Information Security System Officer (ISSO)

Applied Intuition•Poway, CA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Information Security System Officer (ISSO) owns the day-to-day security posture of EpiSci’s classified information systems, collateral systems, and Special Access Program across its Irvine and Poway facilities. The role builds and maintains authorization packages under the Risk Management Framework (RMF), using implementation guidance from JSIG, DAAPM, ICD-503, CMMC, and the NIST 800 series. The ISSO works directly with the ISSM to obtain and maintain government assessment and authorization, from initial requirements through operational deployment and continuous monitoring. This is a hands-on position combining documentation with configuring, scanning, remediating, and establishing classified enclaves. The role regularly interacts with government security offices and authorizing officials, DCSA, and program security teams, and maintains a continuous review cadence for eMASS and program packages. The position requires Special Access Program access; prior SAP experience is strongly preferred, though candidates with collateral-only RMF experience may be considered and read on after hire. The position is 100% on-site because classified work cannot be performed remotely. Travel between Irvine and Poway, and to customer and government sites, is approximately 15–20%.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, or at least 5 years of ISSO, ISSE, or cybersecurity policy and engineering experience in a classified environment.
DoD 8570/8140 IAM Level I or IAT Level 2 certification (Security+) as a condition of employment.
Demonstrated proficiency applying RMF and writing authorization packages, with working knowledge of ICD-503, JSIG, and the NIST 800 series, including 800-53, 800-37, and 800-171.
Hands-on experience with NESSUS and ACAS, DISA STIGs, STIG Viewer, SCAP Compliance Checker, and HBSS or ESS.
Experience designing, building, and maintaining information system enclaves, including underlying computing hardware and network architecture.
Working knowledge of incident response, disaster recovery, forensic principles, continuous monitoring, and cybersecurity hygiene.
Active DoD security clearance, SECRET minimum.
U.S. citizenship; must be eligible for and willing to accept Special Access Program briefings.
Willingness to travel for company business between Irvine and Poway, California, and to customer and government sites, approximately 15–20%.

Nice To Haves

Prior SAP experience as an ISSO, ISSE, or system administrator under JSIG, with current or recent program briefings.
TS/SCI clearance with the ability to obtain program access.
eMASS, Xacta, or equivalent package management experience as a package author.
Experience with DCSA DAAPM and NISPOM-governed facilities, including Co-Use or multi-program environments.
Prior ISSM designation, or readiness to be designated ISSM for a smaller program.
Hands-on Linux administration (RHEL, Rocky, Ubuntu) and Windows Server administration in air-gapped and cross-domain environments.
Familiarity with cross-domain solutions, COMSEC and TACLANE operations, or trusted download procedures.
CMMC assessment or preparation experience on the CUI side.
Experience supporting a rapid-prototyping or startup defense environment.

Responsibilities

Maintain accredited classified systems in an authorized operating state while meeting program delivery timelines.
Author, update, and defend RMF artifacts, including SSPs, SARs, POA&Ms, Risk Assessment Reports, Configuration Management Plans, Incident Response Plans, Continuous Monitoring Plans, and hardware and software baselines.
Execute continuous monitoring through ACAS and Nessus vulnerability scanning, SCAP and STIG compliance checks, audit log review, and remediation tracking for CAT I, II, and III findings.
Support the design, development, and implementation of procedures and systems for secure facilities, and ensure facility compliance with requirements for classified information system processing.
Conduct risk and vulnerability assessments of planned and installed systems, identify vulnerabilities, threats, and protection needs, and recommend mitigations.
Lead periodic self-inspections and support DoD Cybersecurity On-Site Inspections, DCSA assessments, and customer security reviews across both sites.
Respond initially to classified security incidents and spillage by detecting and containing incidents, preserving evidence, documenting, and escalating through the ISSM and program security chain.
Administer and harden classified computing and network infrastructure, including standing up and configuring new enclaves.
Manage user account provisioning, privileged access reviews, media control, and trusted download and data transfer procedures.
Deliver security awareness and system-specific training to cleared users and system administrators.
Maintain working knowledge of evolving policy, regulation, and compliance guidance affecting classified computing assets.