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BAE Systems

Defense contractor delivering aerospace, cyber, space

Head of Legal & Compliance

Full-TimeDeadline 10/22/26
£93k
Expert
Warton, Carnforth, UK
Hybrid
LegalLegal Counsel & Legal Support

About the job

Requirements
  • Be a qualified Solicitor or Barrister.
  • Have extensive experience providing legal advice and support in either a leading private practice law firm or an in-house corporate legal environment.
  • Have broad legal, compliance, and data protection knowledge and expertise, particularly in international contracts, corporate affairs, compliance, and data protection matters.
  • Be eligible to obtain and maintain enhanced security checks.
Responsibilities
  • Lead and oversee the Global Site’s Legal and Compliance function, ensuring effective legal support and a robust governance framework aligned with business objectives and applicable laws and regulations.
  • Provide strategic advice on legal affairs, ethics and compliance, intellectual property, trade control, and data protection; manage legal and regulatory risks; and promote integrity, accountability, and compliance across the organisation.
  • Align and harmonise the local legal, compliance, intellectual property, trade control, and regulatory framework with headquarters and international affiliate policies, standards, governance requirements, and local legal obligations.
  • Operate as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, contribute to the execution of UK GlobalSite’s business strategy and customer outcomes, and provide leadership and accountability for the Legal and Compliance function.
  • Provide general legal assistance and advice to UK GlobalSite in coordination with relevant departments, including selecting, instructing, and supervising external law firms in the UK and other countries as required.
  • Liaise with headquarters functions to promote an integrated approach and oversee compliance programmes, risk management, governance, investigations, and due diligence to ensure adherence to legal, regulatory, and ethical requirements.
  • Collaborate with the Head of Compliance, Ethics and Data Protection at headquarters to implement the local Code of Governance and maintain an effective governance framework.
  • Assist the Chief Legal & Compliance Officer, Head of Intellectual Property at headquarters, UK GlobalSite General Manager, and Intellectual Property Manager in protecting and managing company intellectual property assets, mitigating related risks, and ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
  • Oversee compliance with national and international trade control regulations and work with the Chief Legal & Compliance Officer and Head of Trade Control at headquarters to implement a trade compliance programme.
  • Lead GlobalSite Trade Control Managers and ensure effective governance, training, investigations, assurance, material handling, screening, sanctions monitoring, and compliance with national and US export licensing requirements.

About the company

BAE Systems delivers defense, aerospace, and security solutions for governments and critical infrastructure. It designs, builds, integrates, and sustains complex systems—aircraft, submarines, land platforms, ships, sensors, software, and cyber assets—often as end-to-end programs for customers like the DoD. It differentiates itself by operating across air, sea, land, cyber, and space and pursuing scale through acquisitions to win large government contracts. Its goal is to help nations stay secure by advancing dependable technologies, including autonomous systems and artificial intelligence, supported by a strong order backlog and long-term services.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

London, United Kingdom

Founded

1971

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • On 30 July 2026, BAE raised 2026 guidance after £16.4bn first-half orders.
  • September 2026 brought an $818m Army AMPV modification through 2030.
  • October 1, 2026 BATS live trials validated integrated counter-drone command and control.

What critics are saying

  • On 13 August 2026, State imposed a $36m export-settlement and 24-month compliance monitor.
  • NLRB Case 10-CA-395427 alleges bad-faith bargaining at Radford on 22 September 2026.
  • A compliance scandal can freeze U.S. export authorizations and block future Pentagon work.

What makes BAE Systems unique

  • BAE Systems secured £84.0bn backlog on 30 June 2026 across air, sea, land, cyber, space.
  • Its U.S. defense franchise spans AMPV, M109A7, JPALS, and F-16 electronics.
  • BAE Systems combines submarine, combat-vehicle, and radiation-hardened space electronics manufacturing.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • 401(k) Company Match
  • Flexible Work Hours
  • Employee Discounts
  • Wellness Program
  • Mental Health Support
  • Pension Scheme
  • Employee Share Plans
  • Flexible Working
  • Enhanced Annual Leave Allowance
  • Employee Assistance Programme

