Trade Compliance Manager

Oversee and manage all aspects of trade compliance to ensure full adherence to international regulations and laws governing imports and exports, with a focus on aerospace sensor systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, customs authorities, and other stakeholders to mitigate risk, maintain robust internal controls, and ensure compliance with ITAR, EAR, and other applicable trade laws and industry standards.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive trade compliance program for aerospace sensor systems.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with international trade laws, regulations, and industry standards related to imports and exports.
• Manage end-to-end import and export processes for components and systems, including classification, licensing, and documentation.
• Ensure compliance with ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) and EAR (Export Administration Regulations) for controlled technologies.
• Oversee classification activities using USML, EAR99, HTS, and related frameworks to support accurate export and import controls.
• Collaborate with customs brokers and relevant authorities to ensure accurate and timely customs clearance for international shipments.
• Monitor changes in customs and trade regulations and implement necessary adjustments to processes and controls to maintain compliance.
• Identify and assess potential risks related to trade compliance, including sanctions, embargoes, and regulatory changes.
• Develop and implement strategies to mitigate trade compliance risks and proactively address emerging compliance issues.
• Lead commodity jurisdiction and export licensing activities, coordinating with the Department of State, Department of Commerce, DDTC, BIS, and other regulatory bodies as required.
• Develop and conduct training programs to educate employees on trade compliance requirements and best practices.
• Promote awareness of the importance of trade compliance across the organization and guide cross-functional teams on compliance matters.
• Conduct regular internal audits to assess adherence to trade regulations and internal control standards.
• Implement monitoring systems to track and report on trade compliance metrics and performance.
• Maintain accurate and complete records of import and export transactions, including shipping documents, licenses, and customs declarations.
• Ensure all trade-related documentation is organized and readily available for internal reviews and external audits.
• Collaborate closely with supply chain, legal, finance, engineering, and other relevant teams to align trade compliance activities with overall business objectives and the engineering design and systems engineering lifecycles.
• Support continuous improvement of trade compliance processes, leveraging best practices and, where applicable, Lean or Six Sigma methodologies.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in trade compliance within the defense or aerospace industry.
• Demonstrated experience managing import and export compliance programs and processes.
• In-depth knowledge of international trade laws and regulations, including ITAR and EAR.
• Hands-on experience with ITAR, EAR99, USML, HTS, Snap-R, DDTC, BIS, and UAS-related compliance activities.
• Expertise in commodity jurisdiction and export licensing, including interaction with the Department of State and Department of Commerce.
• Strong understanding of import compliance, export compliance, commodity management, and trade compliance internal controls.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex regulatory requirements to practical business and engineering scenarios.
• Proficiency in maintaining accurate records and documentation for imports and exports, including licenses and customs declarations.
• Experience collaborating with customs brokers and regulatory authorities to manage international shipments.
• Strong analytical and risk assessment skills to identify, evaluate, and mitigate trade compliance risks.
• Effective communication skills to train employees and raise organizational awareness of trade compliance requirements.
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams, including supply chain, legal, finance, and engineering.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in international business, trade compliance, or a related field.
• Advanced degree or professional certification such as Certified Global Trade Compliance Professional, preferred.
• Familiarity with trade compliance software and tools.
• Experience working within the defense aerospace sector and production or engineering environments.
• Knowledge of the engineering design cycle and systems engineering lifecycle as they relate to export and import controls.
• Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, or equivalent continuous improvement experience, preferred.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in managing documentation and audit readiness.
• Ability to adapt to evolving regulatory requirements and drive process improvements.

Work Environment

This role operates in a production and engineering setting that handles ITAR-controlled technologies, requiring a strong focus on security, documentation accuracy, and regulatory adherence. The standard schedule is a day shift from approximately 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with some flexibility as needed. The position begins with in-office training for approximately 30–45 days to ensure thorough onboarding and familiarity with systems and processes, after which a fully remote work arrangement is available.

Benefits

• 4% 401(k) match
• 10 paid holidays
• 3–4 weeks of paid time off
• Annual bonus potential
• Full medical and dental coverage
• Up to $1,000 per year in training reimbursement to support ongoing professional development and certification

Pay

The pay range for this position is $120,000.00 - $140,000.00 per year. Individual compensation offered within this range will depend on qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Schedule

Permanent position based in Hood River, OR. This is a fully remote role after an initial 30–45 day in-office training period.