Compliance & Regulatory Officer (Defense, Explosives & Export)

Location : Texas (onsite; frequent test-site visits)

Company : Wild West Systems

About Wild West Systems

Wild West Systems builds domestically designed and manufactured autonomous weapons systems to give the American warfighter the edge-affordable, scalable, rugged, and real. If you thrive in the gray areas of brand-new tech and tough regulations, saddle up.

Why this role exists

We move fast with hardware, software, and energetics-across test sites, labs, and production. You'll own the full compliance stack : figure out what applies, build the processes, train the team, audit it, and keep us inspection-ready . From ITAR / EAR to ATF storage and DOT hazmat shipping to DoD cybersecurity and explosives safety-you're the internal authority who keeps our mission on-track and on-side.

What you'll do (ownership, end-to-end)

Regulatory mapping & ownership : Identify every applicable requirement across export controls (ITAR / EAR), ATF explosives (27 CFR Part 555), DoD explosives safety (DoD 4145.26-M), DOT hazmat / PHMSA (49 CFR 171–180), NFPA 495, OSHA / PSM, DoD CUI, DFARS / CMMC, and related state / local rules; keep a live applicability matrix and gap plan.

Program build-out : Draft and enforce policies / SOPs for export classification / jurisdiction, licensing, tech-data controls, visitor controls, ATF magazine / storage, inventory & theft / loss reporting, test-site safety, shipping papers / placards, and CUI marking / handling.

Licensing & registrations : Lead DDTC registration (ITAR Part 122), export licenses / agreements, commodity jurisdiction / classification, ATF FEL licensing / renewals, DOT / PHMSA explosive approvals (EX numbers), state / local permits.

Cyber & data compliance : Implement DFARS 252.204-7012 incident reporting flow, NIST SP 800-171 controls & assessment (DFARS 7020 ), and drive toward CMMC Level 2. Build training, POA&Ms, and evidence.

Explosives & test operations : Apply DoD 4145.26-M quantity-distance, storage, and handling; align OSHA Process Safety for energetics; verify NFPA 495 & DOT packaging / marking for shipments. Support test plans and site readiness.

Audits & inspections : Run internal audits; lead responses to ATF / DoD / customer audits; own CAPAs to closure; keep clean records (acq / disp, annual / special inventories, shipping docs, training).

Training & change management : Build pragmatic, role-based training for engineers, machinists, buyers, test crews; deliver refreshers and new-hire onboarding.

Cross-functional advising : Be the go-to advisor for engineering, supply chain, test, and execs-clear, actionable reads of risk, timelines, and options.

Minimum qualifications

5–10+ years in defense / aerospace compliance (export controls + at least one of : ATF explosives, DoD explosives safety, DOT hazmat, or defense cyber).

Hands-on experience building and auditing programs for ITAR / EAR (USML Category IV-rockets / missiles) and DDTC registration .

Working knowledge of ATF 27 CFR Part 555 (licensing, storage, recordkeeping, theft / loss reporting).

Familiarity with DoD explosives safety (DoD 4145.26-M) and NFPA 495 principles.

DOT / PHMSA hazmat shipping for energetics (49 CFR 171–180; 173.56 explosive approvals).

DFARS 252.204-7012 , NIST SP 800-171 assessments / 7020 , and roadmap toward CMMC L2.

Strong, plain-English communicator; comfortable on the shop floor, at the test site, and in the boardroom.

U.S. person status required under export laws; able to obtain any necessary clearances. (ITAR / EAR).

Preferred firepower

Built compliance from scratch at a startup or small prime / sub, including J / C (jurisdiction & classification) programs and license strategy-similar to how top defense tech orgs scope it.

Direct experience with internal / external audits (ATF, customer, DCMA / DoD).

Familiarity with CUI program implementation (DoDI 5200.48)-marking, access, training.

Experience with PHMSA EX approvals , shipping papers, placarding, and security plans.

Bonus : FAA / unmanned / airspace coordination exposure for test activity.

What "great" looks like in the first 180 days

Live Regulatory Applicability Matrix + gap-closure plan with owners / dates.

DDTC registration current; J / C pipeline running; license playbook in service.

ATF magazines / storage audited; inventory logs and theft / loss reporting drill rehearsed.

DoD 4145.26-M Q-D maps and test-site SOPs published.

DFARS 7012 incident runbook tested; NIST 800-171 assessment completed and in SPRS , with CMMC L2 roadmap approved.

DOT hazmat training records validated; shipping documentation templates standardized.

How this maps to the market (what peers ask for)

Export controls leadership (ITAR / EAR) : building policy, J / C, and licensing programs.

CMMC / DFARS / NIST 800-171 readiness and incident reporting fluency.

ATF explosives compliance (FEL, records, inspections) and explosives safety (DoD 4145.26-M / NFPA 495).

DOT / PHMSA hazmat shipping & EX approvals for energetics.

What you'll get

A seat at the table shaping how cutting-edge weapons systems come to life-safely and lawfully.

Massive scope, real ownership, and the satisfaction of keeping us mission-ready and inspection-ready.

A culture that's patriotic, gritty, and dead-serious about delivering for the warfighter.