Program Protection Lead - Security Strategist

American Systems; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 133,000 - 221,000; Full time

Job summary

AMERICAN SYSTEMS is seeking a Security Specialist - Program Protection Lead in the Washington, DC area to integrate safeguards protecting critical information, technologies, and mission capabilities across engineering, acquisition, and operations.

The position requires a Master’s or a Bachelor’s with extensive, directly relevant experience, including SAP and SCI/SCIF environments, and an active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or bachelor’s degree with extensive directly relevant experience.
• Experience must include support to Special Access Program and Sensitive Compartmented Information environments.
• Coordinate effectively across Government, contractor, and external stakeholders; lead a team in fast paced classified environments.
• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility; must meet applicable SAP eligibility requirements.

Responsibilities

• Integrates safeguards into planning and execution to protect critical information, sensitive technologies, and mission capabilities from compromise or exploitation.
• Support risk-informed protection strategies, develop and maintain protective documentation, and coordinate security measures across engineering, acquisition, operations, security, and other functional stakeholders.
• Evaluate vulnerabilities and dependencies, translate identified risks into practical controls, and monitor implementation throughout program activities.
• Maintain a coherent view of threats, critical assets, and protective actions to help leadership make informed decisions and embed security in technical planning.
• Develop and maintain program-protection plans, strategies, assessments, and supporting documentation.
• Identify critical information, technologies, capabilities, and dependencies requiring coordinated protection measures.
• Assess vulnerabilities and security risks that could affect sensitive program information or mission capabilities.
• Coordinate safeguards with Government security, technical, intelligence, export, disclosure, and operational stakeholders.
• Track implementation of approved protection measures and document risks, decisions, exceptions, and corrective actions.
• Prepare leadership briefings and recommendations addressing protection priorities, residual risk, and emerging concerns.
• Evaluate changes in program activities or threat conditions and recommend updates to protective strategies.

Skills

Top Secret clearance

SCI eligibility

Cross-stakeholder coordination

Education

Master’s degree in a relevant discipline

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline

Job description

AMERICAN SYSTEMS is seeking a Security Specialist - Program Protection Lead in the Washington, DC area to integrate safeguards protecting critical information, technologies, and mission capabilities across engineering, acquisition, and operations.

The position requires a Master’s or a Bachelor’s with extensive, directly relevant experience, including SAP and SCI/SCIF environments, and an active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility.