Principal Director, Security Operations, West

Responsibilities

• Direct all aspects of classified program security, ensuring compliance with National Industrial Security Program (NISP), Intelligence Community Directives (ICD), DoD 5205 series SAP Manuals, JSIG, and NISPOM requirements while enabling operational mission success
• Build and lead high-performing security teams, including direct management of security professionals, 24x7 contractor guard forces, and oversight of insider threat, counterintelligence, and incident response capabilities
• Serve as the organization's senior security strategist, partnering with C-suite executives, program managers, and government customers to assess risks, implement controls, and translate complex security requirements into actionable business solutions
• Oversee sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF) operations, including ICD-705 construction oversight, COMSEC programs, classified storage and inventory, media control, and visitor management within secure areas
• Manage security investigations, incident response, and crisis management, serving as incident commander for security events requiring evacuation, shelter-in-place, or lockdown procedures and ensuring rapid, effective response to insider threat detections and anomalies
• Direct strategic security budgets, forecast resource requirements, negotiate Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with customers, develop Co-Use and Joint Use Agreements with government partners, and optimize security investments for maximum effectiveness
• Drive security technology modernization, including Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), Data Loss Prevention (DLP), physical security information management (PSIM) systems, and custom tooling to automate security operations and enhance threat detection capabilities
• Provide direct support to international programs and collaborate with programs, customers and governments to identify effective ways to support solutions and maintain compliance.
• What You Need to be Successful
• Minimum Requirements:
• Bachelor's degree in security management, Intelligence Studies, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, or related discipline
• 12+ years of progressive security leadership experience with at least 5 years in senior director or executive roles managing classified program security, special access programs, or enterprise security operations in defense, aerospace, or intelligence community environments
• Current Top Secret/SCI security clearance with ability to obtain and maintain SAP accesses, adjudicated polygraph highly preferred. U.S. citizenship is requir

Benefits

Additional Information

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation's space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space- delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you'll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space. Security and Environmental Health, and Safety provides strategic leadership and integrated security solutions to safeguard our people, assets, and information while enabling mission success across the enterprise. As threats evolve in complexity-from nation-state actors to insider risks-we are building a world-class organization that operates at the intersection of physical security, special programs, cybersecurity, safety and proactive threat mitigation. We are looking for a Principal Director to lead our security operations for the Western Region. This senior-level position will oversee classified program security, facility protection, insider threat programs, information assurance, industrial security and crisis response, while partnering with senior leadership to build organizational resilience. Reporting to the General Manager - Chief Security Officer, you will be instrumental in protecting our customer's and corporation's most sensitive programs, technologies, and personnel in an increasingly complex threat environment. The selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in El Segundo, CA.

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