Trade Compliance Specialist

TRADE COMPLIANCE SPECIALIST Location: Austin, TX or Washington, D.C. (Hybrid on-site, with up to 5% travel) Clearance Requirement: U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain a security clearance ABOUT NODA NODA is a Veteran-owned, venture-backed technology company that is transforming how unmanned systems collaborate in complex, mission-critical environments. We are developing next-generation solutions that enable the autonomous orchestration of heterogeneous unmanned systems across air, sea, land, and space with vital applications in the defense, intelligence, and commercial sectors. Our Operations team plays a critical role in ensuring NODA can move quickly, responsibly, and compliantly in a highly regulated defense technology environment. As our products, partnerships, programs, and international activities scale, trade compliance is central to how we develop technology, collaborate with customers and partners, protect controlled information, and execute across the business. Joining NODA means working on meaningful technology that pushes the boundaries of autonomy alongside a team that thrives on innovation, rapid iteration, and collaboration. THE ROLE We are seeking a Trade Compliance Specialist to serve as the day-to-day operational owner for NODA AI's trade compliance activities. You will be responsible for the mechanics that keep our program running: import and export compliance, restricted party screening, licensing administration, jurisdiction and classification, government submissions, training, foreign person and visitor controls, audits, and recordkeeping. You will work closely with outside export compliance counsel on matters requiring specialised legal or regulatory interpretation and translate that guidance into practical action. You will also partner across Engineering, Business Development, Contracts, the Information System Security Manager (ISSM), Facility Security Officer (FSO), People Operations, and Finance to embed trade compliance into how NODA AI operates rather than treating it as an after-the-fact review. This role is for someone comfortable operating at the intersection of technology, national security, regulation, and execution. You can move quickly without sacrificing rigour, understand enough about complex technical products to ask the right questions, and bring structure to an environment where requirements and priorities evolve quickly. You know when to independently execute established processes and when a question requires escalation to outside counsel. Most importantly, you are an operator who keeps licenses moving, records audit-ready, employees trained, controlled information protected, and compliance requirements from becoming barriers to execution. Key Responsibilities - Perform and document restricted and denied party screening for customers, partners, vendors, visitors, and foreign persons, promptly escalating potential matches, and administer foreign person and visitor compliance requirements including screening, access reviews, DDTC notifications, certifications, and documentation - Prepare, submit, administer, and track export licenses, agreements, authorizations, and classification requests through US Government systems including DDTC's DECCS and SNAP-R, covering DSP-5 licenses, TAAs, MLAs, commodity jurisdiction and classification requests, and other applicable export authorizations - Prepare, submit, and track correspondence with the US Department of State and DDTC, including approvals and authorizations related to personnel, foreign person access, technical data, software, defense articles, and other ITAR-controlled activities - Perform and document jurisdiction and classification analyses for software, source code, technical data, hardware, and integrated systems under the USML and CCL/ECCN frameworks, partnering with Engineering and Product to understand functionality, technical characteristics, end use, and changes that may affect existing determinations - Administer applicable ITAR exemptions, EAR license exceptions, Technology Control Plans, and Technology Transfer Plans, maintaining accurate records of licenses, agreements, classifications, provisos, exceptions, exemptions, expiration dates, reporting requirements, and continuing obligations - Partner with the ISSM, FSO, IT, Security, and Engineering to appropriately control and document access to export-controlled information across company systems, development environments, repositories, facilities, and restricted environments - Support import compliance activities including tariff classification, country-of-origin and customs documentation, and coordination with customs brokers and freight forwarders - Deliver new-hire, role-specific, and recurring export-control training, maintain completion records, conduct internal audits and self-assessments, document findings, track corrective actions through closure, and support government inquiries, audits, and compliance reviews - Maintain complete, organised, and audit-ready records for all trade compliance activities, and maintain and continuously improve NODA AI's Export Management and Compliance Program (EMCP) including policies, procedures, forms, checklists, workflows, and recordkeeping practices - Partner with Contracts, Business Development, Programs, People Operations, and Finance to identify export restrictions, licensing requirements, end-user and end-use considerations, sanctions screening, foreign person reviews, and