Contractor Program Security Officer

Rocket Lab•Long Beach, CA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Contractor Program Security Officer (CPSO) is based onsite at Rocket Lab’s headquarters in Long Beach, California. The role develops, implements, supervises, and maintains program security for selected Department of War (DoW) and Intelligence Community (IC) programs. The CPSO serves as the primary contractor security contact for assigned programs, partnering with the Government Program Security Officer, Corporate FSO/CPSO, and site security team to ensure compliant program operations. The role produces deliverables for internal leadership, the board of directors, customers, and investors, and supports classified launch campaigns and classified payload and space vehicle development. The position addresses security requirements across physical, information, personnel, operations security (OPSEC), and launch integration disciplines. It includes administering classified programs and spaces, developing and enforcing security plans, coordinating inspections and security reviews, managing personnel security processes, and safeguarding classified assets and COMSEC. The CPSO may also provide indirect supervision and training to less experienced security staff, support business development proposals, and respond to alarms or emergencies after business hours, including nights and weekends.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. citizen with a current Tier 5 investigation (formerly SSBI) and maintain an active Top Secret/SCI clearance with polygraph, as required by program sponsors.
Demonstrated experience and knowledge of 32 CFR Part 117 (NISPOM), SAP, SCI, and related security regulations.
Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline and 5 or more years of related work experience, or equivalent education, certification, and work experience.
Must be located within, or relocate to, a 60-minute commute of the facility and be able to respond to and investigate after-hours alarms or on-call assignments when necessary.
Ability to travel in support of other locations or programs when required.
Must work onsite at the listed location.

Nice To Haves

Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate on significant matters with senior leaders, internal and external personnel, and customers.
Self-driven and results-oriented, able to manage multiple tasks concurrently and present sound, decisive, risk-managed security recommendations in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Experience with Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI) mitigation, including mitigation agreements and associated plans such as Technology Control Plans, Electronic Communications Plans, and Annual Implementation Reports.
Experience with systems of record such as DISS, NBIS, NISS, TALON/SCT, SIMS, and JADE.
Experience as a titled COMSEC account manager.
Experience developing and executing program protection strategies for existing and developing NISP, SAR, and/or SCI programs.
Experience with SCIF/SAPF construction and the ICD 705 Technical Specification.
Experience with access control and intrusion detection system platforms.
Ability to manage large projects or processes that span beyond the immediate job area.

Responsibilities

Serve as CPSO for assigned programs and act as the primary liaison to the Government Program Security Officer on program security matters.
Manage and administer program security in compliance with DoDM 5205.07, 32 CFR Part 117 (NISPOM), Intelligence Community Directives, and other applicable government security directives.
Enforce policy for Collateral, SCI, and SAP management within assigned programs.
Author, implement, support, and enforce security plans protecting classified and unclassified hardware, launch vehicles, and space vehicles during manufacture, movement, transportation, integration, and launch. Plans may include SOPs, CONOPS, EAPs, PPPs, CSPs, and FFCs.
Maintain accreditation and compliance of program-specific SAPFs, SCIFs, and closed areas in accordance with ICD 705 and applicable DoW standards.
Coordinate with the site FSO, facilities, vendors, and government customers on construction, modification, and accreditation of program spaces.
Conduct physical security surveys and risk assessments, and implement countermeasures to protect personnel, facilities, and classified assets.
Define physical security requirements for assigned program areas and coordinate access control, intrusion detection, and container and combination management with the site security team.
Lead preparation for and support government program security inspections, and support DCSA security reviews related to assigned programs.
Conduct administrative inquiries into security incidents and non-compliance, and report incidents, adverse information, and suspicious contacts related to assigned programs.
Execute facility- and program-specific security education and training, including initial, refresher, insider threat, and derivative classification training.
Execute the security self-inspection program and corrective actions to address deficiencies and improve security posture.
Perform personnel security functions, including nomination interviews, validating access requirements, submitting investigative requests and nomination packages, and conducting indoctrinations and debriefings.
Maintain accurate personnel security records in internal and official government systems of record, such as DISS, NBIS, JADE, and TALON/SCT.
Coordinate with the FSO and Insider Threat Program on reporting requirements for program-briefed personnel, including foreign travel, foreign contacts, and adverse information.
Process program visit requests and support classified meetings.
Account for, control, package, transmit, destroy, and safeguard classified assets and COMSEC.
Perform courier duties and other security-related travel as needed.
Review and generate DD Form 254s and provide guidance on flow-down security requirements.
Provide indirect supervision and training to less experienced security staff members.
Support Business Development by providing security requirements and estimating security support for proposals.
Respond to alarms and other emergencies after business hours, including nights and weekends.
Perform other security-related duties as assigned or required by program needs.

Benefits

Company stock as part of total compensation.
Employee Stock Purchase Program with a 15% discount on company stock.
Medical plans, including HMO, PPO, and a zero-cost HDHP option with a company HSA contribution.
Dental coverage.
Vision coverage.
Paid vacation and sick time.
11 paid holidays.
Flexible spending and dependent care accounts.
Paid parental leave.
Disability insurance.
Life insurance.
401(k) retirement plan with company match.
Subsidized EV charging.
Onsite fitness centers where available.
Discounted gym memberships.
Complimentary snacks and beverages.
50% employee discount on the company merchandise store.
Other employee discounts.