International Legal Analyst

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory•Seattle, OH

About The Position

The International Legal Analyst will work within the Strategic Threat Analysis group in the Emerging Threats and Technologies Division of PNNL’s National Security Directorate. The group uses international partnerships and expertise across multiple domains to address domestic and international security challenges, providing decision makers with insights and mitigation strategies related to emerging adversaries and technologies. The role conducts public international law, comparative law, and domestic legal and regulatory research, primarily concerning nuclear law and regulation and other international security issues arising from technology deployment. Areas of analysis may include outer space law, United Nations sanctions implementation and counterproliferation finance, export control law, and cybersecurity law. The analyst may support development or delivery of foreign technical-assistance curricula concerning chemical, biological, nuclear, and radioactive materials security and international nuclear safeguards, and contribute legal analysis to written products. The analyst applies knowledge of international and U.S. law and policy, theory, and industry standards to topics including nuclear technology deployments, strategic trade controls, arms control, international nuclear safeguards, CBRN material and facility security, cybersecurity, and AI governance and risk mitigation. The position provides technical expertise, analysis, and publishable products advancing knowledge of law and policy and addressing challenges in national security, energy, and the environment. Work may involve discrete parts of larger projects or multiple customers and projects, and is performed independently with appropriate oversight. The position may be remote or based in Richland, Washington; Seattle, Washington; or Washington, D.C., according to business need. The selected candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance and meet applicable citizenship, background-investigation, and drug-testing requirements.

Requirements

BS/BA and 5 years of relevant experience, or an MS/MA, PhD, or JD/LLM and 3 years of relevant experience.
Strong research and analytical skills, including the ability to gather, evaluate, and synthesize information from diverse and complex sources, including AI tools.
Experience monitoring regulatory, policy, licensing, or other business developments and translating findings into actionable process or service improvement recommendations.
Knowledge of theory and general industry standards and practices in nonproliferation-related disciplines or subject areas, and ability to apply established policies, procedures, and analytic techniques to generate solutions.
Ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
U.S. citizenship.
Ability to meet federal background-investigation eligibility requirements for access to classified matter in accordance with 10 CFR 710, Appendix B.
Must undergo pre-employment and random drug testing and demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the Questionnaire for National Security Positions.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree from an accredited college or university in Political Science, International Studies, or Law (Juris Doctor), with experience or focus in international law or a technical, security-related discipline.
Three years of relevant experience in the legal and policy aspects of novel nuclear technology applications and deployments, strategic trade controls, arms control, international nuclear safeguards, CBRN security, cybersecurity, or AI governance and risk mitigation.

Responsibilities

Conduct public international law, comparative law, and domestic legal and regulatory research, primarily related to nuclear law and regulation and other technology-related international security issues.
Analyze international law and policy and national laws, regulations, and policy documents to identify divergences.
Support the development or delivery of foreign technical-assistance curricula related to chemical, biological, nuclear, and radioactive materials security and international nuclear safeguards.
Research, draft, and contribute legal analysis to written products.
Apply legal and policy expertise to areas including nuclear technology deployments, strategic trade controls, arms control, international nuclear safeguards, CBRN security, cybersecurity, and AI governance and risk mitigation.
Determine the significance and reliability of incoming information and integrate new information with existing data.
Provide technical expertise, analysis, and publishable products to advance legal and policy knowledge and address national security, energy, and environmental challenges.
Monitor regulatory, policy, licensing, or other business developments and translate findings into actionable process or service improvement recommendations.
Work on discrete portions of larger projects or simultaneously with different customers or projects, independently with appropriate oversight.
Seek mentoring and professional development opportunities.