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A Day in Your Life at MKS
As a Global HS Classification Specialist within the Harmonized System Center of Excellence (HSCOE), you will research, assign, document, and maintain product classifications across multiple national tariff schedules. You will work with technical documentation and partner with Engineering, Product Management, Supply Chain, regional trade teams, and other subject-matter experts to understand product function, composition, operating principles, and end use. You will apply formal HS classification methodology, prepare clear and auditable rationale, and help build the standards and knowledge base that support a sustainable global classification capability.
This is an experienced individual-contributor role for someone who can independently complete routine and moderate-risk classifications, recognize when an issue requires escalation, and explain complex conclusions clearly to technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
You Will Make an Impact By
Researching and assigning 6-digit HS classifications and applicable country-specific tariff extensions across multiple national tariff schedules.
Applying the General Rules of Interpretation, Section and Chapter Notes, Explanatory Notes, customs rulings, and country-specific tariff guidance in a disciplined and sequential manner.
Analyzing product drawings, specifications, bills of material, datasheets, product descriptions, images, existing records, and other technical evidence.
Engaging Engineering, Product Management, Supply Chain, regional trade teams, and other technical SMEs when available documentation is incomplete, unclear, or conflicting.
Documenting the relevant technical facts, alternatives considered, methodology applied, sources reviewed, final code, national tariff extension, assumptions, and approval status.
Completing routine and moderate-risk classifications independently and escalating high-risk, ambiguous, precedent-setting, or strategically important cases for review by the designated U.S. licensed customs broker or HSCOE leadership.
Supporting risk-based quality assurance through sampled review, correction of identified issues, and participation in classification calibration sessions.
Creating reusable product-family rationales, classification decision guides, and research templates that improve consistency and reduce repeated analysis.
Helping draft and improve classification SOPs, work instructions, evidence requirements, escalation criteria, and governance controls.
Maintaining accurate and traceable classification data in approved repositories and in SAP, Oracle, E2open, or comparable ERP and global trade management environments.
Identifying recurring classification patterns, data-quality issues, documentation gaps, and opportunities for standardization or controlled bulk treatment.
Working with a flexible global schedule that provides reasonable recurring overlap with stakeholders in the United States, EMEA, and APAC.
What You Bring to the Team
Four to seven years of relevant experience in HS or tariff classification, customs brokerage, trade consulting, manufacturing, or a related global trade function.
Demonstrated experience classifying products across multiple national tariff schedules rather than relying only on a single country tariff.
Strong working knowledge of HS structure and formal classification methodology, including the GRIs, legal notes, Explanatory Notes, rulings, and national tariff guidance.
Ability to independently research complex products and convert technical facts into clear, defensible, and auditable classification rationale.
Strong written and spoken English, including the ability to explain complex conclusions, assumptions, and risks clearly to technical and nontechnical audiences.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience with SAP, Oracle, and E2open or a comparable global trade management platform.
Strong analytical judgment, attention to detail, organization, and documentation discipline.
Ability to prioritize multiple assignments, identify missing information, and escalate appropriately without sacrificing quality.
Preferred Qualifications
A bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, International Trade, International Business, or a related field. Substantial directly relevant classification experience may be accepted in place of a degree.
Experience classifying complex industrial, semiconductor, vacuum, instrumentation, electrical, machinery, assemblies, components, or spare-parts products. Strong transferable experience from customs brokerage, consulting, or another manufacturing sector will also be considered.
A relevant customs, brokerage, or trade-compliance credential or recognized professional training.
Experience participating in peer review, quality sampling, or classification calibration.
Globally, our policy is to recruit individuals from wide and diverse backgrounds. However, certain positions require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to various export control regulations. Applicants for these positions may be limited (by, for example, their countries of citizenship, country of origin, or immigration status) where required by law or governmental contact, and/or employment made contingent upon the issuance of appropriate governmental licensing.
MKS Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“MKS”) is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer: diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. We win as a team and are committed to recruiting and hiring qualified applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), religion, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability or handicap, marital status, membership in the uniformed services, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. Hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications and business needs. We conduct background checks and drug screens, in accordance with applicable law and company policies.MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business.
MKS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process due to a disability, please contact us at: .
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