Trade Compliance Lead

Work Authorization Requirement: Due to the nature of our business and compliance with federal regulations, all candidates must be a "U.S. Person". Upon hire, you will be required to provide documentation verifying your status as a U.S. Citizen, a lawful permanent resident, or a protected individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

Role: Trade Compliance Lead

Location: Washington, DC

Compensation*: $150,000-$190,000 + benefits

Role Summary

Success in this role means enabling the business to operate confidently and compliantly in support of global defense programs while establishing and maintaining a robust export and trade compliance posture. This individual will ensure Rivet maintains a clear understanding of its obligations under ITAR, EAR, and OFAC, and will build the rigor, documentation, and accountability needed to continuously demonstrate compliance to both commercial partners and the U.S. Government.

This is a role where your ITAR/EAR licensing expertise enables international business execution across a complex EO/IR and integrated systems portfolio. You will serve as Rivet's primary Global Trade point of contact—partnering with capture teams, program managers, engineering, and supply chain to move quickly and effectively while maintaining an uncompromising compliance posture. You will own the full licensing lifecycle, act as a trusted interpreter of export regulations for the broader organization, and mentor junior trade compliance professionals. If you're looking for a role at the intersection of business strategy, defense operations, and trade compliance, this is it.

Role Description 

As the Trade Compliance Lead, you will develop and execute export/import authorization strategies that support international marketing, sales, procurement, manufacturing activities, and program execution involving defense and dual-use articles.

On a day-to-day basis, you will:

• Own the full export/import licensing lifecycle—preparing license applications, agreements, and authorizations; facilitating hardware and software release approvals; and reviewing technical data prior to release. 
• Partner with program, engineering, operations, supply chain, and leadership to align business activities with ITAR, EAR, and OFAC requirements, and represent Trade Compliance in internal and external forums. 
• Serve as a trusted advisor to program teams.
• Lead compliance assessments, investigations, audits, and corrective actions, and drive continuous improvement of export control procedures, governance, and documentation. 
• Develop and maintain trade compliance policies, procedures, training programs, and internal controls to ensure consistent regulatory compliance across the organization. 
• Support product classification efforts, restricted party screening processes, and compliance reviews associated with international business activities.

This role requires someone who can balance regulatory rigor with business enablement—someone who can not only interpret complex trade requirements but also operationalize them in a way that supports execution across a fast-moving organization.

Role Requirements 

• Minimum 5–8 years of combined experience across ITAR/EAR trade compliance and industrial security, including hands-on experience preparing and submitting export/import license applications, agreements, exemptions, and exceptions for USG approval
• Experience managing export and import licensing and classifications for both hardware and software under ITAR, EAR and OFAC
• Demonstrated ability to determine and certify appropriate legal authority — license, exemption, or exception — for exports of defense articles, dual-use commodities, technical data, and defense services
• Experience supporting program-level and capture-level engagements, including providing authorization status updates to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders
• Working knowledge of 32 CFR Part 117 (NISPOM), DD Form 254 interpretation, and contract security flow-downs, with proficiency in government licensing and security systems (DECCS, SNAP-R, SAP-GT, OCR EASE, DISS, NBIS, NISS)
• Strong communication and training skills, with the ability to deliver consistent regulatory interpretation and develop trade compliance training for non-trade employees
• Knowledge of customs regulations, HTS classifications and restricted party screening
• Strong understanding of deemed export regulations and foreign natural access protocols

*Total compensation may vary within this range and is determined by years and level of relevant experience, job-related skills, education, and other factors. In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible for equity grants and other forms of compensation. Eligible employees also receive a competitive benefits package, including unlimited PTO.