Founding Facility Security Officer — Federal Programs

Cognition; Washington; On-site; USD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognition is seeking a founding Facility Security Officer to build and run our security program for federal work across the U.S. Government, NASA JPL, SSA, and defense partners.

You will establish the FCL, manage personnel clearances, and ensure NISPOM compliance while collaborating with legal, sales, and engineering to enable rapid growth. You’ll define playbooks, processes, and tooling, and lead security education, training, and continuous readiness across multiple programs and classification

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance.
• 5+ years of industrial security experience under NISP.
• 2+ years as an appointed FSO (or Assistant FSO).
• FSO Program Management for Possessing Facilities certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the appointed FSO under 32 CFR Part 117 (NISPOM).
• Administer the personnel security clearance lifecycle end-to-end.
• Establish and run the Insider Threat Program (ITPSO).
• Lead DCSA security reviews and self-inspections; drive remediation.
• Develop and deliver security education and trainings.
• Manage safeguarding of classified information and visits.
• Author and maintain security documentation (SPP, DD Form 254).
• Submit required reports and coordinate with sales/legal on clearances.
• Forecast clearance needs against program timelines; interface with IT/security engineering.

Skills

Security program development

NISPOM expertise

DCSA liaison

FSO program management

Security training

Risk assessment

Written communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Ambiguity management

Tools

DISS

NBIS/eQIP

SF-86 processing

Job description

Cognition is seeking a founding Facility Security Officer to build and run our security program for federal work across the U.S. Government, NASA JPL, SSA, and defense partners.

You will establish the FCL, manage personnel clearances, and ensure NISPOM compliance while collaborating with legal, sales, and engineering to enable rapid growth. You’ll define playbooks, processes, and tooling, and lead security education, training, and continuous readiness across multiple programs and classification