Facility Security Officer — Build Federal Security Program

Cognition; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognition, an applied AI lab, is seeking a founding Facility Security Officer to build and scale its industrial security program for a rapidly growing federal business across the U.S. Government, including NASA JPL, SSA, and DoD clients.

You will own the facility clearance, manage personnel security, and ensure ongoing NISPOM compliance. Define the security playbook, processes, tooling, and culture while partnering with GTM, engineering, and legal to enable growth.

Qualifications

• Active U.S. Government security clearance TS/SCI.
• 5+ years of industrial security experience under the NISP, including 2+ years as an appointed FSO.
• FSO Program Management certification (or willingness to complete) plus ITPSO training.
• Hands-on proficiency with DISS, NBIS/eQIP, and SF-86 processing.
• Ability to work on-site in Washington, DC and travel occasionally.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the appointed FSO under 32 CFR Part 117 (NISPOM), owning the establishment, maintenance, and administration of Cognition's facility clearance in partnership with DCSA.
• Administer the personnel security clearance lifecycle end-to-end: investigations, adjudications, reinvestigations, and indoctrinations.
• Establish and run the Insider Threat Program as the ITPSO, including training and reporting.
• Lead DCSA security vulnerability assessments and self-inspections; drive remediation and readiness.
• Develop and deliver security education: briefings, annual refresher training, foreign travel pre-briefs/debriefs.
• Manage safeguarding of classified information and visits; prepare for cryptic operations and closed area accreditation.
• Author and maintain security documentation: SPPs, technology control plans, DD Form 254 reviews.
• Submit required reports — suspicious contacts, adverse information, security violations, and foreign travel.
• Coordinate with GTM, engineering, and legal on clearance requirements in solicitations and program timelines.
• Collaborate with IT/security engineering on controls for classified work and interfaces with FedRAMP high and DoD IL environments.

Skills

Security program leadership

Industrial security

DCSA / NISPOM compliance

FSO / ITPSO experience

DISS / NBIS knowledge

Tools

DISS

NBIS / eQIP

SF-86 processing

Job description

Cognition, an applied AI lab, is seeking a founding Facility Security Officer to build and scale its industrial security program for a rapidly growing federal business across the U.S. Government, including NASA JPL, SSA, and DoD clients.

You will own the facility clearance, manage personnel security, and ensure ongoing NISPOM compliance. Define the security playbook, processes, tooling, and culture while partnering with GTM, engineering, and legal to enable growth.