Import Compliance Manager

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Website RTX

Job Overview: Import Compliance Manager

Raytheon Emirates (RTX), a global leader in national security and defense with a four-decade legacy in the UAE, is seeking an expert Import Compliance Manager. In this high-stakes regulatory role, you act as the “Trade Architect,” responsible for the “Compliance DNA” and operational integrity of a brand-new Customs Compliance Program. This position is designed for a “Global Trade Specialist” who can navigate the complexities of UAE import/export regulations, duty mitigation, and HTS classification with “Sovereign Accuracy.” Reporting to the Associate Director of Global Trade for MENA, you will be the primary engine of Raytheon’s regional expansion, ensuring that military and dual-use hardware shipments scale with the “Pristine Governance” required by the Tawazun Industrial Park (TIP) and UAE Customs authorities.

Key Information

  • Employer: Raytheon Emirates (RTX)

  • Location: Abu Dhabi (ADGM Al Maqam Tower & Tawazun Industrial Park)

  • Date Posted: February 4, 2026

  • Experience: Minimum 8 years (or 5 years with an Advanced Degree).

  • Core Focus: Standing up a UAE Customs Compliance Program from the ground up.

  • Sector: Defense, National Security, and Technology.

Key Responsibilities

You will manage the “Trade Compliance Lifecycle” through a rigorous legal and operational framework:

  • Program Orchestration: Developing, implementing, and managing the Customs Compliance Program at Raytheon Emirates, integrating UAE requirements into all local policies.

  • Transactional Stewardship: Reviewing and approving import/export requests involving engineering services, hardware shipments, technical data, and visitor access.

  • Fiscal Intelligence: Collaborating with tax and finance to ensure transfer pricing and customs valuations are acceptable to local authorities, while developing duty mitigation strategies.

  • Document Advocacy: Drafting and reviewing critical shipping manifests, including Commercial Invoices, Certificates of Origin, and Bills of Lading.

  • Governance & Audit: Establishing a process for regular transactional testing to resolve discrepancies and providing health metrics for corporate reporting.

  • Regulatory Diplomacy: Acting as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for UAE Customs questions and coordinating with the US Corporate Global Trade lead on non-routine governmental matters.

  • Licensing Intelligence: Developing and managing complex import/export license applications and supporting investigations into global trade matters.

Candidate Requirements

RTX seeks a “Regulatory Authority” with a focus on professional grit:

  • Professional IQ: 8+ years of documented success in global trade, specifically within the UAE’s regulatory environment.

  • Technical Mastery: Expert working knowledge of Harmonized Tariff (HTS) classification, Origin Determination, and UAE Customs Declarations.

  • Operational Grit: Proven experience in developing new processes and policies within a multi-national organization.

  • Defense Specialization (Preferred): Practical experience with customs clearance for military and dual-use items in Abu Dhabi and knowledge of US export regulations (ITAR/EAR).

  • Communication Polish: Fluency in English is mandatory; Arabic proficiency is a significant asset for liaising with local authorities.

  • Academic Pedigree: University Degree in a related field (Business, Law, or International Trade).

Salary and Benefits

This role offers a prestigious “Defense Global Trade” rewards package in a world-class environment:

  • Financial Integrity: Competitive tax-free salary (Estimated AED 35,000 – AED 55,000 per month, based on 2026 Abu Dhabi defense sector benchmarks for Compliance Managers).

  • Strategic Impact: The unique opportunity to build an import process from the ground up for a global Fortune 100 firm.

  • Professional Evolution: Direct exposure to international stakeholders and high-level national security initiatives.

  • Flexible Mobility: Split work locations between the prestige of ADGM and the industrial pulse of the Tawazun Industrial Park (TIP).

  • Comprehensive Security: Premium medical insurance, life insurance, and annual leave as per UAE Labor Law and RTX global policy.

Market Context: UAE Global Trade 2026

In 2026, as the UAE solidifies its role as a “Global Defense Hub,” Compliance Managers are the “Architects” of national supply chain resilience:

Pillar Core Objective Impact Level
Customs Program Regulatory Foundation Institutional
Duty Mitigation Fiscal Optimization Tactical
Military Clearance National Security Strategic

Unique Job Description

Position: Import Compliance Manager — Architecting the DNA of Sovereign Trade

Are you a “Global Trade Specialist” who believes that the success of a national security mission is built on the precision of its compliance and the soul of its operational integrity? Raytheon Emirates—the vanguard of defense innovation in the UAE—is seeking an Import Compliance Manager to join our elite team in Abu Dhabi. We don’t just “move boxes”; we engineer the Regulatory Frameworks and Compliance DNA that allow mission-critical technology to Flourish across international borders. This isn’t a role for a “general administrator”; it’s a mission for a “Trade Architect”—someone who can navigate the complexities of UAE Customs and HTS classification with “professional grit” and provide the polished leadership that a global defense leader demands.

