The posting
Export Controls & Trade Compliance Manager
Location: Austin, TX or Washington, D.C. (Hybrid on-site, with up to 5% travel)
Clearance Requirement: U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain a security clearance
About NODA
NODA is a Veteran-owned, venture-backed technology company that is transforming how unmanned systems collaborate in complex, mission-critical environments. We are developing next-generation solutions that enable the autonomous orchestration of heterogeneous unmanned systems across air, sea, land, and space with vital applications in the defense, intelligence, and commercial sectors.
Our Operations team plays a critical role in ensuring NODA can move quickly, responsibly, and compliantly in a highly regulated defense technology environment. As our products, partnerships, programs, and international activities scale, trade compliance is central to how we develop technology, collaborate with customers and partners, protect controlled information, and execute across the business.
Joining NODA means working on meaningful technology that pushes the boundaries of autonomy alongside a team that thrives on innovation, rapid iteration, and collaboration.
The Role
We are seeking an Export Controls & Trade Compliance Manager to serve as the day-to-day operational owner for NODA AI's export controls and trade compliance activities. You will be responsible for the mechanics that keep our program running: import and export compliance, restricted party screening, licensing administration, jurisdiction and classification, government submissions, training, foreign person and visitor controls, audits, and recordkeeping.
You will work closely with outside export compliance counsel on matters requiring specialized legal or regulatory interpretation and translate that guidance into practical action. You will also partner across Engineering, Business Development, Contracts, the Information System Security Manager (ISSM), Facility Security Officer (FSO), People Operations, and Finance to embed trade compliance into how NODA AI operates rather than treating it as an after-the-fact review.
This role is for someone comfortable operating at the intersection of technology, national security, regulation, and execution. You can move quickly without sacrificing rigor, understand enough about complex technical products to ask the right questions, and bring structure to an environment where requirements and priorities evolve quickly. You know when to independently execute established processes and when a question requires escalation to outside counsel. Most importantly, you are an operator who keeps licenses moving, records audit-ready, employees trained, controlled information protected, and compliance requirements from becoming barriers to execution.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as NODA AI's internal subject matter expert and operational owner for export controls and trade compliance, driving program execution, policy implementation, regulatory change management, and cross-functional compliance efforts while partnering with outside counsel on complex legal and regulatory matters.
- Own and manage DDTC registration and regulatory compliance obligations, including registrations, renewals, required government filings, certifications, reporting activities, and correspondence with the U.S. Department of State, DDTC, BIS, and other applicable government agencies.
- Prepare, submit, administer, and track export licenses, agreements, authorizations, and classification requests through U.S. Government systems, including DECCS and SNAP-R, covering DSP-5 licenses, TAAs, MLAs, commodity jurisdiction and classification requests, and other applicable export authorizations.
- Perform, document, and maintain written jurisdiction and classification determinations for software, source code, technical data, hardware, and integrated systems under the USML and CCL/ECCN frameworks, partnering with Engineering and Product to understand functionality, technical characteristics, end use, and changes that may affect existing determinations.
- Perform and document restricted and denied party screening for customers, partners, vendors, visitors, and foreign persons, and administer foreign person and visitor compliance requirements, including screening, access reviews, DDTC notifications, certifications, deemed export considerations, and supporting documentation.
- Administer applicable ITAR exemptions, EAR license exceptions, Technology Control Plans, and Technology Transfer Plans, maintaining accurate records of licenses, agreements, classifications, provisos, exceptions, exemptions, expiration dates, reporting requirements, and continuing obligations.
- Partner with the ISSM, FSO, IT, Security, Engineering, and other stakeholders to control and document access to export-controlled information across company systems, development environments, repositories, facilities, and restricted environments, including reviews of software and technical data releases and technology transfers.
- Support import and cross-border compliance activities, including tariff classification, country-of-origin and customs documentation, international shipments, demonstrations and deployments, and coordination with customs brokers and freight forwarders.
- Deliver new-hire, role-specific, and recurring export-control training; conduct internal audits and self-assessments; support internal compliance investigations and potential violation reviews; document findings; track corrective actions through closure; support government inquiries and compliance reviews; and maintain complete, organized, and audit-ready trade compliance records.
- Maintain and continuously improve NODA AI's Export Management and Compliance Program (EMCP), partnering cross-functionally to address licensing, export restrictions, end-use and end-user requirements, sanctions, foreign person reviews, and other trade compliance obligations.
