Export Control Officer

Sierra Circuits is a Silicon Valley-based leader in printed circuit board manufacturing and assembly, specializing in high-quality, quick-turn and complex prototypes. With over 35 years of experience, Sierra provides a seamless, end-to-end PCB solution-from design and fabrication to assembly and testing-all under one roof at its state-of-the-art facilities in Sunnyvale, California. Sierra Circuits is committed to supporting engineers and designers through extensive educational resources.

The company offers free online tools such as the Stackup Designer, Impedance Calculator, Material Selector, and BOM and DFM Checkers, along with technical blogs, webinars, design guides, and its Sierra Connect community forum. Sierra Circuit serves all industries including aerospace, defense, medical, automotive, and telecommunications, building PCBs to the highest industry standards, and keeping innovation at the forefront of everything we do.

SUMMARY: The Export Control Officer ensures that all PCB manufacturing and Assembly activities comply with U.S. export control laws, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). This role oversees the classification, handling, transfer, and documentation of controlled technical data, materials, and products produced in the PCB fabrication environment. The Export Control Officer works closely with engineering, CAM, production, HR, and sales to ensure that sensitive PCB designs and customer data are protected and managed in accordance with regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain and enforce the company's Export Compliance Program (ECP) in alignment with EAR, ITAR, OFAC, and other applicable regulations.
• Ensure PCB designs, stack-ups, fabrication notes, and customer data are handled according to export control requirements.
• Monitor regulatory changes and update internal procedures accordingly.

Product & Technical Data Classification

• Classify PCBs, materials, and related technical data under ECCN, USML, and HTS codes.
• Determine whether PCB designs or manufacturing processes fall under ITAR or EAR restrictions.
• Identify license requirements and applicable license exceptions.

Licensing & Documentation

• Prepare and submit export license applications to BIS and DDTC.
• Maintain accurate records of licenses, technical data transfers, and export-controlled communications.
• Review and approve export documentation, including end-use statements, customer certifications, and shipping paperwork.

Controlled Data Management

• Oversee access controls for ITAR/EAR-restricted PCB design files, CAM data, and manufacturing travelers.
• Ensure only authorized U.S. persons access controlled technical data.
• Support secure data transfer protocols with customers and suppliers.

Internal Audits & Investigations

• Conduct periodic audits of manufacturing, engineering, and data-handling processes.
• Identify compliance gaps and implement corrective actions.
• Investigate potential violations and coordinate voluntary disclosures when necessary.

Training & Awareness

• Provide export-control training to engineering, CAM, production, HR, and customer-facing teams.
• Educate employees on handling-controlled PCB designs, restricted materials, and secure communication practices.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work with engineering and CAM teams to identify export-controlled features in PCB designs.
• Support HR with screening and onboarding of employees for ITAR-restricted roles.
• Partner with sales to review customer profiles, end-use, and export-control implications before accepting orders.

Government & External Relations

• Serve as the primary point of contact for BIS, DDTC, and other regulatory agencies.
• Support external audits and respond to government inquiries.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in International Business, Law, Engineering, or related field.
• 3-7 years of experience in export compliance, preferably in electronics or manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of EAR, ITAR, OFAC, and controlled technical data handling.
• Ability to interpret PCB fabrication documents (Gerbers, stack-ups, fab notes).
• Excellent documentation, communication, and analytical skills.

Preferred:

• Experience in PCB manufacturing, electronics, aerospace, or defense industries.
• Certifications such as ECoP, ITAR Compliance Professional, or similar.
• Familiarity with compliance software (e.g., SAP GTS, OCR, Amber Road).
• Understanding of IPC standards (IPC-2221, IPC-6012, etc.).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Regularly required to talk and hear.
• Frequently required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, and lift up to 20 lbs.
• Ability to open filing cabinets, bend, stand, or use step ladders as needed.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Office and manufacturing environment.
• Must comply with all required safety protocols and use protective equipment as needed.
• This is an on-site position, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with lunch break. Occasional variations in time schedule depending on project needs and workload.
• Requires…