About the Role
We are seeking a Director Legal & Compliance to build and lead our legal and compliance function. This role is both strategic and hands-on. You will be responsible for ensuring legal resilience, regulatory compliance, and governance excellence in a highly regulated defense environment.
You will serve as the right hand of our CLO and directly counsel our management and executive team while shaping the company’s legal and compliance architecture in alignment with German and EU law.
Key Responsibilities
1. Corporate & Governance
Establish and continuously improve corporate governance structures for a German GmbH (and international subsidiaries)
Oversee shareholder matters, financing rounds, and ESOP/VSOP programs
Implement lean but audit-proof documentation standards
2. Defense & Public Procurement Law
Advise on German and EU procurement law
Support contract negotiations with governmental customers
3. Export Control & Security Compliance
Ensure compliance with export control regulations
Oversee classified information protection (Geheimschutz) and security clearance coordination
4. Compliance & Risk Management
Develop and implement a risk-based holistic compliance management system (CMS)
Conduct internal investigations where required
5. Commercial & IP
Draft and negotiate all kinds of commercial agreements
Protect company IP (patents, trade secrets, designs)
Structure IP strategy aligned with defense secrecy and export controls
Qualifications
Fully qualified German lawyer (Volljurist/in, 1. + 2. Staatsexamen, vollbefriedend oder besser)
8+ years of experience in Defense industry, aerospace, or highly regulated industry either in a Law firm or in-house legal department
Strong knowledge of: German corporate law (GmbHG), Public procurement law (preferably defense sector), Export control and military goods regulation and Compliance systems implementation
Fluency in English & German
Experience building structures in a growth-stage company
Experience with classified government projects and/or knowledge of NATO member state procurement structures would be considered a plus
Familiarity with EU regulatory frameworks would be considered a plus
Experience in M&A or VC-backed environments would be considered a plus
Benefits and Perks
Competitive salary and benefits package
A shaping role in an emerging dual use company
Opportunity to work with a highly innovative, international, and dynamic team
Room for professional growth and development
Participation in the company's success, with access to regular events, knowledge exchange and meetups
About us
ARX is a dual-use technology company that specializes in developing autonomous unmanned systems and sensors for the European defence sector. Our dual-use unmanned ground systems and sensors assist NATO Armies and civilian first responders in tackling their most challenging problems by providing them with training and information to make better decisions and take effective actions in life-or-death situations.
As our team continues to expand rapidly, we are seeking motivated candidates who are excited to work in a highly energetic, creative, and innovative team dedicated to developing autonomous systems for challenging environments. We operate in a dynamic sector where collaboration, sharing innovative ideas, and developing novel problem-solving strategies are ingrained in our work culture.
If you are passionate about overcoming challenges that have a real impact on the security of our democracies, apply here to join ARX and help shape the future of dual-use technology!
In addition to a competitive salary package, we offer the opportunity to participate in the company's success. ARX is an equal-opportunity employer, and we encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.
Tech Stack
corporate lawpublic procurement lawexport controlrisk managementIPcontract negotiation