Export Compliance Manager

Melbourne, United States

• Serve as, or be designated into, the organization’s Empowered Official under 22 CFR 120.25, holding independent authority and accountability for the company's ITAR compliance posture.
• Personally review, certify, and sign license applications, agreements, and related DDTC submissions, exercising independent judgment as to legal sufficiency and compliance rather than routing signature authority through others.
• Prepare, submit, and track DSP-5, DSP-73, DSP-83, and related license applications, along with Technical Assistance Agreements (TAAs) and Manufacturing License Agreements (MLAs), through DDTC's DECCS system.
• Serve as primary point of contact and accountable authority to DDTC, BIS, and other U.S. Government agencies on licensing and compliance matters.
• Draft and maintain Commodity Jurisdiction and Classification Determination requests and records for company platforms, subsystems, and technical data.
• Support structuring and compliance execution of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) contracts, including coordination with DSCA, program offices, and foreign end-users.
• Coordinate export logistics for international shipments, including preparation and review of shipping documentation, commercial invoices, and consignee/end-user verification against active licenses and authorizations.
• Conduct and document restricted-party screening for customers, partners, and transaction counter parties; maintain screening certificates and audit trails.
• Develop, maintain, and update Standard Operating Procedures, compliance forms, and the company Export Compliance Manual in coordination with the Empowered Official.
• Draft and negotiate export-control provisions in international agreements, including co-production and technology transfer arrangements, teaming agreements, and non-disclosure agreements.
• Support internal training on ITAR/EAR requirements for engineering, program management, and business development staff.
• Monitor changes to ITAR, EAR, and related U.S. export control regulations and advise leadership on program impact.
• Own voluntary self-disclosures, government inquiries, and internal compliance audits, exercising the independent judgment required of an Empowered Official.

• 8-10 years of progressive experience in U.S. export compliance within the defense or aerospace industry.
• Direct prior experience serving as a company's designated Empowered Official under 22 CFR 120.25, with demonstrated independent signature authority on license applications and agreements — required, not preferred.
• Demonstrated, hands‑on experience with DDTC registration, licensing systems (DECCS), and license application development (DSP-5, DSP‑73, DSP‑83, TAAs, MLAs).
• Working knowledge of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case structuring and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) contract compliance requirements.
• Experience coordinating export logistics, including shipping documentation, freight forwarder coordination, and end‑use/end‑user verification.
• Strong working knowledge of ITAR (22 CFR 120-130) and familiarity with EAR (15 CFR 730-774).
• Experience drafting and maintaining export compliance SOPs, manuals, and record‑keeping systems.
• U.S. Person status as defined under ITAR.
• Excellent written communication skills, with experience producing board‑ and government‑ready compliance documentation.

• Experience supporting maritime, unmanned systems, or naval platform programs.
• Experience with co‑production, technology transfer, or licensed manufacturing arrangements with foreign partners.
• Familiarity with Taiwan, Indo‑Pacific, or allied‑nation defense procurement frameworks.
• Paralegal, JD, or other relevant legal/compliance credential.
• Active or prior U.S. Government security clearance.
• Experience supporting restricted‑party screening tools and export management software.