Compliance Officer - Huntsville,… at Dawn Aerospace · California

At Dawn Aerospace, we're redefining how the world accesses space. From industry-leading satellite propulsion systems to the development of the world's first reusable spaceplane designed to fly to space twice in one day, we're building technologies that are changing the future of aerospace.

As we continue to grow across the United States, Europe and New Zealand, we operate in an increasingly complex environment of export controls, information security, customer requirements and regulatory obligations.

We're looking for a Senior Compliance Officer to help build the governance, risk and compliance capability that enables Dawn Aerospace to scale securely and responsibly. This role is remote, but we have preference for someone based in or near Alabama.

This is a broad, high-impact role where you'll work across Engineering, Operations, IT, Legal, Commercial and Corporate teams to translate complex regulatory, customer and security requirements into practical processes that support both compliance and execution.

While export controls and trade compliance will be an immediate focus, you'll also help shape the governance, risk, information security and compliance frameworks that support Dawn Aerospace's continued international growth. This is an opportunity to build capability, solve complex problems and help define how compliance supports one of the world's most ambitious aerospace companies.

What you'll do

• Lead Dawn Aerospace's export control and trade compliance activities, including licensing, record keeping, jurisdictional assessments and ongoing compliance obligations.

• Develop and continuously improve the company's governance, risk and compliance framework.

• Design and implement practical policies, procedures and internal controls that support both compliance and efficient business operations.

• Coordinate compliance with customer, contractual and regulatory obligations across multiple international jurisdictions.

• Develop and maintain compliance registers, risk registers, monitoring activities and management reporting.

• Plan and coordinate internal audits, compliance reviews, investigations and corrective actions.

• Support customer, supplier and regulatory audits, assessments and due diligence activities.

• Partner with Engineering, Operations, IT, Legal, Finance, Commercial and People teams to embed compliance into day-to-day business activities.

• Monitor emerging regulatory, security and industry requirements, advising the business on risks, impacts and practical actions.

• Support customer security questionnaires, supplier assurance activities and contractual compliance requirements.

• Deliver compliance awareness and training programmes that build understanding across the organisation.

• Provide practical, commercially focused advice to managers and senior leaders while enabling the business to move quickly and responsibly.

What you'll bring

Essential

• Experience managing export control or trade compliance programmes within aerospace, defence or another highly regulated industry.

• Experience in governance, risk, compliance, information security, internal audit, regulatory affairs or a related discipline.

• Strong understanding of export control regulations and experience managing ongoing compliance obligations.

• Experience developing and implementing policies, procedures, governance frameworks and internal controls.

• Demonstrated ability to interpret complex regulatory or contractual requirements and translate them into practical business processes.

• Experience working across multiple stakeholders to influence outcomes and embed compliance into business operations.

• Excellent communication, relationship-building and organisational skills.

• Strong analytical ability, sound judgement and a pragmatic approach to managing risk.

• A tertiary qualification in Law, Engineering, Information Security, Business, International Relations or another relevant discipline, or equivalent professional experience.

Desirable

• Experience with ITAR, EAR, OFAC, UK Strategic Export Controls, EU Dual-Use Regulations or other international trade compliance regimes.

• Experience supporting government contracts or defence programmes.

• Experience with information security or cybersecurity frameworks such as ISO 27001, NIST SP 800-171, CMMC or NIS2.

• Experience conducting internal audits, compliance reviews and enterprise risk assessments.

• Experience supporting customer assurance, supplier assurance or government security programmes.

• Experience working across multiple international jurisdictions.

• Professional certifications in governance, compliance, auditing, risk management, information security or export controls.

Why join Dawn Aerospace?

This is an opportunity to build a capability rather than inherit one.

As our Senior Compliance Officer, you'll play a key role in shaping how Dawn Aerospace manages export controls, governance, security and regulatory compliance as we continue to grow internationally. You'll work directly with engineers, technical specialists and senior leaders to solve complex challenges in a fast-moving, highly innovative aerospace environment.

You'll have significant ownership, exposure to senior decision-makers and the opportunity to influence how one of the world's most ambitious aerospace companies scales responsibly.

If you enjoy solving complex problems, building practical frameworks and working with talented people to enable innovation, we'd love to hear from you.