Trade Compliance Specialist

Founded in 1918, Kearfott Corporation is a global Aerospace and Defense supplier with over a century of expertise in precision motion control products and inertial navigation components. Kearfott is a trusted leader, providing quality, reliability, and cutting-edge technology to meet sea, land, air, and space navigation and guidance requirements worldwide.

About the role

The Trade Compliance Specialist executes daily compliance activities related to international trade at Kearfott's Brownsville, TX and Black Mountain, NC facilities. This role supports export/import operations, licensing activities, investigations, and training initiatives while partnering cross-functionally to maintain compliance and support international business growth. Additionally, the role focuses on managing US Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classifications and Electronic Export Information (EEI) filings for advanced aerospace and defense product lines.

Responsibilities

• Analyze complex navigation systems, avionics, electronics, and hardware to assign precise HTSUS/Schedule B codes under General Rules of Interpretation (GRIs).
• Prepare, review, and submit accurate EEI via AES/ACE for all international exports and license-controlled shipments.
• Align HTS determinations with ECCN and USML classifications in collaboration with engineering and legal teams.
• Review shipment documentation for compliance with ITAR, EAR, and Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) requirements including export authorizations, HTS/ECCN classification, country of origin, and valuation.
• Perform post-filing audits on EEI records, commercial invoices, and shipping documents to maintain full regulatory compliance.
• Advise logistics, procurement, and shipping teams on customs valuation, country of origin, and tariff preference programs.

Requirements

• Minimum High School Diploma or GED/equivalent required.
• 3+ years of experience in trade compliance, import/export regulations, or a related field in the USA and Mexico.
• Strong understanding of U.S. export regulations including ITAR, EAR, FTR, OFAC, and customs regulations.
• Working knowledge of the ACE AESDirect portal and managing export data within ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle).
• Direct knowledge of HTS classification and EEI filings.
• Operational expertise in HTSUS, Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR 15 CFR Part 30), ITAR, EAR, and CBP guidelines.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.

Skills

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and training abilities.
• Attention to detail and ability to manage complex regulatory processes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the aerospace, defense, or advanced technology manufacturing industries.
• Licensed Customs Broker (LCB) or Certified U.S. Export Compliance Officer (CUSECO).
• Experience handling dual-use technologies and ITAR-controlled defense articles.

Schedule

9/80 schedule with every other Friday off.

Benefits

• 401K
• Tuition Reimbursement

This position is 100% onsite at our Brownsville, TX location.