Required Qualifications
- 5+ years of hands-on experience supporting or executing U.S. import, export, or trade compliance activities, including practical experience with ITAR and EAR requirements.
- In-depth working knowledge of ITAR, EAR, OFAC sanctions requirements, the Commerce Control List (CCL), Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCNs), U.S. Munitions List (USML), and deemed export concepts.
- Hands-on experience preparing, administering, or tracking DDTC and/or BIS export licenses, agreements, authorizations, or classification requests, including DSP-5s, TAAs, MLAs, or similar authorizations.
- Familiarity with U.S. Government trade compliance systems, including DECCS and SNAP-R.
- Demonstrated ability to prepare and coordinate regulatory correspondence, notifications, requests, and approvals with DDTC and other applicable U.S. Government agencies.
- Proficiency in restricted and denied party screening, including maintaining complete and accurate compliance documentation.
- Familiarity with administering Technology Control Plans, Technology Transfer Plans, and similar export-control access and authorization requirements.
- Working knowledge of U.S. import and customs compliance requirements.
- Strong working knowledge of trade compliance recordkeeping in an audit-ready environment.
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Finance, or a related field.
- Due to the nature of the position, U.S. citizenship is required due to ITAR regulations, along with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
- Active DoD security clearance, Secret or higher.
- Graduate degree in Business, Law, Finance, or a related field.
- Experience in defense technology, aerospace, autonomous systems, robotics, or another highly regulated technical environment.
- Experience supporting a registered ITAR manufacturer and exporter or U.S. Government contractor.
- Experience supporting international defense programs, including Foreign Military Sales (FMS), Direct Commercial Sales (DCS), international demonstrations, overseas deployments, or similar cross-border defense activities.
- Experience with BIS commodity classifications, license applications, and EAR license exceptions.
- Experience conducting internal trade compliance audits, self-assessments, investigations, voluntary disclosures, and corrective-action tracking.
- Experience coordinating foreign person access controls and deemed export reviews.
- Certification such as Certified Export Compliance Professional (CECP), Licensed Customs Broker (LCB), CUSECO, or a comparable trade compliance credential.
Skills & Attributes
- Execution-focused, taking ownership of the mechanics of compliance and consistently closing the loop on licenses, screenings, classifications, records, training, approvals, and follow-up.
- Detail-oriented, understanding that small administrative errors can create significant regulatory risk and maintaining a high standard of accuracy.
- Highly organized, managing multiple licenses, deadlines, classifications, approvals, provisos, screenings, and stakeholders without losing track of details.
- Exercises sound judgment, independently executing established trade compliance processes, recognizing potential compliance risks, and knowing when to escalate to the VP of Operations or outside counsel.
- Technically curious and operationally practical, willing to learn how complex hardware, software, autonomous systems, and technical architectures work well enough to support accurate compliance decisions and translate regulatory requirements into processes engineers and operators can follow.
Benefits & Perks
Our culture fosters collaboration, respect, and trust, empowering passionate people to do their best work. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth. In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation:
- We offer premium medical, dental, and vision coverage with zero paycheck premiums for you and your family
- 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals + Company match
- Equity grants for new hires
- Unlimited PTO
- 11 Paid holidays
- Extremely generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in November & December.
- Generous Parental Leave
- Military Leave for annual training or service requirements
- FSA
- DCFSA
- HSA
- Professional Development Opportunities
- Access to One Medical https://www.onemedical.com/
- 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.
Growth Path at NODA
- Senior Trade Compliance Specialist – increased ownership of complex licenses, classifications, audits, international transactions, Technology Control Plans, government submissions, and cross-functional compliance initiatives as NODA's international footprint scales
- Trade Compliance Manager – lead the broader trade compliance function spanning program ownership, regulatory strategy, and organizational capability as the business grows
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
NODA AI is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace and to maintaining equitable employment and hiring practices. We provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees and make all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
As a federal contractor, NODA AI complies with all applicable equal employment opportunity and affirmative action requirements, including Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA), as amended. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities throughout the recruiting, hiring, and employment process.
Consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with applicable fair chance and ban-the-box laws, including the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance where applicable. We actively encourage qualified individuals of all backgrounds, including women, minorities, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities, to apply.
NODA AI is committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and accessible work environment for all applicants and employees. If you require accommodations or assistance during the application process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected] or contact your recruiter so we can provide the support you need.
