We are looking to add a Trade Compliance Manager to our team in Germany. In this role, you will be responsible for developing, implementing and leading the Company's integrated Trade Compliance Programme across Germany. The role provides strategic leadership for export controls, customs compliance, sanctions, import compliance, Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), product origin, customs valuation, duty optimisation, the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and applicable U.S. extraterritorial export control requirements affecting European operations.
Acting as the principal subject matter expert, the position ensures compliance with German, European Union, United States and other international trade regulations while enabling business growth across defence, aerospace, space, telecommunications and high-technology programmes. The role partners with Engineering, Programmes, Procurement, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Contracts, Finance, Legal and Executive Leadership and serves as the primary liaison with BAFA, German Customs (Zoll), the European Commission and other regulatory authorities.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead and continuously improve the Germany Trade Compliance Programme.
- Ensure compliance with the German Foreign Trade and Payments Act (AWG), Foreign Trade and Payments Ordinance (AWV), EU Dual-Use Regulation (EU) 2021/821, EU sanctions and other applicable European trade regulations.
- Ensure compliance with applicable U.S. regulations including ITAR, EAR, OFAC, de minimis, Foreign Direct Product Rule (FDPR), licence exceptions and re-export requirements affecting German operations.
- Manage BAFA licence applications, amendments, reporting and regulatory correspondence.
- Provide customs compliance leadership under the Union Customs Code (UCC), including tariff classification, customs valuation, origin determination and import procedures.
- Manage customs authorisations including AEO, Temporary Admission, Inward Processing, Outward Processing, Customs Warehousing and Returned Goods Relief.
- Develop strategies to optimise customs duty, VAT and supply-chain efficiency through lawful use of FTAs and preferential origin.
- Determine preferential and non-preferential origin and maintain supplier declarations.
- Coordinate CBAM applicability assessments and reporting with procurement and finance.
- Provide oversight of customs brokers, freight forwarders and logistics providers.
- Conduct export classification, jurisdiction and licensing reviews for products, software, technology and technical data.
- Develop policies, procedures, training, audits, monitoring and corrective actions.
- Investigate potential violations and manage voluntary disclosures where required.
- Support mergers, acquisitions, localisation projects and international collaborations from a trade compliance perspective.
- Maintain compliant records and monitor regulatory changes.
JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Law, Engineering, Supply Chain or related discipline.
- Minimum seven years' progressive experience in customs and export compliance.
- Strong knowledge of German and EU export control regulations.
- Strong knowledge of EU customs legislation, customs valuation, tariff classification and origin.
- Experience with BAFA and German Customs (Zoll).
- Experience managing import/export authorisations and customs audits.
- Working knowledge of ITAR, EAR and OFAC requirements affecting European businesses.
- Experience with ERP or Global Trade Management systems (e.g. SAP GTS or equivalent).
- Excellent communication skills in German and English.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
- Experience within aerospace, defence, satellite or telecommunications industries.
- Professional customs or export compliance certification.
- Experience implementing AEO or customs special procedures.
- Experience supporting multinational supply chains and localisation programmes.
- Eligibility to obtain and maintain German, NATO or EU security clearance where programme requirements apply.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Law, Engineering, Supply Chain or related discipline.
- Minimum seven years' progressive experience in customs and export compliance.
- Strong knowledge of German and EU export control regulations (AWG, AWV, EU Dual-Use Regulation, EU sanctions).
- Strong knowledge of EU customs legislation, customs valuation, tariff classification and origin (UCC).
- Experience with BAFA licence applications and German Customs (Zoll).
- Experience managing import/export authorisations and customs audits.
- Working knowledge of US export regulations affecting European businesses (ITAR, EAR, OFAC, de minimis, FDPR, re-export rules).
- Experience with ERP or Global Trade Management systems (e.g., SAP GTS).
- Excellent communication skills in German and English.
- Experience within aerospace, defence, satellite or telecommunications industries.
- Professional customs or export compliance certification.
- Experience implementing AEO or customs special procedures (Temporary Admission, Inward/Outward Processing, Customs Warehousing).
- Experience supporting multinational supply chains and localisation programmes.
- Eligibility to obtain and maintain German, NATO or EU security clearance where programme requirements apply.
CesiumAstro Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about CesiumAstro and has not been reviewed or approved by CesiumAstro.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage includes medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, plus FSAs and mental health benefits. Feedback suggests the health package is comprehensive for a growth-stage aerospace firm.
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Retirement Support — Offerings include a 401(k) with company matching and other retirement-plan elements. Feedback suggests core retirement mechanisms are in place alongside standard financial benefits.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Generous PTO, paid holidays, paid sick days, and bereavement leave are included. Feedback suggests time-off options are broad on paper across multiple leave types.
CesiumAstro Insights
What We Do
We build high-throughput, plug-and-play phased array communication payloads for space and airborne platforms. CesiumAstro’s full-stack, multi-mission hardware and software products enable a diverse range of commercial and defense objectives. Full-system engineering design is at the heart of every CesiumAstro product. We deliver high-performance solutions under rapid development timelines.
Why Work With Us
At CesiumAstro, we’re a team. We’re passionate, respectful, and determined colleagues ready to help at a moment’s notice. We’re mentors excited to enable our peers with the knowledge they need to succeed. Together, we’re visionaries committing to building memories that will last a lifetime.
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