International Legal Analyst

Overview

This position supports work within the National Security Directorate (NSD), specifically the Emerging Threats and Technologies Division. The division includes over 400 scientists, engineers, and analysts with backgrounds in cyber, nuclear, intelligence, policy, data science, and other fields, working on interdisciplinary project teams that integrate policy, analytics, science, and technology.

The Strategic Threat Analysis (STA) group addresses complex domestic and international security challenges through partnerships and expertise across multiple domains. Work includes strategic threat analysis and mitigation strategies in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.

This position will be remote or located in Richland, WA; Seattle, WA; or Washington D.C. based on business need.

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 the deployment of technology. Topic areas may include:
  • Outer space law
  • U.N. sanctions implementation and counterproliferation finance
  • Export control law
  • Cyber security law
• Analyze international law and policy and existing national laws, regulations, and policy documents to identify divergences.
• 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 across subject areas such as:
  • 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 legal and/or policy expertise to determine the significance and reliability of incoming information and 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 knowledge of law and policy and address challenging problems in national security, energy, and the environment.
• Use strong research and analytical skills to gather, evaluate, and synthesize information from diverse and complex sources, including AI tools.
• Monitor regulatory, policy, licensing, or other business developments and translate findings into actionable process or service improvement recommendations.
• Apply theory and general industry standards/practices in nonproliferation-related disciplines such as space and maritime law, international safeguards, nuclear export control, arms control, and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear security to generate solutions.
• Work on discrete pieces of larger projects, sometimes simultaneously with different customers or on different projects, working independently with appropriate oversight and seeking mentoring and professional development opportunities.

Qualifications

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 the following subject areas:
  • 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

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, and placement within the range is based on relevant job-related skills, qualifications, and experience (with limited exceptions for positions governed by collective bargaining agreements and certain limited-term positions).

Benefits (eligibility-dependent)

Employees and their families may receive medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, robust telehealth care options, 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.

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.

*All benefits are dependent upon eligibility.

Location

Remote or located in Richland, WA; Seattle, WA; or Washington D.C., based on business need.

Security Clearance and Other Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
• Selected applicants are 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). Pre-employment drug testing and post-employment random drug testing apply. Applicants must be able to demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the requisite Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP).
• Applicants will 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.

Additional credentialing/eligibility information

• HSPD-12 Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credential requirements may apply depending on job duties and national security/public trust responsibilities.
• For foreign national candidates who have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, eligibility for the PIV credential is not available; instead, a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) Federal risk determination is required.

Mandatory requirements

• DOE prohibits DOE employees and contractors from having any affiliation with the foreign government of a country DOE has identified as a “country of risk” without explicit approval by DOE and Battelle. If offered employment and currently affiliated with such a government, disclosure and recusal or approval is required prior to the first day of employment.