Trade Compliance Manager

Job Title: Trade Compliance ManagerJob Description

The Trade Compliance Manager oversees and manages all aspects of trade compliance to ensure full adherence to international regulations and laws governing imports and exports. This role focuses on aerospace sensor systems and involves close collaboration 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.

Essential Skills

• 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.

Additional Skills & 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. The organization offers a comprehensive benefits package, including a 4% 401(k) match, 10 paid holidays, 3–4 weeks of paid time off, annual bonus potential, full medical and dental coverage, and up to $1,000 per year in training reimbursement to support ongoing professional development and certification.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Hood River, OR.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $120000.00 - $140000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

See Dorn for full breakdown

Workplace Type

This is a fully remote position.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 29, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.