Customs Compliance Manager

CHAOS Industries•El Segundo, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

CHAOS Industries is seeking a Customs Compliance Manager to lead customs compliance as the company scales production and delivery of dual-use products to U.S. Government, allied, and commercial customers. This hands-on role is responsible for customs classification, valuation, country-of-origin determinations, broker oversight, customs declarations and clearance, duty and tariff exposure, and maintaining audit-ready customs records. The manager will partner with Logistics, Supply Chain, Finance, Engineering, and the Trade Compliance team to ensure customs requirements are incorporated into sourcing and shipping activities and that imports, exports, and returns are handled correctly. The role is suited to an experienced customs professional with a working understanding of export controls, and offers room to grow as the function develops.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and at least 7 years of customs compliance experience covering both imports and exports, preferably in aerospace/defense, manufacturing, or a related technology sector; or a master's degree and at least 5 years of experience.
Working knowledge of U.S. customs laws and regulations and the Foreign Trade Regulations, including classification, valuation, country of origin, declarations, and recordkeeping.
Ability to research and interpret compliance requirements and advise internal stakeholders.
Hands-on experience with HTS and Schedule B classification and customs valuation for manufactured goods, including repairs, returns, and no-charge shipments.
Experience overseeing customs brokers and reviewing entries and export declarations for accuracy in a compliance capacity.
Familiarity with ITAR and EAR sufficient to recognize when a shipment or return involves controlled items.
Strong judgment and comfort operating with significant autonomy and limited day-to-day oversight.

Nice To Haves

U.S. Customs Broker License.
Prior experience in a defense, aerospace, or sensors/radar business shipping ITAR- and EAR-controlled hardware internationally.
Experience with CBP inquiries, post-summary corrections, prior disclosures, or binding rulings.
Experience with drawback, temporary importation under bond, carnets, or foreign trade zones.
Experience with ACE and trade compliance systems such as NetSuite, SAP GTS, or Descartes.

Responsibilities

Determine and document HTS and Schedule B classifications, customs valuation, and country of origin for parts, materials, and equipment; maintain customs classifications in the classification database alongside export-control classifications.
Oversee customs brokers, including powers of attorney, broker instructions, and performance; serve as the compliance point of contact for brokers and forwarders on customs questions.
Review import entries, export declarations, commercial invoices, and supporting documents for accuracy before and after filing, including EEI/AES filings under the Foreign Trade Regulations; prepare post-summary corrections, AES corrections, and prior disclosures when needed.
Manage the customs aspects of temporary exports, demonstrations, repairs, and returns in both directions, including returned U.S. goods, temporary importation under bond, carnets, and foreign customs clearance for equipment shipped abroad.
Track duty and tariff exposure and identify duty savings and recovery opportunities, such as drawback and trade agreement qualification.
Respond to CBP inquiries, requests for information, and notices of action; pursue binding rulings when classification, valuation, or origin is uncertain.
Advise Supply Chain and Logistics on the customs impact of sourcing, routing, and Incoterms decisions; support supplier origin and trade agreement documentation.
Coordinate with the Trade Compliance team to ensure imports, exports, and returns of ITAR- and EAR-controlled items are handled under the correct authorizations.
Develop and maintain customs compliance procedures for classification, valuation, origin, declarations, recordkeeping, and broker management; conduct periodic entry and shipment audits and implement corrective actions where needed.
Maintain import and export customs records in accordance with CBP and FTR recordkeeping requirements, ensuring each entry and declaration has a complete, audit-ready file.
Research, analyze, and interpret customs regulations, rulings, and the FTR; monitor tariff and trade developments and advise stakeholders on business impact.