Hybrid (2-3 days in office) if candidate is located within commuting distance of our offices in Ann Arbor, MI; Atlanta, GA; or San Jose, CA. Otherwise, U.S. remote. Relocation assistance is not available. This role may require occasional travel for team meetings and business needs. 

Job Responsibilities:

• Partnership: Provide practical and actionable guidance on compliance with U.S. export regulations, focusing heavily on the EAR and communicate that guidance clearly in executive-level meetings and cross-functional forums.
  • Act as a bridge between Engineering, Procurement, HR, IT, and other stakeholders to identify and mitigate export control risks during classification, early stages of product development, and technology transfers (including cross-border technology transfers to countries such as China, Germany, and India).
  • Assist with broader legal initiatives, including commercial agreements, product counseling, litigation support, and general corporate compliance as needed.
  • Management: Manage the development and implementation of export control policies and programs.
    • Manage daily export control operations and coordinate cross-functional activities to keep the export control program on track and compliant.
    • Lead, mentor, and develop export compliance team members and cross-functional working groups, and represent the export control function in executive-level and senior leadership meetings.
    • Conduct periodic risk assessments of operations to identify vulnerabilities and close compliance gaps.