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

-25%

1 year growth

-25%

2 year growth

-24%
PR Newswire
Oct 12th, 2026
BAE Systems unveils cannon and microwave systems to counter drone swarms at AUSA

BAE Systems unveiled two counter-drone defence systems at AUSA 2026 in Washington on October 12, 2026: the Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon System (MDACS) and the High Power Microwave (HPM). The company says the layered systems protect installations and forces against saturation drone attacks. MDACS is the kinetic layer. It fires the Hypervelocity Projectile for air defence and Scorpio-XR, a guided munition that doubles the range of existing 155mm cannon-launched projectiles, against ground targets. HPM is the directed energy layer. Over 99% of its components are commercial off-the-shelf, and it can defeat drone swarms for as long as power is available. "The threat environment is evolving faster than traditional procurement cycles can keep up with," said Jason Casciotti, vice president of BAE Systems' Weapon Systems product line.

PR Newswire
Oct 8th, 2026
BAE Systems secures $230M contract for 32 Amphibious Combat Vehicle Recovery variants

BAE Systems has secured a $230.1 million contract to produce 32 Amphibious Combat Vehicle chassis in the Recovery Mission Role variant (ACV-R) for the US Marine Corps. The ACV-R is designed to provide recovery capabilities, enabling the Marine Corps to rapidly recover and maintain vehicles to keep them mission-ready. The contract builds on BAE Systems' existing ACV portfolio, which includes variants such as the ACV-30, ACV-Personnel, and ACV-Command. The platform's modular design allows for various configurations to address different operational needs. Work will primarily take place in York, Pennsylvania, through 2029. The government will handle design and final integration of the Palfinger Crane at Anniston Army Depot before fielding the vehicles to the Fleet Marine Force.

PR Newswire
Oct 1st, 2026
BAE Systems wins $16M contract to deliver M-Code GPS for US Navy precision landing system

BAE Systems has secured a $16 million contract from Collins Aerospace to develop an M-Code GPS solution for the U.S. Navy's Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS). The company will provide its DIGAR-500M receiver to upgrade JPALS, enabling encrypted GPS signals with enhanced anti-jamming capabilities for precision aircraft carrier landings. JPALS is the Navy's next-generation GPS navigation system that guides aircraft to safe landings on carriers in all weather conditions. BAE Systems currently provides JPALS GPS solutions using SAASM receivers and will now transition to M-Code technology. The DIGAR-500M will support dual SAASM and M-Code operations with advanced digital beamforming protection. Work will be performed at BAE Systems' Cedar Rapids, Iowa facility.

PR Newswire
Sep 29th, 2026
BAE Systems' new IFF solution receives AIMS certification for F-16 Fighting Falcon

BAE Systems' AN/APX-127(V)1 Combined Interrogator Transponder has received AIMS certification from the Department of War for the US Air Force's F-16 Fighting Falcon. The system consolidates interrogator and transponder functions into one unit for highly manoeuvrable aircraft. The modernised IFF solution features open-system architecture allowing software upgrades, reducing hardware modification costs. It serves as a drop-in replacement for AN/APX-113(V), AN/APX-125(V), and AN/APX-126(V) systems currently operating on multiple US and international platforms. The device is AIMS Mark XIIB IFF certified with Mode S and Mode 5 for encrypted data exchange. BAE Systems expects to begin delivering the first 90-unit production lot this year from its Greenlawn, New York and Austin, Texas facilities.

PR Newswire
Sep 22nd, 2026
BAE Systems delivers $17M combat vehicles to US Army in six months for battlefield modernization

BAE Systems delivered two Infantry Fighting Vehicles to the U.S. Army in April to support the Transformation in Contact 2.0 initiative. The vehicles were developed using $17 million of internal research and development funding, based on the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle chassis. Development took six months from start to delivery. The AMPV 30s feature KONGSBERG Medium Caliber Turrets, currently used by the U.S. Marine Corps. They include counter-unmanned aircraft systems capabilities, cross-platform target handoff systems, and 360-degree situational awareness cameras. The modular design allows integration of various mission equipment packages and adapts to over 30 different turret systems. These vehicles bring BAE Systems' total turreted AMPV prototypes to eight over the past two years.