International Contracts Manager / Director

Company Overview

Allen Control Systems (ACS) is a cutting-edge defense startup founded by two former Navy electrical engineers with a proven track record in robotics and software. We are developing an autonomous gun turret using advanced computer vision and control systems to precisely detect, track, and neutralize enemy drones.

With an engineering-first culture, ACS values technical excellence and innovation. Backed by our founders' successful exits from two previous ventures acquired for a combined $180M in 2022, we are committed to ensuring that the groundbreaking technologies we develop have a real-world impact.

About The Role

ACS is executing international defense sales today, including direct commercial sales to foreign militaries, distributor and reseller channel agreements, and strategic partnerships across APAC and EMEA. To keep pace with the growth of our international pipeline, we are deliberately building the commercial infrastructure to support it at scale.

We are looking for an International Contracts Manager or Director to lead deal structuring, negotiation, and export compliance alignment across our international commercial portfolio. This role sits at the intersection of commercial execution and regulatory compliance. You will be the person who helps ACS close international deals correctly, consistently, and at pace.

This is a newly created role with real ownership. Depending on timing, you may be refining and operationalizing frameworks already in development, building from a foundation established with outside counsel, or driving that development directly. In any scenario, the mandate is the same: establish scalable, defensible commercial agreements that protect ACS and allow the business to move. For the right candidate, this is a meaningful opportunity to shape a critical function at a company doing consequential work in a market that matters.

What You'll Do

• Lead negotiation of direct commercial sales agreements with foreign military and government customers, distributor and reseller agreements, and strategic partnerships and teaming arrangements. Structure transactions to address payment risk, cross-border delivery and acceptance, warranty and sustainment obligations, and phased procurement frameworks.
• Translate ITAR and EAR requirements into executable contract terms that protect ACS without creating unnecessary friction in deal execution. Coordinate with internal and external experts on licensing strategy, including DSP-5, TAA, MLA, and EAR equivalents, and ensure contracts align with license scope and do not overpromise to customers or channel partners.
• Integrate FCPA compliance, sanctions screening, and anti-corruption provisions into ACS's commercial agreements, including representative and reseller arrangements. Ensure sub-agent controls, audit rights, and end-use and re-transfer restrictions are consistently applied.
• Identify and mitigate cross-border commercial risk, including currency and payment exposure, foreign tax and VAT implications, and jurisdiction and dispute resolution strategy, and establish ACS's standard positions on limitation of liability, indemnification, and IP ownership.
• Partner with Business Development to engage early in deal shaping before commercial terms become entrenched. Build scalable templates, playbooks, and deal review processes that allow the business to move consistently and confidently across international markets.
• Serve as a trusted internal advisor to BD, operations, and leadership. Educate internal teams on export control boundaries and commercial risk. The goal is to be a business enabler who helps the team close transactions correctly, not a gatekeeper who creates friction.
  
  

What You'll Need

• Bachelor's degree in Business, International Relations, Law, or a related field; JD or Master's preferred but not required.
• 8 years of hands-on international commercial contracting experience with a demonstrated track record of negotiating and closing cross-border agreements.
• Working knowledge of ITAR and EAR, including practical experience translating export control requirements into contract language, meaning not just flagging issues but solving them.
• Experience with FCPA compliance and anti-corruption provisions in international commercial agreements, particularly in transactions involving foreign government customers or intermediaries.
• Strong understanding of international risk allocation, including payment structures, limitation of liability, indemnification, jurisdiction, and dispute resolution.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-moving, resource-constrained environment where you are driving work rather than reviewing it.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills; comfortable working across engineering, BD, finance, and leadership without a large support structure.
• U.S. person status required (ITAR compliance).
  
  

You'll Stand Out

• Defense, aerospace, or dual-use technology experience, particularly direct commercial sales to foreign militaries or government customers.
• Familiarity with export licensing processes, including DSP-5, TAA, MLA, BIS licenses, and commodity jurisdiction requests.
• Experience with distributor, reseller, or channel sales models in international defense or technology markets.
• Exposure to OFAC, sanctions compliance, and restricted party screening in cross-border transactions.
• Experience building contract frameworks or playbooks in a high-growth or startup environment.
• Familiarity with INCOTERMS, letters of credit, and international payment structures.
• Active Secret clearance or ability to obtain one is a plus.
  
  

What We Offer

• Competitive Salary
• ACS Equity Package
• Health, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off
  
  

Allen Control Systems is an Equal Opportunity Employer, providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. Allen Control Systems prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.