COMSEC Manager

Turion Space; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Health Insurance

401(k)

Paid Time Off

Parental Leave

EAP

Professional Development

Team Building

Job summary

Turion Space Corp. is seeking a COMSEC Manager to build and scale the company’s COMSEC operations at its Irvine, CA headquarters. You will lead cryptographic asset lifecycle, encryption workflows, and security compliance across spacecraft programs and classified facilities.

You will collaborate with USSF, NSA, and other authorities to ensure readiness and 100% audit compliance while training engineers and program staff in safeguarding procedures.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of hands-on experience managing a COMSEC account.
• Experience coordinating COMSEC acquisitions with USSF/DoD.
• Experience with NSA/CSS Policy 3-16 and CARDS/KMI DIAS.

Responsibilities

• Establish and scale a foundational COMSEC program with SOPs and workflows.
• Lead end-to-end acquisition and procurement of COMSEC equipment and key material with USSF/NSA coordination.
• Support spacecraft telemetry encryption and ground station cryptographic integration.

Skills

COMSEC account management

Job description

Turion is developing the critical infrastructure of the space economy. We're doing this by building vertically integrated hardware and software: DROID, our line of space vehicles, and Starfire, our software suite covering simulation, modeling, planning, and operations.

We're a group of people who fell in love with the future sci‑fi promised us, and we're building it into reality. We build hard things. We build them well. And we're just getting started.

As a COMSEC Manager you will build, scale, and manage Turion Space’s Communications Security (COMSEC) operations, cryptographic asset lifecycle, and U.S. Space Force (USSF) and DoD COMSEC acquisitions across our DROID spacecraft programs, ground stations, and classified facilities. You will also be responsible for serving as the foundational leader who architects our corporate COMSEC infrastructure, policies, and operational workflows from the ground up, driving secure spacecraft telemetry, command encryption, and facility compliance across Collateral, SCI, and SAP environments for years to come.

This is a full-time, position based on-site at our Irvine, California headquarters.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and scale Turion Space’s foundational COMSEC program, developing corporate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), account structures, and cryptographic workflows to support growing DROID spacecraft constellations and classified programs for years to come.

• Lead the end-to-end acquisition, forecasting, ordering, and procurement of space-qualified and ground COMSEC equipment, Type-1 cryptographic devices, and key material in direct coordination with the U.S. Space Force (USSF), NSA, and other government Controlling Authorities.

• Serve as the primary COMSEC Subject Matter Expert (SME) supporting spacecraft telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) encryption, mission data encryption, ground station cryptographic integration, Assembly, Integration, and Test (AI&T), Functional Ground Test (FGT), and launch site keying activities.

• Perform receipt, custody, key loading/fill procedures, distribution, tracking of supersession dates, software/firmware upgrades, transfer, and destruction of flight, developmental, and operational COMSEC material—including End Cryptographic Units (ECUs), space cryptographic modules, In-Line-Network Encryptors (INEs), and fill devices.

• Manage and maintain strict accountability of all COMSEC assets in accordance with NSA/CSS Policy Manual 3-16 and applicable DoD/USSF doctrine, submitting accurate and timely accounting reports to the NSA Central Office of Records (COR) via CARDS and KMI.

• Conduct regular physical inventories, internal compliance validations, self-inspections, and incident reporting/investigations to maintain 100% audit readiness for DCSA, NSA, and USSF inspections.

• Train, brief, and certify spacecraft engineers, AI&T technicians, mission operators, and program personnel on proper COMSEC safeguarding, handling, key loading, and emergency destruction procedures.

• Partner with security leadership, government Contracting Officer’s Representatives (CORs), and COMSEC Controlling Authorities to support new facility accreditations (including SCIF and SAPF buildouts), resolve equipment bottlenecks, and synchronize cryptographic schedules with spacecraft build and launch milestones.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen with an active DoD Top Secret clearance and TS/SCI eligibility on Day 1, and must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance and SAP access.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience managing a COMSEC account, including the acquisition, receipt, custody, safeguarding, accounting, and destruction of COMSEC material.
• Demonstrated experience with COMSEC acquisitions and coordination with the U.S. Space Force (USSF) (e.g., SSC, SpOC, or related DoD space acquisition and controlling authorities).
• Hands-on experience supporting spacecraft cryptographic systems (such as space-to-ground telemetry/command encryption, flight ECUs, or ground station cryptographic equipment) as well as facility INEs and fill devices.
• Demonstrated experience working with NSA/CSS Policy 3-16 (or equivalent agency/Service COMSEC doctrine) and CARDS (or KMI/DIAS).
• Proven ability to operate autonomously as a builder and self-starter capable of standing up foundational COMSEC processes, documentation, and training programs.
• Ability to perform regular moderate lifting (approximately 25‑40 pounds) for equipment movement and installation.
• Ability to travel up to 20% in support of spacecraft test campaigns, vendor validations, government coordination, and launch site operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Formal NSA COMSEC Custodian / Manager Certification or KMI Operating Account Manager (KOAM) training.
• Experience supporting COMSEC within SAP and SCI environments, including initial COMSEC account establishment and classified facility buildouts.
• Hands-on experience supporting spacecraft Assembly, Integration, and Test (AI&T), Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) testing, and launch base COMSEC operations.
• Previous experience scaling security or COMSEC programs in a high‑paced aerospace or defense startup environment.

COMSEC Manager Salary Range: $160,000 - $180,000 USD

Employees may be asked to support alternate shifts, extended shifts, and/or travel during peak work periods.

ITAR Requirements

This position may include access to technology and/or software source code that is subject to U.S. export controls. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package designed to support the well‑being and professional growth of our employees. In addition to a competitive base salary and company stock, determined by factors such as job‑related knowledge, education, skills, experience, and market demand, full‑time employees are eligible for:

• Equity: Receive equity in Turion Space, letting you benefit from the company's success

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their dependents.

• Retirement Plans: Access to a 401(k) plan with a 3% Employer Direct Contribution to help you plan for your future.

• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation days, personal days, sick days, and holidays to ensure you have time to recharge.

• Parental Leave: Paid parental leave following the birth of a newborn or adoption.

• Emotional Wellbeing: A no-cost Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support you and your household’s emotional health and wellbeing.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for ongoing internal training, workshops, and courses to advance your skills and career growth.

• Team Building Activities: Regular social events, team outings, and company-sponsored activities to foster a positive work environment.

We are dedicated to providing a supportive and enriching environment for our team members, recognizing that our collective success is built upon the well‑being and satisfaction of each individual.

Turion Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Turion Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.