US Legal Counsel

D-Fend Solutions • McLean, VA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

D-Fend Solutions, a Motorola Solutions company, is seeking an experienced attorney with specialized expertise in government contracting and compliance to join its team in McLean, Virginia. The role advises on business contracts with U.S. government customers, partners, and channels, as well as regulatory requirements including ITAR, EAR, FAR, DFARS, and related regulations for globally operating matrixed organizations. The position requires strong knowledge of public-sector and defense contracting and the regulatory frameworks that govern them.

The successful candidate will support the company’s business objectives while complying with applicable laws and regulations and managing unacceptable risk. This includes providing informed cost-benefit analysis, advising business and product development processes on legal risks and issues, prioritizing risks, and ensuring compliance with government and customer requirements. The role also calls for pragmatic, flexible legal guidance and experience developing and administering legal and compliance programs for sales-focused organizations.

The candidate must successfully pass a background check before employment. The check may include verification of education, employment history, criminal history, and security-clearance eligibility in accordance with applicable laws and government requirements.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission to the Bar of at least one state.
• At least 5 years of experience in public-sector and/or government contracting, regulatory compliance, or corporate law.
• In-depth knowledge of ITAR, EAR, FAR, and DFARS regulations, including defense procurement processes and export-control compliance.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to explain complex legal information clearly to non-legal stakeholders.
• U.S. citizenship.
• Ability to obtain necessary security clearance as required by government contract.
• Successfully pass a pre-employment background check, which may include verification of education, employment history, criminal history, and security-clearance eligibility.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in the defense, aerospace, or government information and communications technology sector.

Responsibilities

• Ensure organizational compliance with ITAR, EAR, FAR, and DFARS, and advise internal stakeholders on export-control laws.
• Draft, review, and negotiate government and commercial contracts and bid documents, including RFPs, RFIs, teaming agreements, statements of work, contract amendments, license agreements, distribution and reseller agreements, subcontracts, NDAs, and terms involving FAR or FAR supplement clauses and federal, state, and local procurement policies.
• Conduct risk assessments for federal projects and manage compliance risks related to ITAR, EAR, FAR, and DFARS requirements.
• Establish, update, and implement corporate policies related to ITAR, EAR, FAR, and DFARS compliance; train staff on compliance policies and government-contracting procedures.
• Collaborate with legal, operations, and compliance teams, external counsel, and government agencies to ensure government projects meet regulatory requirements.
• Monitor changes in relevant laws and regulations and assess their impact on the organization.
• Prepare and submit required reports to regulatory bodies and ensure contracts and agreements are documented and archived according to regulatory requirements.
• Provide pragmatic legal counsel and cost-benefit analysis to support business objectives, product development, risk prioritization, and compliance with government and customer requirements.
• Develop and administer legal and compliance programs for sales-focused organizations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree