Global Trade Compliance Senior Specialist

Metrea; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private Medical Insurance

Gym membership plans

Electric Car scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Salary sacrificed pension scheme

Free lunch on office days

Enhanced Parental Leave

30 days annual PTO plus bank holidays

Bonus Scheme

Personal development opportunities

Job summary

Metrea in the United Kingdom is seeking a trusted trade compliance partner to lead classification and export control analyses across aerospace and technology programs. You will work with engineers, program teams, and leadership to ensure compliance with UK and global export control requirements.

You will advise on licensing, monitor regulatory changes, and help scale workflows through automation while delivering training to stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience in export controls or trade compliance in aerospace/defense.
• Strong knowledge of UK Strategic Export Controls and licensing.
• Understanding of European export control regimes and cross-border transfers.
• Experience creating classifications and licensing workflows.
• Experience with ITAR/EAR is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Classify hardware, software, data, and services under UK and US export control rules.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to translate capabilities into classifications.
• Develop and maintain defensible classification analyses and audit-ready docs.
• Support preparation and management of export licenses through UK systems like SPIRE and LITE.
• Advise stakeholders on licensing requirements and cross-border activities.
• Serve as a trusted compliance resource for programs, BD, and operations.
• Monitor regulatory developments and their impact on programs.
• Improve classification and licensing workflows via automation and process improvements.
• Support internal audits and corrective actions; deliver training.

Skills

Export controls

Trade compliance

UK/EU controls

ITAR/EAR knowledge

Stakeholder advisory

Documentation & audits

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Tools

SPIRE

LITE

Compliance software

Job description

Company Overview

Metrea delivers effects-as-a-service to national security partners across five domains and more than a dozen mission areas. These include airborne ISR, electronic warfare, secure communications, aerial refueling, special air missions, aerial firefighting, and advanced simulation. We own the whole stack: designing, building, and operating turnkey capabilities that give our partners decisive, asymmetric advantage against rapidly evolving threats.

Our operating model is built around three interlocking pillars. The Support Groups provide a global shared-service – spanning people, finance, platform, operations, legal, and engagement. This frees up our Core Groups, who develop and own mission capabilities end-to-end, to focus entirely on delivery. The Market Groups apply a regional lens, ensuring that our agile and adaptable capabilities remain aligned to the wicked problems that matter most to our partners across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific.

At the heart of our model is a simple but powerful idea: be a true partner with skin in the game. Our partners need effects, not just equipment. By owning the full stack – from the lab to the field – we are able to drive a continuous cycle of innovation that keeps our partners ahead. It’s a fast-moving, intellectually demanding environment where talented people are given real responsibility, work on problems that matter, and contribute to an enterprise that is growing quickly and deliberately.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, with facilities across the United States, the United Kingdom, as well as Continental Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Position Summary

In this role, you will serve as a trusted trade compliance partner supporting some of Metrea’s most advanced aerospace, mission systems, cyber, and technology programs. You will lead classification and export control analyses, work directly with engineers and program teams, and help enable international business activities while ensuring compliance with UK and global export control requirements. You will be successful if you enjoy solving complex technical problems, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and are passionate about leveraging technology and scalable processes to improve compliance outcomes.

What You’ll Do

• Classify hardware, software, technical data, and services under UK Strategic Export Control Lists and applicable U.S. export control regulations
• Partner with engineering and technical teams to understand system capabilities and determine accurate export control classifications
• Develop and maintain defensible classification analyses and audit-ready compliance documentation
• Support preparation, submission, and management of export authorizations through UK licensing systems, including SPIRE and LITE
• Advise business stakeholders on export licensing requirements, technology transfers, international collaborations, and cross-border business activities
• Serve as a trusted compliance resource for program teams, business development, operations, and leadership
• Monitor regulatory developments and assess impacts to Metrea programs and technologies
• Improve and scale classification, licensing, and compliance workflows through automation and process enhancement initiatives
• Support internal audits, compliance assessments, and corrective action activities
• Deliver export control and trade compliance training to technical and non-technical stakeholders

What You Bring

Must Haves

• 5-7 years of experience in export controls, trade compliance, or international trade within aerospace, defense, cyber, telecommunications, or advanced technology industries
• Strong knowledge of UK Strategic Export Controls and export licensing requirements
• Understanding of European export control regimes and cross-border transfer considerations within Europe.
• Strong working knowledge of export classification methodologies, jurisdiction determinations, and licensing workflows
• Experience classifying military, dual-use, software, or technology products
• Working knowledge of U.S. ITAR and EAR regulations
• Experience collaborating with engineering or technical teams to translate product capabilities into export control determinations
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to assess complex technical information
• Excellent communication skills and ability to provide practical, business-focused compliance guidance
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment

Nice to Haves

• Experience interacting with the UK Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) and managing UK export authorization applications
• Experience implementing compliance technology, workflow automation, data analytics, or process improvement initiatives
• Knowledge of EU export controls, sanctions regulations, or multinational compliance frameworks
• Professional certification in export controls, international trade, customs, or compliance disciplines

AdditionalEligibilityQualifications

• Ability to obtain and maintain UK Security Clearance (SC), if required
• Ability to travel occasionally within the UK and internationally in support of business requirements
• Ability to work with export-controlled information and sensitive government or customer data in accordance with applicable regulations and company policies

Benefits

• Private Medical Insurance
• Subsided gym membership / plans throughWellhub
• Electric Car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary sacrificed pension scheme
• Free lunch on office days
• Enhanced Parental Leave
• 30 days annual PTO plus b/h
• Bonus Scheme
• Personal development opportunities

WorkAuthorization/SecurityClearance

The employee will have the legal right to work in theUKand will be able to producerightto work documentation.

AAP/EEO Statement

MetreaManagement Limited (MAM)is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or other characteristics protected by law.

PositionTypeandExpectedHoursofWork

This is a full-time position with typical working hours of Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to6:00p.m. Hours and work shifts may changein accordance withdepartment and business needs.

WorkEnvironment

This job operates in an office setting, 3 days per week in our Hammersmith office.

Travel

10-15%

Our Firmware

At Metrea, our single core value is Rooted in Humility, and our four cornerstone attributes are Entrepreneurial, Systematic, Discerning, and Over-Deliver. These form what we call our Teammate Firmware. Just like technical firmware connects software and hardware, our Firmware is the constant interface between our mission and our people. It defines how we show up, how we work together, and how we solve complex problems.

Our team Firmware creates a web-like, hyper-collaborative, dynamically hierarchical way of working that helps us adapt quickly, communicate openly, and distribute decision-making to where expertise actually lives. It enables groups to self-organize around hard problems, shift fluidly as priorities evolve, and operate with the trust, curiosity, and discipline required in a complex mission space. This foundation allows us to deliver elegant, effective solutions and uphold our purpose: protecting our precious inheritance.