Head of Government and Regulatory Affairs (Washington)

Overview

Cirrus Logic is a global, fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Austin, Texas, that designs low-power, high-precision mixed-signal and audio processing solutions serving the consumer electronics, automotive, and industrial markets. Cirrus Logic does not own or operate its own wafer fabrication or assembly facilities; instead, it depends on a global network of third-party foundry, assembly, and test partners to manufacture its products. This model influences public policy interests, including export control and licensing rules, cross-border data and technology transfer restrictions, tariffs on semiconductor and electronics trade, the health of the foundry ecosystem, and the strength of the fabless design community, which are central to Cirrus Logic’s ability to compete.

The Role

Cirrus Logic is seeking a Head of Government and Regulatory Affairs to lead the company’s federal engagement in Washington, D.C., manage its government affairs in Texas, where its Austin headquarters is located, and support the company’s regulatory strategy. This is a newly prioritized, high-visibility role for a company whose products sit at the intersection of consumer electronics, automotive, industrial, advanced semiconductor design, and an increasingly complex global trade and regulatory environment. The core mandate is both protective and promotional: ensuring policy and regulatory developments in Washington and other markets do not disrupt Cirrus Logic’s supply chain, market access, or ability to hire and retain engineering talent, while advancing the company’s affirmative policy priorities. You will build and execute Cirrus Logic’s federal government and regulatory affairs strategy, represent the company before Congress and the Executive Branch, oversee engagement with the Texas Legislature and key state agencies, and ensure policymakers understand the need for policies that support semiconductor innovation, maintain competitiveness, and expand domestic research and development. The role partners closely with Cirrus Logic’s Legal, Investor Relations, and executive leadership teams to align policy engagement with business strategy, and represents the company externally with policymakers, regulators, trade associations, and industry coalitions.

The Team

This role sits within Cirrus Logic’s Legal and Corporate Affairs organization, led by the General Counsel. The group offers exposure to a broad range of disciplines beyond government affairs, including counsel to Cirrus Logic's business units and engineering teams; intellectual property, patent prosecution, and technology licensing; trademarks and brand protection; litigation and dispute resolution; mergers, acquisitions, and investments; global trade and export controls; and corporate compliance and ethics. As the Head of Government and Regulatory Affairs, you will work closely with colleagues across these disciplines, given the close connection between Cirrus Logic's fabless supply chain, export control exposure, regulatory environment, and public policy priorities, and may have the opportunity to grow into broader corporate and international regulatory affairs responsibilities over time.

Responsibilities

• Build and execute Cirrus Logic’s federal government affairs strategy and advise executives, business units, and third parties on delivering key messages about Cirrus Logic’s policy and regulatory positions.
• Serve as an early-warning system and first line of defense relating to federal policy and regulatory actions, including tariffs, export controls, sanctions, and immigration restrictions, that could disrupt Cirrus Logic’s supply chain, customer access, or ability to hire engineering talent.
• Articulate a clear, compelling vision for the importance of the U.S. fabless semiconductor industry, Cirrus Logic’s leadership role in audio and mixed-signal semiconductor design, and the need for policies to support the vision.
• Translate legislative, regulatory, and geopolitical developments, particularly related to U.S.-China trade and export controls, into clear business risk and strategic opportunity assessments for senior leadership, Legal, and Investor Relations.
• Engage Congress to advocate for federal trade, export control, and R&D policies that most directly affect a fabless semiconductor company’s ability to compete globally across consumer electronics, automotive, and industrial markets.
• Represent Cirrus Logic within the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) and other trade associations and coalitions, ensuring the specific interests of fabless companies are reflected alongside those of IDMs and foundries in industry-wide advocacy positions.
• Build and maintain relationships with congressional offices, agency staff, and policymakers relevant to Cirrus Logic’s business, and represent the company at industry events, briefings, and coalition meetings.
• Manage Cirrus Logic’s state government affairs in Texas, including engagement with the Texas Legislature, the Governor’s office, and state economic development and workforce agencies on issues affecting the company’s Austin headquarters, R&D investment, and semiconductor workforce pipeline.
• Coordinate with outside lobbyists, trade associations, and consultants engaged on Cirrus Logic’s behalf to ensure a consistent, well-resourced federal advocacy program.
• Support Cirrus Logic’s regulatory strategy, with the expectation that international policy and regulatory engagement may become a larger part of the role over time.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, law, political science, international relations, business, or a related field required.
• J.D. preferred, but other advanced degrees will also be considered.

Required Experience

• 7+ years of experience in federal and/or state government affairs, regulatory affairs, public policy, legislative advocacy, trade policy, or export control compliance, ideally within or serving the semiconductor, technology, or electronics industry.
• Demonstrated experience working with Congress, federal agencies, and senior policymakers on technology, trade, or industrial policy matters; experience with the Texas Legislature or Texas state government is a plus.
• Familiarity with employment-based immigration and high-skilled workforce policy (H-1B and other visa categories, STEM OPT, green card backlogs) is a plus, given Cirrus Logic’s reliance on global engineering talent.
• Priority is placed on a strong grasp of the fabless semiconductor business model and global semiconductor supply chain policy (export controls, tariffs, foundry/OSAT dependencies) over any specific end-market background.
• Experience representing a company through a trade association such as SIA, or building coalitions among companies with varied positions on trade and export policy.
• Experience with regulatory matters in the United States and internationally is a plus.

Required Skills

• Strong understanding of the U.S. legislative and regulatory process, including export control, trade remedy, and immigration frameworks.
• Ability to assess and advise on regulatory risk across both U.S. and international regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to build and execute a government affairs strategy from the ground up.
• Ability to identify legislative or regulatory developments that could harm Cirrus Logic’s business well before they become law, and mobilize a response.
• Excellent strategic thinking, negotiation, and advocacy skills.
• Self-motivated, responsible, and action-oriented.
• Ability to translate complex, fast-moving policy and geopolitical developments into clear business implications for a global supply chain.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to brief senior executives and the Board on policy risk, and to develop persuasive content (talking points, testimony, op-eds, and briefing materials) that supports advocacy campaigns.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to develop, manage, and support multiple public affairs programs and initiatives at once.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate across Legal, Finance, Investor Relations, and business unit teams.

Additional Requirements

• Registered federal lobbyist, or ability to register under the Lobbying Disclosure Act; willingness to register as a Texas state lobbyist if required.
• Regular travel to Cirrus Logic’s Austin, Texas headquarters to manage state government affairs, plus periodic travel to other U.S. and international policy locations as needed.

Base Salary range: $225,000 - $275,000 USD

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Export control restrictions based upon applicable laws and regulations would prohibit candidates who are nationals of certain embargoed countries from working in this position without Cirrus Logic first obtaining an export license. Candidates for this role must be able to access technical data without a requirement for an export license. We are unable to sponsor or obtain export licenses for this role.

Cirrus Logic strives to select the best qualified applicant for any opening. Different approaches, ideas and points of view are both valued and respected. Employment decisions are made on the basis of job-related criteria without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable law.