International Legal Analyst

Overview

This role supports the Strategic Threat Analysis (STA) group within the Emerging Threats and Technologies Division of the National Security Directorate. STA provides science- and analysis-driven insights to decision makers addressing complex domestic and international security challenges in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.

Work involves interdisciplinary efforts that integrate policy, analytics, science, and technology into publishable legal and policy products, with emphasis on areas such as nuclear law and regulation, strategic trade controls, nonproliferation, and related risk and resilience topics.

Responsibilities

• Conduct public international law, comparative law, and domestic legal and regulatory research, primarily related to nuclear law and regulation and other international security issues arising from technology deployment.
• Analyze international law and policy and identify divergences across existing national laws, regulations, and policy documents.
• Support the development or delivery of curricula for foreign technical assistance related to chemical, biological, nuclear and radioactive materials security and international nuclear safeguards.
• Research, draft, and contribute to written products containing related legal analysis.
• Apply knowledge of international law, U.S. law and policy, theory, and general industry standards/practices to subject areas including:
  • Novel applications and deployments of nuclear technologies (e.g., maritime, outer space)
  • Strategic trade controls
  • Arms control
  • International nuclear safeguards
  • Security of extremely hazardous, weaponizable chemical, biological, radioactive, and nuclear (CBRN) materials and associated facilities and activities
  • Cybersecurity
  • Governance and risk mitigation of artificial intelligence
• Utilize technical expertise in legal and/or policy disciplines or subfields to:
  • Determine significance and reliability of incoming information
  • Integrate new information with current data
  • Apply and interpret theories, principles, methods, tools, and technologies within an area of specialty
• Provide technical expertise, analysis, and publishable products to advance law and policy knowledge and address challenging problems in national security, energy, and the environment.
• Apply strong research and analytical skills to gather, evaluate, and synthesize information from diverse and complex sources, including AI tools.
• Monitor regulatory, policy, licensing, and other business developments and translate findings into actionable process or service improvement recommendations.
• Work independently with appropriate oversight; may support discrete pieces of larger projects or multiple projects simultaneously.
• Seek out mentoring and professional development opportunities.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
• Background Investigation: Selected applicants will be subject to a Federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter in accordance with 10 CFR 710, Appendix B.
• Drug Testing: This is a Testing Designated Position (TDP). The selected candidate is subject to pre-employment drug testing and random post-employment drug testing for illegal drugs, including marijuana, consistent with the Controlled Substances Act and the organization’s Workplace Substance Abuse Program.
• Non-use requirement: Applicants must demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs (including marijuana) for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP).
• Security clearance processing note: Applicants may be considered ineligible for security clearance processing by the U.S. Department of Energy if non-use of illegal drugs (including marijuana) for 12 months cannot be demonstrated.
• Eligibility constraints for foreign national candidates regarding PIV credential requirements based on U.S. residency history (not provided here as a paraphrase; follow the stated requirement in the source posting).
• Mandatory recusal/disclosure requirement: If offered employment, any affiliation with a foreign government of a country identified as a “country of risk” by the Department of Energy requires disclosure and recusal or approval prior to the first day of employment.

Minimum Qualifications

• BS/BA and 5 years of relevant experience
  OR
• MS/MA, PhD, or JD/LLM and 3 years of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree from an accredited college or university in Political Science, International Studies, and Law (Juris Doctor), with experience or focus in international law or a technical, security-related discipline.
• 3 years of relevant experience in the legal and policy aspects in subject areas including:
  • Novel applications and deployments of nuclear technologies (e.g., maritime, outer space)
  • Strategic trade controls
  • Arms control
  • International nuclear safeguards
  • Security of extremely hazardous, weaponizable chemical, biological, radioactive, and nuclear (CBRN) materials and associated facilities and activities
  • Cybersecurity
  • Governance and risk mitigation of artificial intelligence
• Knowledge of theory and general industry standards/practices in nonproliferation-related disciplines, such as space and maritime law, international safeguards, nuclear export control, arms control, and CBRN security, including applying established policies, procedures, and analytic techniques to generate solutions.

Location

This position will be remote or located in:

• Richland, WA
• Seattle, WA
• Washington D.C.

Placement is based on business need.

Compensation & Benefits

Pay Range

• Minimum Salary: USD $108,500.00/Yr.
• Maximum Salary: USD $162,900.00/Yr.

Starting pay is calculated from the minimum of the pay range, with placement within the range based on relevant job-related skills, qualifications, and experience. Compensation offers do not consider current or past salaries.

Benefits (summary of items provided)

Employees and their families may be offered medical, dental, and vision insurance; robust telehealth care options; multiple mental health benefits; free wellness coaching; health savings account; flexible spending accounts; basic life insurance; disability insurance*; employee assistance program; business travel insurance; tuition assistance; relocation; backup childcare; legal benefits; supplemental parental bonding leave; surrogacy and adoption assistance; and fertility support.

Additional notes from the posting:

• Employees are automatically enrolled in a company-funded pension plan* and may enroll in a 401(k) savings plan with company match*.
• Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.
• *Research Associates excluded.
• **All benefits are dependent upon eligibility.