Team Lead for Classified Systems

Oak Ridge National Laboratory•Oak Ridge, TN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking a Team Lead for Classified Systems to guide a multidisciplinary team supporting national security missions across ORNL’s classified and isolated computing environments. This position leads user support specialists, COMSEC officers, and systems engineers, including staff embedded directly within classified programs. As part of the Support Services & Isolated Environments Group, you will combine staff leadership, critical thinking, strategic planning, COMSEC oversight, and hands-on technical expertise to enable secure, reliable IT operations that protect ORNL assets while empowering mission success.

Requirements

A BS degree in computer science, computer engineering, information systems, business, technology, science, or a related field of study and 8 or more years of aligned experience is required for consideration. An overall combination of equivalent experience may be considered.
Active clearance status from the US DOE or US DOD.
Strong understanding of NSSD classified security policies and COMSEC requirements.
Experience managing technical projects.
Experience working within closed secure networks

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated ability to lead diverse technical and security-focused teams
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.
Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop a diverse team spanning user support, COMSEC, and systems engineering roles.
Provide performance management, annual planning, and ongoing professional development opportunities.
Conduct routine check-ins, monitor workload, identify roadblocks, and manage shifting program needs.
Oversee staffing plans, training strategies, and budget allocations for all roles, including COMSEC personnel.
Build and maintain meaningful performance metrics to demonstrate impact and operational quality.
Provide leadership, guidance, and accountability for COMSEC officers supporting classified programs.
Ensure proper handling, control, lifecycle management, and destruction of COMSEC material in accordance with NNSA/DOE and national policy requirements.
Develop and maintain internal processes that ensure COMSEC compliance across all supported environments.
Coordinate with security organizations and program leads to ensure readiness for inspections, audits, and program reviews.
Ensure COMSEC training, access, and certifications are current for all assigned personnel.
Develop strategic plans for classified IT and COMSEC services, anticipating future capability needs, staffing models, compliance posture, and technology direction.
Evaluate ambiguous operational and security challenges, assess risks, and recommend data-driven solutions.
Partner with program leads to align long-term IT and security direction with sponsor objectives and mission priorities.
Manage a portfolio of technical and security-related projects to ensure on-time and on-budget delivery.
Coordinate staff assignments across both direct support roles and embedded project positions.
Engage customers and program leads to adjust support strategies as mission needs evolve.
Ensure readiness of classified and isolated environments in support of operational milestones, reviews, and sponsor deliverables.
Utilize the team’s subject matter experts to design, deploy, secure, and maintain systems across Windows/Linux environments, VMware clusters, Citrix platforms, and associated applications.
Ensure proper configuration management, backup strategies, system hardening, and automated monitoring are implemented and remain compliant with National Security requirements and policies.
Support SME efforts in troubleshooting, vendor coordination, system documentation, and architecture improvements.
Ensure consistent compliance with ORNL IT policies, NSSD security requirements, COMSEC directives, and all classified computing guidelines.
Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.