Industrial and Personnel Security Manager

Varda Space • El Segundo, CA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Varda Space Industries is hiring an Industrial and Personnel Security Manager to own the day-to-day execution of its industrial security compliance and personnel security programs. This is a builder’s role focused on designing practical processes, maintaining inspection readiness, and coordinating with HR, IT, Legal, Engineering, Mission Management, and Business Development from initial customer discussions through launch and recovery. The role reports directly to the Director of Security, who is also the Facility Security Officer (FSO). With designation and required training, the manager may serve as Alternate FSO; the Director retains primary FSO authority, program oversight, and required certifications. Special program personnel security and COMSEC duties apply as customer requirements are established. Physical security operations are outside the role’s scope.

The manager will administer industrial security compliance under 32 CFR Part 117 (NISPOM), contract requirements, security classification guides, and applicable DoD and Intelligence Community requirements. Duties include maintaining facility clearance records, preparing government correspondence, leading self-inspections, coordinating DCSA reviews and customer assessments, translating contract and classification requirements into procedures, controlling classified information and material, and supporting security requirements in contracts and proposals.

The position also manages personnel security workflows, including clearance processing and records, SCI nominations and program access requests, employee briefings and debriefings, visit authorizations, and tracking reportable matters. The manager will support insider threat administration under the Director’s oversight, document and coordinate incident response, may serve as an alternate COMSEC custodian when designated and authorized, and work with IT and Information Assurance on CUI protection and classified infrastructure without assuming ISSM or ISSO authority.

The position is based on-site in El Segundo, California, and supports other Varda facilities, with occasional domestic travel and mission-driven schedule requirements as needed. Compensation is $115,000–$155,000, with eligibility for long-term incentives in the form of stock options or long-term cash awards and the ability to purchase company stock through the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of relevant industrial security experience in a DoD or Intelligence Community contractor environment, including substantive hands-on personnel security responsibilities.
• Demonstrated experience administering clearance actions, reporting, training, classified information controls, and inspection preparation, and independently owning recurring security processes.
• Strong working knowledge of 32 CFR Part 117 (NISPOM), DD Form 254 requirements, and security classification guides, with the ability to translate requirements into clear procedures.
• Hands-on proficiency with DISS and NBIS, and ability to use NISS and applicable customer-specific systems.
• Working knowledge of relevant ICD 704 personnel security requirements when supporting SCI personnel.
• Strong written communication, organization, discretion, and judgment, including the ability to brief employees, executives, and government representatives and handle sensitive personnel information.
• Ability to work independently, coordinate across functions, prioritize competing deadlines, and build repeatable processes in a growing company.
• U.S. citizenship and an active Top Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility, plus ability to maintain it and obtain required customer program access.
• Ability to satisfy additional customer access requirements, including a CI polygraph if required by the assigned program.
• Ability to work on-site in El Segundo and support other Varda facilities, with occasional domestic travel and mission-driven schedule requirements as needed.
• Completion and maintenance of required role-specific government and customer training.
• FSO or COMSEC training is required before performing formally designated duties.
• Bachelor’s degree in security management, criminal justice, business administration, or a related field, or equivalent relevant professional experience; a degree is not mandatory when experience demonstrates the required capabilities.
• Must qualify as a U.S. person permitted to access the company’s export-controlled technology without an export license; the posting defines this as a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual admitted as a refugee or granted asylum.

Nice To Haves

• An existing polygraph; it is preferred but not universally mandatory.
• 7 or more years of relevant experience, including prior FSO, Alternate FSO, CPSO, CSSO, or security program leadership responsibilities.
• Direct experience supporting successful DCSA reviews and personnel or industrial security compliance for SCI or SAP programs.
• COMSEC account experience, insider threat program administration, and experience partnering on CUI or classified information system requirements.
• Relevant CDSE FSO course completion or recognized security certifications such as SPeD or ISP.
• Experience building security processes in aerospace, space, advanced manufacturing, or a startup environment.

Responsibilities

• Run the industrial security program in accordance with 32 CFR Part 117 (NISPOM), contract requirements, security classification guides, and applicable DoD and Intelligence Community requirements.
• Own facility clearance records and supporting documentation, and prepare updates and government correspondence for FSO review using NISS or the applicable government system.
• Plan and lead annual self-inspections, maintain evidence, draft reports for the Director’s review and certification, and track corrective actions through closure.
• Coordinate deliverables for DCSA security reviews and customer assessments with the FSO and external security advisory partners.
• Review DD Forms 254 and classification guides, and turn requirements into procedures.
• Partner with Contracts and Business Development to incorporate security requirements into prime contracts, subcontracts, and proposals.
• Control classified information and material through marking, receipt, storage, dissemination, inventory, transfer, approved transmission, and authorized destruction.
• Develop practical procedures, training materials, and records, and recommend improvements to the Director when compliance gaps are identified.
• Manage clearance processing and records in DISS, NBIS, and applicable customer systems, including investigation requests, upgrades, transfers, reciprocity coordination, and Continuous Vetting actions.
• Coordinate SCI nominations, program access requests, and customer-required polygraph scheduling when applicable; verify eligibility and need-to-know before granting access.
• Partner with HR on cleared employee onboarding and offboarding, and maintain clearance rosters, access records, personnel security files, and briefing acknowledgments.
• Provide initial, annual, refresher, foreign travel, and termination briefings, plus program indoctrinations and debriefings with authorized officials.
• Process incoming and outgoing visit authorizations and certifications, and verify visitor clearance and access requirements.
• Track foreign travel, foreign contacts, reportable changes, and adverse information; prepare timely reports and elevate sensitive matters to the FSO in coordination with HR and Legal.
• Forecast clearance needs with hiring and program teams, and track metrics for processing status, overdue reporting, training completion, and inspection findings.
• Support insider threat administration under the Director’s ITPSO oversight, including training, referral documentation, and coordination with authorized stakeholders.
• Document security incidents, support inquiries and required reporting, and track mitigation and corrective actions under FSO direction.
• Serve as alternate COMSEC custodian when designated, trained, and authorized, supporting inventory, accountability, and handling requirements.
• Coordinate with IT and Information Assurance on CUI protection and classified infrastructure, and support program protection planning without assuming ISSM or ISSO authority.
• Advise employees and leaders on security matters and help shape the tools, resources, and future staffing needed as the program grows.
• Support other Varda facilities and occasional domestic travel, as well as mission-driven schedule requirements as needed.

Benefits

• Eligibility for long-term incentives in the form of stock options or long-term cash awards.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan, allowing employees to purchase company stock.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level