Trade & Export Compliance Program Lead

Hydra Host is a fast-growing technology company delivering cloud infrastructure, developer tooling, and data services to enterprise and government customers worldwide. Our products touch customers in virtually every jurisdiction, making trade and export compliance a mission-critical function that directly enables our ability to sell, ship, and grow globally. We are building a world-class compliance program and are looking for an experienced operator to lead it.

Position Overview

The Trade & Export Compliance Program Lead owns Hydra Host's end-to-end trade compliance program. You will translate complex U.S. regulations — EAR, OFAC sanctions, import rules, and related regimes — into scalable operational processes, automated tooling, and clear internal policies. You will partner closely with others in Legal, Sales, Logistics/Supply Chain, Engineering, and Finance to ensure that compliance is embedded in every product, transaction, and customer relationship. This is a senior individual-contributor role with the expectation that it will grow into a team leadership position as the program matures. There is also a potential opportunity to expand the role into other compliance areas as the team evolves and grows.

Key Responsibilities

Program Design & Implementation

Design, build, and continuously improve Hydra Host's trade compliance program from policy through operational execution, with an emphasis on scalability as the company grows.

Translate new and amended U.S. export control regulations (EAR, OFAC sanctions, ITAR where applicable) into clear internal requirements, working hand-in-hand with outside and in-house counsel.

Develop, maintain, and train on written compliance policies, procedures, and desk guides across impacted business units.

Advanced Computing & Emerging Technology Controls

Serve as the company's subject-matter expert on Advanced Computing export controls, including classification of AI chips, accelerators, and related software and technology under EAR controls.

Monitor BIS regulatory activity — including Entity List updates, new Foreign Direct Product Rules, and rule changes affecting AI/semiconductor supply chains — and operationalize new requirements on tight timelines.

Advise Product, Sales, and Engineering on classification (ECCN determination), jurisdiction analysis, and de minimis / foreign-direct product rule assessments.

Licensing & License Exceptions

Draft, submit, and manage Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and OFAC license applications.

Maintain a license management system tracking conditions, reports, authorized end-users, and renewal deadlines.

Identify and operationalize applicable license exceptions (ENC, LPP, RPL, etc.), including implementing exception-specific recordkeeping and semi-annual / annual reporting obligations.

Screening & Automated Tools

Own and continuously improve Hydra Host's automated restricted-party screening infrastructure, including screening against the Consolidated Screening List (CSL), SDN/OFAC lists, and other government deny/watch lists.

Define screening logic, match-rate thresholds, and escalation workflows; partner with Engineering to integrate screening into order management, provisioning, and CRM systems.

Evaluate and implement third-party screening platforms as the business scales; manage vendor relationships and SLAs.

Implement and operationalize OFAC's 50 Percent Rule for ownership-based blocking, including the data enrichment and beneficial-ownership workflows needed to identify SDN-owned entities not themselves on the SDN List.

Military End-Use / End-User & KYC Due Diligence

• Operationalize military end-use and end-user controls under EAR Part 744, including Red Flag identification protocols and procedures for catching prohibited MEU/MEU transactions.
• Lead Know Your Customer (KYC) due diligence for higher-risk transactions and customer segments, developing tiered review procedures proportionate to risk.
• Manage escalations, internal investigations, and voluntary self-disclosures in coordination with legal counsel.

Reporting & Recordkeeping

• Ensure timely submission of all required regulatory reports (e.g., ENC semi-annual reports, OFAC annual reports, BIS license condition reports).
• Maintain records in compliance with EAR Part 762 and OFAC retention requirements; manage audit-readiness across the program.

Training & Culture

• Design and deliver export compliance training for Sales, Engineering, Finance, and other impacted teams; adapt training content for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Serve as a visible internal resource and escalation point; foster a culture where employees proactively surface compliance questions.

Required Qualifications

10+ years of hands-on trade compliance program experience, with demonstrated ownership of program implementation and scaling and significant experience developing export compliance operational strategy, preferably in a technology, SaaS, semiconductor, or cloud infrastructure company.

Deep working knowledge of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), OFAC sanctions regulations, and associated enforcement guidance.

Proven experience managing Advanced Computing export controls (e.g., EAR controls on high-performance GPUs/accelerators, AI chips, and related software/technology), including ECCN classification and FDP rule analysis.

Experience drafting and managing export license applications and advisory opinions with BIS and/or OFAC.

Demonstrated ability to identify, implement, and manage license exceptions (ENC, LPP, RPL, etc.) including associated reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Experience building, deploying, or managing automated restricted-party screening systems, including defining match logic and integrating screening into business workflows.

Solid understanding of military end-use / end-user restrictions under EAR Part 744 and experience implementing MEU/MEU compliance procedures.

Hands-on KYC due diligence experience, including risk-based tiering, beneficial ownership analysis, and red-flag investigations.

Strong command of OFAC sanctions programs and practical experience applying the 50 Percent Rule, including beneficial-ownership data workflows.

Ability to independently read, analyze, and synthesize complex regulatory text and translate requirements into actionable operational processes in partnership with legal counsel.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to explain nuanced regulatory requirements to non-expert audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

The following are not required but will distinguish candidates

Experience with EU Dual-Use Regulation (EU 2021/821) and/or EU sanctions compliance.

Familiarity with import compliance requirements, including HTS classification, CBP entry procedures, and import licensing.

Experience in a high-growth or scaling technology company, including building compliance programs with limited resources and maturing them as the organization grows.

Juris Doctor (J.D.) or equivalent law degree. A J.D. is not required — deep regulatory and operational expertise is what matters most — but legal training may be beneficial given the interpretive complexity of export control law.

What We Offer

• A high-impact, high-visibility role at a company where export compliance is a strategic priority, not an afterthought.
• Direct partnership with Legal, Product, and Executive leadership on consequential regulatory and business decisions.
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits.
• Flexibility to work remotely with travel as needed for team meetings and regulatory engagements.
• A collaborative environment that values deep subject-matter expertise and operational excellence.
• Hydra Host is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds.
• To apply, submit your resume and a brief cover letter describing your export compliance experience to [email hidden — sign in].