Personnel Security Officer

Helsing; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A defence AI company based in the UK seeks a Personnel Security Officer to manage all aspects of personnel security, ensuring compliance with rigorous government standards. The role involves administering security vetting processes, maintaining records, and engaging with stakeholders to uphold security policies. Strong applicants will have experience in personnel security and the ability to communicate effectively. The position offers competitive compensation and the opportunity to work on critical national security projects.

Benefits

Competitive compensation

Stock options

Relocation support

Social and education allowances

Regular company events

Qualifications

• Eligible to obtain and maintain UK Security Clearance.
• Demonstrable experience in a personnel security role.
• Strong understanding of UK government security policies.
• Ability to implement Defence Security Policy effectively.
• Skilled in timely security service delivery.
• Experience processing site access for stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Manage personnel security clearances and compliance.
• Conduct security briefings and maintain records.
• Engage proactively with employees and government agencies.
• Shape and implement security policies.
• Support additional security-related tasks as needed.

Skills

Eligible for UK Security Clearance

Experience in personnel security

Knowledge of UK government security policies

Ability to implement Defence Security Policy

Efficient security service delivery

Maintaining security clearances

Processing site access for stakeholders

Maintaining security registers accurately

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Time management

Stakeholder engagement

Team collaboration

Job description

Who we are

Helsing is a defence AI company. Our mission is to protect our democracies. We aim to achieve technological leadership, so that open societies can continue to make sovereign decisions and control their ethical standards.

As democracies, we believe we have a special responsibility to be thoughtful about the development and deployment of powerful technologies like AI. We take this responsibility seriously.

We are an ambitious and committed team of engineers, AI specialists and customer‑facing programme managers. We are looking for mission‑driven people to join our European teams – and apply their skills to solve the most complex and impactful problems. We embrace an open and transparent culture that welcomes healthy debates on the use of technology in defence, its benefits, and its ethical implications.

The role

The Personnel Security Officer is a cornerstone of Helsing’s commitment to protecting our people, information, and mission. This role is responsible for managing all aspects of personnel security, ensuring that every individual entrusted with access to sensitive national security and company information is reliable, trustworthy, and meets stringent government and company standards. As Helsing operates at the forefront of AI and software development for the defence sector, the integrity of our team is paramount. The Personnel Security Officer acts as the guardian of this integrity, managing the entire lifecycle of security clearances, from initial vetting to ongoing aftercare and compliance. Your diligence and expertise will be critical in enabling Helsing to deliver cutting‑edge capabilities to protect our democracies while upholding the highest standards of security required by our government partners.

The day‑to‑day

As a company, we are in the process of defining how software and AI will work in mission‑critical situations in defence. We need a Personnel Security Officer who can operate with precision and initiative in this dynamic, high‑stakes environment. Your primary focus will be the meticulous administration of national security vetting processes for all staff and contractors, serving as the main point of contact for vetting‑related matters. You will manage and maintain comprehensive security records, conduct security briefings, and ensure the continuous monitoring of personnel security compliance across the organisation. This role requires proactive engagement with employees, government agencies, and programme managers to ensure seamless and compliant security operations. You will be a key advisor on personnel security matters, helping to shape and implement robust security policies including delivery of our insider threat framework to protect both our people and our critical assets. Provide support for additional security‑related tasks as needed.

You should apply if you

• Eligible to obtain and maintain UK Security Clearance (SC or DV)
• Have demonstrable experience in a personnel security role, preferably within the UK defence and national security sector
• Possess a strong, current understanding of UK government security policies and procedures, including the Security Policy Framework (SPF) and National Security Vetting
• Uphold and can effectively implement Defence Security Policy within classified environments
• Are adept at delivering an efficient and timely security service to internal and external customers
• Can ensure employees and contractors maintain appropriate security clearances and compliance throughout their tenure
• Have experience processing site access for internal and external stakeholders, ensuring all protocols are met
• Are skilled in maintaining relevant National and Program Specific Security Registers with meticulous accuracy
• Can assist in implementing security measures to protect Defence‑classified and sensitive commercial information under Helsing’s control
• Exhibit excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to convey complex security information clearly and concisely
• Have a high attention to detail, excellent time management, and proven stakeholder engagement skills
• Possess the ability to work and meet deadlines and to work under pressure within a busy team environment
• Are a collaborative team player with a proactive and professional attitude

Note: We operate in an industry where women, as well as other minority groups, are systematically under‑represented. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all the listed qualifications; ability and impact cannot be summarised in a few bullet points.

Join Helsing and work with world‑leading experts in their fields

• Helsing’s work is important. You’ll be directly contributing to the protection of democratic countries while balancing both ethical and geopolitical concerns
• The work is unique. We operate in a domain that has highly unusual technical requirements and constraints, and where robustness, safety, and ethical considerations are vital. You will face unique Engineering and AI challenges that make a meaningful impact in the world
• Our work frequently takes us right up to the state of the art in technical innovation, be it reinforcement learning, distributed systems, generative AI, or deployment infrastructure. The defence industry is entering the most exciting phase of the technological development curve. Advances in our field of world are not incremental: Helsing is part of, and often leading, historic leaps forward
• In our domain, success is a matter of order‑of‑magnitude improvements and novel capabilities. This means we take bets, aim high, and focus on big opportunities. Despite being a relatively young company, Helsing has already been selected for multiple significant government contracts
• We actively encourage healthy, proactive, and diverse debate internally about what we do and how we choose to do it. Teams and individual engineers are trusted (and encouraged) to practise responsible autonomy and critical thinking, and to focus on outcomes, not conformity. At Helsing you will have a say in how we (and you!) work, the opportunity to engage on what does and doesn’t work, and to take ownership of aspects of our culture that you care deeply about

What we offer

• A focus on outcomes, not time‑tracking
• Competitive compensation and stock options
• Relocation support
• Social and education allowances
• Regular company events and all‑hands to bring together employees as one team across Europe

Helsing is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or gender identity. Please do not submit personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning your health, or data concerning your sexual orientation.

Helsing’s Candidate Privacy and Confidentiality Regime can be found here.