Simera Sense is hiring a Legal Officer - Contracts & Export Compliance to manage commercial contracts and ensure adherence to international export control regulations. This role supports our legal and operational integrity as we operate within the global space industry.
What You'll Do
- Draft, review, and negotiate NDAs, supplier agreements, and customer agreements.
- Ensure contract terms reflect industry standards and mitigate legal and operational risks.
- Collaborate with engineering, procurement, and business development teams to align legal terms with technical and commercial realities.
- Maintain contract templates and contribute to legal process automation.
- Ensure compliance with EU Dual-Use Regulation, US EAR/ITAR, and other relevant export control frameworks.
- Classify space-related components, software, and technologies for export purposes.
- Conduct due diligence and restricted party screening for international transactions.
- Advise on licensing requirements and manage export license applications.
- Monitor geopolitical developments affecting trade and export controls.
- Develop and implement internal policies and training programs on trade compliance and contract management.
- Support internal audits and investigations related to export control and regulatory compliance.
- Liaise with external counsel and regulatory authorities as needed.
What We're Looking For
- Law degree (LL.B).
Nice to Have
- Specialisation in international trade or commercial law.
- Experience in contract law and export compliance, ideally within aerospace, defense, or space technology sectors.
- Understanding of EU and US export control regimes (EAR, ITAR, dual-use).
- Excellent legal drafting skills.
- Fluent in English.
- LL.M specialisation in international trade or commercial law.
- Experience working with space systems and satellite technologies.
- Familiarity with compliance tools.
- Strong analytical and organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently and cross-functionally in a high-stakes environment.
- Willingness to learn new legal and technical concepts, especially in commercial law, export control, and international regulation.
- Thrives in fast-evolving environments where not all answers are clear-cut.
- Proficiency in other languages (e.g., French, Dutch).
Benefits & Compensation
- The opportunity to work in the fast-growing space industry.
- Niche global market for optical payloads for microsatellites.
- A competitive salary.
- A friendly working environment.
Work Mode
This is an onsite position based in Somerset West, South Africa.
Simera Sense is committed to excellence and innovation.
