Senior Import Specialist

To make electronics, you need chips, wafers, transistors, reticles, and... To make these, you must see, test and manufacture them at scale—faster and better than ever before. That's where KLA comes in. Whether you're early in your career or an experienced professional, you'll solve complex challenges, work alongside brilliant minds and help shape the future of technology.

Group/Division

The Legal Compliance Organization (LCO) provides legal guidance to further KLA’s strategic objectives and protect and preserve the company's legal, ethical and financial integrity and reputation. Drawing on expertise in corporate law, commercial law, employment law, ethics and compliance, and intellectual property, the LCO offers strategic legal counsel that is informed by a clear understanding of the company’s business objectives and knowledge of the laws and regulations relevant to the business worldwide.

What You'll Do

In this role, you will play a key part in advancing business priorities by delivering high-impact work across your area of expertise.

The Senior Import Specialist is a key member of the Global Trade Compliance team responsible for ensuring compliant, efficient, and scalable import and export operations with a primary focus on U.S. imports. This role is responsible for complex tariff classification, import compliance controls, analytics, audit support, process design, and cross-functional trade compliance initiatives. The position partners closely with Legal, Logistics, Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering, Product Management, Customs Brokers, and regional trade teams to standardize processes, improve data quality, implement automation opportunities, and maintain compliance with customs and export control regulations to ensure compliance. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Support HS/HTS classifications and support ECCN determinations for semiconductor equipment, spare parts, components, electronics, software, and related technologies. 

• Review and validate broker filings, customs documentation, customs values, country of origin declarations, and trade remedy applicability. 

• Act as a primary interface for CBP Requests for Information (CF-28/29s etc), audits, post-entry reviews, disclosures, and compliance inquiries. 

• Design, document, and continuously improve import/export processes, controls, SOPs, and governance procedures. 

• Develop exception reporting, validation controls, systemic data feeds, and compliance monitoring metrics. 

• Develop and maintain dashboards, compliance analytics, and exception reporting to monitor key trade compliance KPIs, identify operational and regulatory risks, and drive data-driven decision making. Partner closely with customs brokers, freight forwarders, and external service providers to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, broker instructions, service level expectations, and established standard operating procedures. 

• Lead trade compliance projects, system enhancements, and automation initiatives. 

• Coordinate with logistics providers, customs brokers, procurement, engineering, and manufacturing teams to standardize global processes. 

• Support internal and external audits and conduct periodic reviews of trade compliance controls and records. 

• Monitor regulatory changes and present risk assessments and recommendations to senior leadership. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Solid understanding of U.S. Customs regulations, tariff classification, valuation, country of origin, and import documentation. 
• Experience responding to customs audits and regulatory inquiries. 

• Strong project management and cross-functional leadership skills. Experience within semiconductor, electronics, advanced manufacturing, or other technology industries. 
• LCB, CCS, CES, or similar certification preferred. 
• Experience with SAP GTS, SAP, ACE reporting, or trade management systems. 
• Experience crafting controls, validations, automation solutions, and exception-based monitoring.
• Sophisticated Excel skills including Power Query, Pivot Tables, and XLOOKUP. 
• Ability to analyze large datasets and translate findings into business actions. 
• Experience supporting workflow automation and digital transformation initiatives.
• Import Compliance Expertise 
• Executive Communication 
• Process Development & Continuous Improvement 
• Project Leadership 
• Risk Management & Audit Readiness 
• Data-Driven Decision Making 

Minimum Qualifications

• Doctorate (Academic) Degree and 0 years related work experience; Master's Level Degree and related work experience of 3 years; Bachelor's Level Degree and related work experience of 5 years

About KLA

We provide advanced inspection tools, metrology systems, process solutions, and computational analytics that make electronics possible, tackling complex challenges. From electron and photon optics to machine learning and data analytics, we seek perfection at the most fundamental level of matter in the universe. If you want to make electronics that push industries forward and make the world a better place, join us.

Total Rewards

Base Pay Range: $77,800.00 - $114,133.00 Annually Primary Location: USA-MI-Ann Arbor-KLA

KLA’s total rewards package for employees may also include participation in performance incentive programs and eligibility for additional benefits including but not limited to: medical, dental, vision, life, and other voluntary benefits, 401(K) including company matching, employee stock purchase program (ESPP), student debt assistance, tuition reimbursement program, development and career growth opportunities and programs, financial planning benefits, wellness benefits including an employee assistance program (EAP), paid time off and paid company holidays, and family care and bonding leave.
Interns are eligible for some of the benefits listed. Our pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed reflects the pay for this position in the primary location identified in this posting. Actual pay depends on several factors, including state minimum pay wage rates, location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education level or training. We are committed to complying with all applicable federal and state minimum wage requirements where applicable. If applicable, your recruiter can share more about the specific pay range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

Use of AI Statement 

At KLA, our interviews seek to understand your individual skills, problem-solving approach and authentic thinking. To ensure a fair and consistent evaluation, the use of AI, recording tools or other technologies to generate, suggest or provide responses during interviews—whether virtual or in person—is not permitted unless explicitly approved in advance as part of a reasonable accommodation or invited by the interviewer. Use of these tools may interfere with our ability to evaluate your individual qualifications and affect your candidacy. KLA is committed to advancing innovation through responsible AI, and we value candidates who share this mindset.

Equal Opportunity Statement

KLA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will ensure that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us at [email protected] or at +1-408-352-2808 to request accommodation.

For additional information, view the US Know Your Rights poster on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website.