Director of Export Control and Technology Compliance at Field AI – Irvine, California

Director of Export Control and Technology Compliance

Position Overview
Field AI is seeking a Director of Export Control and Technology Compliance to build and lead the companys compliance and controlled information framework as we scale our defense-adjacent and commercial technology programs. This role is responsible for ensuring that technical data, software, and systems are properly classified, protected, and accessed in accordance with applicable U.S. export regulations, government contract requirements, internal policies and customer obligations. This is a hands-on role, requiring both strategic judgment and operational execution. The position works directly with company leadership, Engineering, IT, Legal, Human Resources, and Program teams to enable rapid development while maintaining strong compliance discipline.What You'll Get To Do

• Establish and own Field AIs export control and data classification program, including export-controlled technology, controlled unclassified information, and non-controlled commercial data.
• Classify hardware, software, source code, and technical data under applicable U.S. export regulations, including EAR and related classification schemes.
• Define and implement graduated access controls based on data classification, regulatory requirements, and contractual obligations.
• Create and maintain Technology Control Plans and controlled information handling procedures appropriate for a startup environment.
• Advise leadership and Human Resources on hiring eligibility, onboarding practices, and role-based access to regulated programs.
• Partner closely with Engineering and IT to design compliant development workflows without slowing product velocity.
• Establish policies for storage, transmission, and sharing of controlled technical information and CUI.
• Design and deliver training programs on export control, data handling, and compliance requirements.
• Support customer due diligence, security questionnaires, and compliance reviews.
• Monitor regulatory and contractual changes and assess their impact on company operations.
• Lead response and remediation efforts for potential compliance or data handling issues.

What You Have:

• Bachelors degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Law, International Trade, Security, Compliance, or a related field.
• Seven or more years of experience in export control, trade compliance, regulatory compliance, or controlled information governance.
• Hands-on experience with EAR classification and implementation of technology control measures.
• Strong understanding of controlled unclassified information requirements and government contract data handling obligations.
• Experience working directly with technical teams on access control and data segregation.
• Ability to translate regulatory requirements into practical, scalable operational processes.
• Strong judgment, ownership mindset, and ability to operate with limited structure.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

What Will Set You Apart

• Experience in a startup or high-growth technology company.
• Background in dual-use or defense-adjacent technologies.
• Familiarity with DFARS, NIST 800-171, or similar frameworks.
• Prior experience standing up a compliance or governance function from the ground up.
• Experience working directly with founders or executive leadership.

Reporting Structure

• This role reports directly to senior leadership at Field AI, such as the CEO, COO, or General Counsel, and works closely with technical and business teams across the company.

Our salary range is generous and we take into consideration an individual's background and experience in determining final salary; base pay offered may vary considerably depending on geographic location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
Why Join Field AI?We are solving one of the worlds most complex challenges: deploying robots in unstructured, previously unknown environments. Our Field Foundational Models set a new standard in perception, planning, localization, and manipulation, ensuring our approach is explainable and safe for deployment.
You will have the opportunity to work with a world-class team that thrives on creativity, resilience, and bold thinking. With a decade-long track record of deploying solutions in the field, winning DARPA challenge segments, and bringing expertise from organizations like DeepMind, NASA JPL, Boston Dynamics, NVIDIA, Amazon, Tesla Autopilot, Cruise Self-Driving, Zoox, Toyota Research Institute, and SpaceX, we are set to achieve our ambitious goals.
Be Part of the Next Robotics RevolutionTo tackle such ambitious challenges, we need a team as unique as our vision innovators who go beyond conventional methods and are eager to tackle tough, uncharted questions. Were seeking individuals who challenge the status quo, dive into uncharted territory, and bring interdisciplinary expertise. Our team requires not only top AI talent but also exceptional software developers, engineers, product designers, field deployment experts, and communicators.We are headquartered in always-sunny Irvine in Southern California and have US based and global teammates.
Join us, shape the future, and be part of a fun, close-knit team on an exciting journey!
We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.
$70,000 - $300,000 a year