trade compliance obligations associated with agreements, proposals, customers, and international opportunities - Coordinate trade compliance reviews for software and technical data releases, technology transfers, international shipments, demonstrations, deployments, and foreign customer engagements before release, access, transfer, or movement, and stay current on regulatory developments to proactively strengthen NODA AI's trade compliance processes as the business scales Required Qualifications - 5+ years of hands-on experience supporting or executing US import and export or trade compliance activities, including practical experience with ITAR and EAR requirements - In-depth working knowledge of ITAR, EAR, Commerce Control List (CCL), Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCNs), and deemed export concepts - Hands-on experience preparing, administering, or tracking DDTC and/or BIS export licenses, agreements, authorizations, or classification requests, including DSP-5s, TAAs, MLAs, or similar authorizations - Familiarity with US Government trade compliance systems including DECCS and SNAP-R - Demonstrated ability to prepare and coordinate regulatory correspondence, notifications, requests, and approvals with DDTC and other applicable US Government agencies - Proficiency in restricted and denied party screening, including maintaining complete and accurate compliance documentation - Familiarity with administering Technology Control Plans, Technology Transfer Plans, and similar export-control access and authorization requirements - Strong working knowledge of trade compliance recordkeeping in an audit-ready environment - Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Finance, or a related field - U.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance Preferred Qualifications - Active DoD security clearance, Secret or higher - Graduate degree in Business, Law, or Finance - Experience in defense technology, aerospace, autonomous systems, robotics, or another highly regulated technical environment - Experience supporting a registered ITAR manufacturer and exporter or US Government contractor - Experience with BIS commodity classifications, license applications, and EAR license exceptions - Familiarity with US sanctions and embargo requirements administered by OFAC - Experience maintaining or supporting an Export Management and Compliance Program (EMCP) or similar internal compliance program - Experience conducting internal trade compliance audits, self-assessments, investigations, voluntary disclosures, and corrective-action tracking - Experience coordinating foreign person access controls and deemed export reviews - Certification such as Certified Export Compliance Professional (CECP), Licensed Customs Broker (LCB), CUSECO, or a comparable trade compliance credential Skills & Attributes - Execution-focused, taking ownership of the mechanics of compliance and consistently closing the loop on licenses, screenings, classifications, records, training, approvals, and follow-up - Detail-oriented, understanding that small administrative errors can create significant regulatory risk and maintaining a high standard of accuracy - Highly organised, managing multiple licenses, deadlines, classifications, approvals, provisos, screenings, and stakeholders without losing track of details - Sound judgment, independently executing established trade compliance processes, recognising potential compliance risks, and knowing when to escalate to the VP of Operations or outside counsel - Technically curious and operationally practical, willing to learn how complex hardware, software, autonomous systems, and technical architectures work well enough to support accurate compliance decisions and translate regulatory requirements into processes engineers and operators can follow BENEFITS & PERKS Our culture fosters collaboration, respect, and trust, empowering passionate people to do their best work. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth. In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation: - We offer comprehensive medical, dental, and visions plans - 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals + Company match - Equity grants for new hires - Unlimited PTO - 11 Paid holidays - Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in November, & December. - Generous Parental Leave - Military Leave for annual training or service requirements - FSA - DCFSA - HSA - Professional Development Opportunities - Access to One Medical https://www.onemedical.com/ - Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available to you as well. GROWTH PATH AT NODA - Senior Trade Compliance Specialist – increased ownership of complex licenses, classifications, audits, international transactions, Technology Control Plans, government submissions, and cross-functional compliance initiatives as NODA's international footprint scales - Trade Compliance Manager – lead the broader trade compliance function spanning program ownership, regulatory strategy, and organisational capability as the business grows Export Control Compliance To conform to U.S. government export control regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce. Equal Opportunity Statement NODA AI is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace and to maintaining equitable employment and hiring practices. We provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees and make all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical c…