Contractor Special Security Officer (CSSO)

Leidos LLC; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 83,000 - 149,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos Security Operations in Huntsville, Alabama seeks an experienced Contractor Special Security Officer (CSSO) to lead and execute security for complex DoD/IC programs. You will manage personnel security, physical security, SAP/SCI programs, and secure facilities while coordinating with government security stakeholders.

Strong leadership, impeccable communication, and hands-on experience in a classified environment are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 8+ years of relevant security experience.
• Experience supporting industrial security operations in a classified environment.
• Experience with SAP/SCI programs.
• Active TS clearance with SCI eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Execute and support all aspects of the industrial security program per NISPOM, DoD and IC directives.
• Provide security oversight for classified programs, facilities, information, systems and assets.
• Protect CUI, classified information, hardware, and government property.
• Support SAP and SCI requirements with government and customer security reps.
• Oversee physical security: access control, CCTV, alarms, visitor management, key control.
• Support ICD-705 secure facilities, accreditation, and buildouts.
• Administer personnel security: clearances, indoctrinations, debriefings, reporting.
• Maintain relationships with DCSA, DoD and IC security organizations during inspections.
• Prepare facilities for government reviews and drive corrective actions.
• Investigate security incidents and implement corrective actions.
• Support insider threat identification and mitigation.
• Provide security guidance to leadership and project teams.

Skills

Top Secret clearance

SCI eligibility

DoD/IC security experience

SAP/SCI program experience

Security leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Leidos Security Operations is seeking an experienced Contractor Special Security Officer (CSSO) to support Department of Defense (DoD), Intelligence Community (IC), and U.S. Government programs in Huntsville, Alabama. The CSSO will provide security leadership and day-to-day execution for complex classified programs and operations. This position is responsible for ensuring compliance with the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), 32 CFR Part 117, applicable DoD and Intelligence Community requirements, customer directives, and Leidos security policies. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience supporting classified programs and secure operations, with expertise spanning personnel security, physical security, Special Access Program (SAP) and Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) requirements, classified material control, government inspections, and secure facility operations. The CSSO will partner closely with program management, engineering, facilities, and government security stakeholders to protect national security information and assets while enabling effective and uninterrupted mission execution.

Primary Responsibilities

• Execute and support all aspects of the industrial security program in accordance with NISPOM (32 CFR Part 117), DoD regulations, Intelligence Community directives, contractual requirements, and company policies.
• Provide security oversight and support for classified programs, activities, facilities, information, systems, and assets.
• Ensure classified information, hardware, technical data, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and government‑furnished property and equipment are appropriately protected and controlled.
• Support SAP and SCI security requirements and coordinate with government and customer security representatives to maintain compliant operations.
• Support physical security requirements, including access control, intrusion detection systems, CCTV, visitor management, key and lock control, alarm response, and facility security procedures.
• Support secure facility requirements and activities associated with ICD-705, including secure‑area modifications, accreditation activities, and facility buildouts.
• Administer personnel security activities, including clearance processing, indoctrinations, debriefings, foreign travel and foreign contact reporting, adverse information reporting, and security education and awareness.
• Maintain effective working relationships with DCSA, DoD, Intelligence Community, and customer security organizations, representing Leidos during security inspections, assessments, reviews, and program discussions.
• Prepare supported facilities and programs for government and customer security reviews, audits, and inspections, and drive timely resolution of findings and corrective actions.
• Investigate security incidents and violations, document findings, and implement appropriate corrective and preventive actions.
• Support insider threat identification, reporting, awareness, and mitigation activities.
• Provide security guidance to program leadership, employees, engineers, and other stakeholders to integrate security requirements into operational planning and execution.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen security processes, improve operational efficiency, reduce risk, and support continuous improvement.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 8+ years of relevant security experience. Additional relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Demonstrated experience supporting industrial security operations in a classified environment.
• Experience supporting Special Access Programs (SAP) and Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) programs.
• Working knowledge of ICD-705 requirements and experience supporting secure facility construction, modification, accreditation, or buildout activities.
• Experience serving as or supporting an FSO, CPSO, CSSO, or comparable security role.
• Experience supporting U.S. Army, DoD, Intelligence Community, or other U.S. Government programs.
• Knowledge of personnel security, physical security, classified material control, incident reporting, and government security inspection requirements.
• Experience supporting insider threat programs and applying security best practices within classified environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively engage program leadership, employees, government customers, and security professionals.
• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility/access required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting complex DoD, Intelligence Community, or U.S. Government programs.
• Experience interacting directly with DCSA and government security representatives during inspections, assessments, and accreditation activities.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and implement complex government security requirements while enabling mission execution.
• Experience developing or improving security procedures, compliance processes, and risk‑mitigation strategies.
• Demonstrated strategic leadership, sound judgment, customer focus, operational excellence, accountability, relationship building, and continuous improvement.

Key Attributes for Success

The successful candidate will be a hands‑on security professional who can operate effectively in a dynamic classified environment. The role requires the ability to anticipate security risks, translate complex government requirements into practical solutions, build trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and maintain a strong security culture while enabling mission success.

If you’re looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We’re not hiring followers. We’re recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We’re already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting: September 1, 2026

Pay Range: Pay Range $82,550.00 - $149,225.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

Leidos Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $17.2 billion for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2026. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That’s why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available here.

Securing Your Data Leidos will never ask you to provide payment‑related information at any part of the employment application process. And Leidos will communicate with you only through emails that are sent from a Leidos.com email address. If you receive an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment‑related information or any other personal information, please report the email to [e-mail].

Commitment and Diversity All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.