Trade Compliance Officer

The posting, as Firestorm wrote it

Firestorm is hiring a Trade Compliance Officer to own and lead our trade compliance program. As we move from prototypes to production, and from domestic programs to international partners, co-production, and a deployable manufacturing platform, export controls stop being a back-office function and become part of how we design, sell, build, and ship. You will make sure compliance moves at the speed of the business — and that the business never outruns compliance.

Reporting to the General Counsel, you will be Firestorm’s senior trade compliance authority and the connective tissue between Engineering, Legal, Business Development, and Operations. You will make and document jurisdiction, classification, licensing, and screening determinations; set the compliance requirements for new programs, partnerships, and deals before they are signed; and hold the authority to pause a shipment, a technical data release, or a transaction until it is properly authorized. You will direct outside export counsel on novel or high-risk questions rather than rely on them for day-to-day answers.

This is a builder’s role. The foundations exist; your job is to turn them into an Export Management and Compliance Program that scales — embedded in our engineering tools, our deal process, and our supply chain — and to build the team that runs it as we grow.

We are looking for a seasoned practitioner who pairs deep ITAR/EAR expertise with business judgment: someone who can tell BD how to structure a foreign deal so it is licensable, tell Engineering what a design change does to a classification, and tell leadership plainly where the risk sits and what it will take to manage it.

What You’ll Do

Program Ownership & Leadership

• Own Firestorm’s Export Management and Compliance Program (EMCP) end to end — policies, procedures, internal controls, risk assessment, and continuous improvement — aligned with DDTC and BIS compliance program guidelines
• Serve as, or be positioned for designation as, Firestorm’s ITAR Empowered Official, with authority to sign license applications and to stop any export, release, or transaction that is not properly authorized
• Maintain Firestorm’s DDTC registration and serve as the company’s primary point of contact with DDTC, BIS, OFAC, and CBP
• Report program health, risks, and metrics to the General Counsel and executive leadership, and brief the Board as required
• Direct and manage outside export counsel and consultants; decide what is handled in-house and what warrants outside advice, and manage the associated budget
• Build and lead the trade compliance function over time, including hiring and developing a Trade Compliance Specialist as volume grows

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Engineering & Product: Embed compliance into the product lifecycle — jurisdiction and classification reviews at design gates, configuration change control, technical data marking and segregation, and foreign person access to controlled data — so determinatio

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rt-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: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available to you as well.

Export Control Compliance

To conform to U.S. government export control regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Firestorm is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, and upholding equitable hiring practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic under federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process.

Firestorm is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require accommodations or assistance during the application process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at careers@launchfirestorm.com so we can provide the support you need.

Compensation
The base pay range for this role is $192,112 – $229,937 per year.