Principal Defense Trade Specialist
Gateway Recruiting · gatewayrecruiting.com
United StatesLead / Manager10+ yrs
Straight from the company’s own careers site.
The job in short
Defense trade compliance specialist.
ComplianceLegal
Details
- Found
- 5 d ago · posted 2026-09-03
Full description
Are you interested in building a safer world through international trade? This is a non-supervisory position that will report into the Delivery Team, responsible for supporting the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) needs of our customers.
This level works on high-visibility or mission-critical aspects of a given program and performs all functional duties independently. This role may oversee the efforts of less senior staff and/or be responsible for the efforts of all staff assigned to a specific job.
• Protect the technical predominance of the U.S. Military and global allies.
• Simplify and enable access to responsible and effective trade.
• Coach a holistic approach to international defense business.
Candidate Profile:
• Embody the values of Integrity, Passion, Simplicity, Trust, Curiosity, and Stewardship to the team, the customers, and the business.
• Professional with a strong interest in foreign policy and national security.
• Passionate about the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Arms Export Control Act (AECA), Technology Security & Foreign Disclosure (TSFD), Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Global Trade.
• Desires solving complex problems with solutions that result in providing military technology to U.S. allies and partners in a legal and compliant manner.
• Self-starter who thrives in an environment that rewards creativity, ambition and integrity.
• An entrepreneur who wants to be involved in building a premier professional service firm.
• Yearns to grow and be coached to achieve full potential.
• Craves the fast pace of a start-up environment.
• A positive team player with a “Yes, if” attitude that is always on the hunt for solutions.
• Values “Work-Life Harmony” through success and fulfillment within both your career and personal life.
Qualifications and Experience:
• 10+ years (Principal Specialist) of relevant work experience specifically to defense trade – ITAR, FMS or TSFD experience required.?
• Working knowledge of the ITAR, EAR and AECA.
• Experience building international trade compliance programs for aerospace or defense companies (prior ITAR Empowered Official preferred).
• Strong ability drafting and managing ITAR export licenses and agreements.
• Experience participating in and managing ITAR compliance audits and assessments.
• Ability to conduct self-classifications and commodity jurisdictions with technical rigor.
• Experience drafting and implementing enterprise-wide international trade compliance policies & procedures.
• Working knowledge of the Foreign Military Sales process from Letter of Request (LOR) to Letter of Offer & Acceptance (LOA).
• Working knowledge of Technology Security & Foreign Disclosure (TSFD) Release.
• Familiarity with social media and strategic communication strategies.
• Customer service and client management skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively and provide training to audiences at all levels (action officer to C-Suite) in a defense industry enterprise.
• Ability to establish and maintain rapport with clients and the U.S. Government.
• Ability to solve defense trade problems and provide service to our customers without direction and with minimal rework.
• A reliable resource for all teammates with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to hold and maintain a DoD Active Secret Security Clearance or higher is required.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% of the time.
Principal Specialist Additional Requirements:
• This level is a Subject Matter Expert whose qualifications and/or particular expertise are exceptional and/or highly unique. This role is identified as recognized Industry leaders for a given area of expertise.
• Initiates, supervises, and/or develops requirements from a project’s inception to conclusion for complex to extremely complex programs
• Provides strategic advice, technical guidance and expertise to program and project staff
• Provides detailed analysis, evaluation and recommendations for improvements, optimization development, and/or maintenance efforts for client-specific or mission critical challenges/issues
• Consults with clients to define need or problem supervises studies and leads surveys to collect and analyze data to provide advice and recommend solutions
• Ability to lead solutions to defense trade problems and provide service to our customers, while also improving upon what was done in the past.
• Ability to lead teammates in problem solving and break down barriers through a high level of communication skills that can simplify problems.
• Ability to be a trusted advisor with established relationships with our clients and U.S. Government.
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