In this position, you are the pilot of our trade mission. You will spend your days (between the skyline of ADGM and the innovation of TIP) architecting the compliance programs, shipping documents, and audit processes that define our reputation for excellence. Whether you are using your technical mastery to resolve a complex valuation issue or utilizing your negotiation skills to develop a duty mitigation strategy, your “proactive mindset” and “excellence-first” attitude will be our greatest assets. You thrive in a vibrant environment where you are trusted to stand up new processes from scratch, challenged by the rapid pulse of global trade regulations, and rewarded with a lucrative, tax-free career at the “Heart of National Security.”

We are looking for proactive compliance leaders with a passion for operational excellence and an “impact-first” mindset. If you have the “resourcefulness” to lead our global trade team toward regional prominence and the “discipline” to uphold our gold standards, RTX offers you the premier platform to reach your potential. Join us in Abu Dhabi, and let’s engineer a more extraordinary and connected future for the world of defense trade together.

RTX | Abu Dhabi

The Company

RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies) is the world’s largest aerospace and defense company, formed by the 2020 merger of Raytheon Company and United Technologies. In the UAE, RTX operates as a critical sovereign partner, supporting the nation’s defense and industrial localization for over 40 years. By 2026, RTX has moved beyond being a supplier to becoming a local manufacturer through its subsidiary, Raytheon Emirates . The company integrates its three industry-leading businesses— Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon —to provide end-to-end solutions in integrated air and missile defense, cybersecurity, and advanced aviation.

Culture

The culture at RTX is defined by the mission to “Connect and Protect.” In Abu Dhabi, this is blended with a deep commitment to the UAE’s “Operation 300bn” industrial strategy.

  • The “One RTX” Mindset: While comprised of three distinct business units, the 2026 culture emphasizes “Collaborative Innovation,” where cross-functional teams work as one to solve the world’s most complex aerospace challenges.

  • Values-Driven: The environment is anchored in six core values: Safety, Trust, Respect, Accountability, Collaboration, and Innovation. Ethics are non-negotiable, guided by the “Act with Integrity” code of conduct.

  • Knowledge Transfer: A primary cultural pillar in the UAE is Emiratisation (Nafis) . RTX focuses on developing the “next generation of aerospace leaders” through STEM investments and partnerships with Abu Dhabi University.

  • Agility & Learning: Employees are encouraged to be “explorers,” with a strong emphasis on continuous upskilling through the Employee Scholar Program , which supports advanced degrees and lifelong learning.

Location

RTX maintains a sophisticated, multi-site presence in Abu Dhabi that separates corporate strategy from advanced manufacturing.

  • Raytheon Emirates HQ: The corporate headquarters is located in Al Maqam Tower within the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Square on Al Maryah Island. This puts RTX at the center of the capital’s financial and regulatory hub.

  • Tawazun Industrial Park (TIP): In 2025/2026, RTX inaugurated a 21,500-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility here. It serves as a specialized center for the production and assembly of the Coyote® Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) — the first “Made in the UAE” Raytheon interceptor.

  • Collins Aerospace Office: Collins maintains its own dedicated operational footprint in Abu Dhabi to support its avionics and mission systems clients, complementing its regional headquarters in Dubai.

RTX Abu Dhabi: 2026 Sovereign Industrial Matrix

Business Unit 2026 Strategic Focus in UAE Impact for Abu Dhabi
Raytheon Counter-UAS & Missile Defense. Localized production of Coyote® interceptors.
Collins Aerospace Connected Battlespace & Avionics. Enhancing multi-domain C4ISR capabilities.
Pratt & Whitney GTF™ Engine MRO Facility. Establishing the region’s first engine MRO center.
Advanced Materials Gallium Nitride (GaN) Exploration. Partnering with EGA for semiconductor self-reliance.

2026 Professional DNA & Standards

  • The “Systems Architect” Standard: RTX seeks professionals who possess “Multi-Domain DNA” —individuals who can think across space, air, land, and sea to create integrated defense solutions.

  • Industrial Readiness: With the shift to local manufacturing at Tawazun Industrial Park, there is high demand for Production Engineers and Supply Chain Specialists experienced in localized “In-Country Value” (ICV) frameworks.

  • The “Coyote” Benchmark: Success for the 2026 Abu Dhabi team is measured by the ability to deliver “indigenous technology.” New hires are expected to support the transfer of technical knowledge to Emirati partners.

  • Global Security Standards: Given the sensitive nature of the work, recruitment involves rigorous background checks and a commitment to protecting international intellectual property and national security data.

To apply for this job please visit careers.rtx.com.