Trade Compliance Specialist

Firestorm•San Diego, CA

3d•$90,000 - $115,000•Onsite

About The Position

Firestorm is seeking a Trade Compliance Specialist to manage the daily operations of its trade compliance program. This is an execution-focused, individual contributor role with high autonomy, responsible for screening, licensing administration, classification intake, training delivery, audits, and recordkeeping within a heavily regulated ITAR/EAR environment. This role is not focused on strategy or program design. The Specialist will report directly to the General Counsel, ensuring close coordination on regulatory and licensing matters. They will collaborate with outside export compliance legal counsel for ITAR/EAR interpretation and guidance on complex issues, and will be responsible for executing this guidance to maintain compliance. This includes keeping records audit-ready, ensuring employees are trained, and preventing compliance gaps. The Specialist will also work closely with the COO, engineering, and program teams to ensure trade compliance tasks are handled accurately and on time, integrating them into daily operations rather than being confined to policy documents.

Requirements

U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations & the ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense (DoD) security clearance
5+ years of hands-on experience executing tasks within U.S. export/import compliance programs (ITAR/EAR), with direct, practical experience in screening, licensing administration, and classification intake
Working knowledge of the U.S. Munitions List (USML), Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCN), the Commerce Control List (CCL), and deemed export concepts
Hands-on experience preparing and tracking DDTC license applications (e.g., DSP-5, TAA, MLA) and familiarity with DECCS and/or SNAP-R
Experience performing restricted/denied party screening and maintaining associated documentation
Experience delivering compliance training to a non-specialist workforce

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in International Business, International Trade/Affairs, Supply Chain Management, Finance, or a related field.
Certifications such as Certified Export Compliance Professional (CECP) or Licensed Customs Broker (LCB)
Experience supporting U.S. and international sanctions compliance (e.g., OFAC, UN)
Experience working in a defense contractor or ITAR-regulated manufacturing environment
Familiarity with EMCP/ICP program documentation and internal audit processes
Experience coordinating with outside counsel on regulatory matters
Prior experience at a fast-growing or venture-backed company

Responsibilities

Perform and maintain records for restricted/denied party screening across customers, partners, vendors, and visitors, escalating any potential matches to the General Counsel and outside export counsel immediately.
Prepare and track export license applications (e.g., DSP-5, TAA, MLA) through DDTC’s DECCS and Commerce’s SNAP-R systems; maintain a clean status log of all active, pending, and expiring licenses and agreements.
Support classification intake and recordkeeping for items, technical data, and technology under the U.S. Munitions List (USML) and Commerce Control List (CCL)/ECCN framework, routing close-call or ambiguous determinations to outside export counsel for final classification.
Maintain organized, audit-ready documentation for all licenses, classifications, screenings, and authorizations.
Track license conditions, provisos, and reporting obligations to ensure ongoing compliance after a license is granted.
Deliver Firestorm’s export control and trade compliance training to employees, contractors, and relevant third parties using materials provided by the General Counsel and outside export counsel.
Help keep training content current as regulations or company practices change, flagging needed updates to outside export counsel.
Maintain training completion records and follow up on gaps to ensure full coverage across the workforce.
Serve as the first point of contact for employee questions on export control basics, escalating anything beyond routine guidance to the General Counsel.
Maintain visitor and foreign person access control logs in coordination with facilities and security.
Screen and process visitor requests for compliance with ITAR/EAR deemed export restrictions prior to facility access.
Coordinate with the ISSO, IT, and program teams to ensure access controls for controlled information and restricted areas are properly documented and enforced.
Conduct internal audits and self-assessments of the trade compliance program on a regular schedule; document findings and track corrective actions to closure.
Maintain Firestorm’s Export Management Compliance Program (EMCP) and ITAR Compliance Program (ICP) documentation, keeping policies and procedures current under guidance from the General Counsel and outside export counsel.
Maintain the recordkeeping systems, trackers, and checklists that keep the program organized and inspection-ready at all times.
Support responses to government inquiries, audits, or compliance reviews by assembling documentation as directed by the General Counsel and outside export counsel.
Flag recurring issues or process gaps to the General Counsel; help implement practical fixes — forms, checklists, or workflow changes — as directed.
Serve as the day-to-day point of contact for routine trade compliance questions from engineering, program, BD, and operations teams.
Coordinate with the COO’s team on operational logistics and with the General Counsel on anything requiring legal interpretation or risk judgment.
Translate guidance from outside export counsel into clear, practical next steps for the teams who need to act on it.
Stay current on regulatory changes and proactively flag relevant updates to the General Counsel and outside export counsel rather than making independent determinations on novel issues.
Execute the day-to-day operations of a compliance program with discipline and consistency — you will be working inside the established program, not just designing one.
Organize and maintain trackers, logs, and audit-ready documentation.
Operate under the direction of the General Counsel and outside export counsel, escalating judgment calls rather than making independent legal determinations.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and visions plans
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
Equity grants for new hires
Unlimited PTO
Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including holiday hiatuses in July & December.
Generous Parental Leave
Lifestyle Spending Account
FSA
DCFSA
HSA
Hospital Indemnity insurance
Critical Illness insurance
Accident insurance
Basic Life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, 100% covered by Firestorm. Plus, the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your family.
Mental Health Resources: free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available.