The Opportunity
We're looking for a Logistics Coordinator who can keep complex international shipments moving – a role that combines hands-on logistics coordination with export compliance in a fast-growing defence engineering business.
This opportunity would suit someone who knows their way around international shipping and enjoys getting into the detail. You'll be coordinating everything from everyday domestic and international shipments through to temporary movements, ATA Carnets and dangerous goods, while supporting our export licensing and compliance activity.
Who We Are
OpenWorks is a rapidly growing business operating globally with a passion for exceptional engineering and building on a legacy of defence innovation in the North East of England.
Our products provide ultra-high performance, real-time detection, tracking, identification and targeting of dynamic aerial threats. They have been deployed internationally to protect high profile military and civilian assets, and contribute towards the defeat of nuisance, misguided and maliciously deployed drones during operations.
We are very proud to have supported a wide range of law enforcement and military operators, protecting many of the most high profile sites and individuals around the world.
The amazing things we do are only possible because of a dedicated and passionate team.
Security Vetting Information
OpenWorks Engineering operates within the defence sector. As part of our recruitment and onboarding processes, we collect information that may be required to support future security vetting and clearance requirements, should these become necessary during employment.
Why You’ll Love Working With Us
Join a high-energy, collaborative team where great ideas thrive, challenges are embraced, and people genuinely love what they do.
Here’s what our benefits have to offer:
Rewarding Success - Competitive salary, starting from £30,000, plus a discretionary annual bonus of up to 25% of salary alongside a structured pay progression framework.
Enhanced Pension – Up to 8% employer-matched contributions to help you plan for the future.
More Time to Recharge – 25 days’ holiday plus public holidays, long-service rewards, and the option to buy up to 5 extra days.
Breakfast & Lunch on Us – Enjoy team breakfasts and freshly prepared lunches every day courtesy of Chef Mark and his team.
Health & Wellbeing – Private healthcare and life assurance for added peace of mind.
Sustainable Travel – Salary sacrifice schemes, including EV car and Cycle to Work options.
Team Socials – Regular events, from quiz nights and football to board games and more.
Learning & Growth – A culture that empowers you to challenge, grow and make an impact, plus a £250 annual learning budget to invest in the development that matters most to you.
What you’ll be doing:
Coordinate shipments: Manage day-to-day inbound and outbound shipments across the business, arranging domestic and international transport with freight forwarders, couriers and customs brokers.
Manage documentation: Prepare accurate shipping and export documentation, including commercial invoices, packing lists, end-user statements and licence references.
Support export compliance: Support our Senior Logistics and Export team with export licence applications and maintain accurate licensing, compliance and shipping records.
Coordinate temporary movements: Prepare and administer ATA Carnets and oversee temporary imports and exports, ensuring the right documentation is in place.
Handle dangerous goods: Coordinate dangerous goods shipments, ensuring packaging, labelling and documentation requirements are met.
Keep things moving: Liaise with internal teams and external logistics partners to track shipments, resolve issues and keep deliveries on schedule.
Maintain audit-ready records: Keep logistics trackers, records and supporting documentation organised, accurate and ready for audit.
Improve our processes: Identify opportunities to make our logistics, shipping and export compliance processes more efficient and robust as the business grows.
What we’re looking for:
Logistics experience: Experience in a logistics, shipping or export coordination role, with hands-on experience managing domestic and international shipments as a shipper or consignor.
International shipping knowledge: A good understanding of international shipping processes and Incoterms, with confidence working with freight forwarders, couriers and customs brokers.
Organisation & attention to detail: Highly organised with a meticulous approach to documentation, records and deadlines, and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Communication: Confident working with internal teams and external logistics partners, with the ability to build effective working relationships and resolve issues quickly.
Export compliance: An understanding of export controls and trade compliance, with experience shipping licensable or controlled goods desirable.
Regulated environments: Experience within defence, engineering, manufacturing or another highly regulated industry would be advantageous.
Specialist knowledge: Experience with ATA Carnets, dangerous goods shipments, export licensing systems such as SPIRE, or recognised dangerous goods training would be desirable.
Personal approach: Proactive, dependable and accountable, with a calm approach to problem solving and a practical mindset towards getting things done.
More about us:
Vision
Help protect the territory and airspace of NATO countries and their allies.
Mission
Be a world-leading provider of autonomous technology for Surveillance applications and Defence
Values
Be a Good Egg: Earn respect, have mutual trust and be honest
Do cool stuff: We develop cool tech with an awesome team, and we get stuff done
Be empowered: We are autonomous, reliable and take personal responsibility
We are one team: Look out for each other and the team
Things go wrong: Fail fast, learn and move on
Have fun: We’re doing amazing things with passionate people
We Get It Done: Focus on what matters and work with energy to bring ideas to life
Skills Required
- Experience in logistics, shipping, or export coordination, including managing domestic and international shipments as a shipper or consignor.
- Understanding of international shipping processes and Incoterms.
- Experience working with freight forwarders, couriers, and customs brokers.
- Highly organized, meticulous approach to documentation, records, deadlines, and multiple priorities.
- Confident communication and relationship-building skills with internal teams and external logistics partners.
- Understanding of export controls and trade compliance.
- Proactive, dependable, accountable, calm, and practical problem-solving approach.
- Experience shipping licensable or controlled goods.
- Experience in defence, engineering, manufacturing, or another highly regulated industry.
- Experience with ATA Carnets.
- Experience with dangerous goods shipments.
- Experience with export licensing systems such as SPIRE.
- Recognized dangerous goods training.
What We Do
OpenWorks Engineering is a UK-based technology company that develops advanced autonomous optical systems and counter-UAS (uncrewed air systems) solutions. Their mission is to provide world-leading technology for surveillance, air defense, and the protection of high-profile assets, facilities, and individuals from aerial threats. They focus on delivering innovative, modular, and high-performance hardware, including the SkyWall drone capture system, to support defense and security forces globally.
