Security Manager

Varda Space Industries, Inc.; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Varda Space Industries is seeking a Security Manager to develop and lead their security program. This role involves managing facility and personnel clearances, ensuring compliance with DoD security protocols, and collaborating across teams to protect sensitive data in a groundbreaking space environment.

Benefits

401(k) matching

Unlimited PTO

Health insurance, including Vision and Dental

Lunch and snacks provided on site

Maternity / Paternity leave

Qualifications

• Active Top Secret or Top Secret SCI clearance required.
• 5+ years of experience as an FSO managing DoD and/or Intelligence Community security programs.
• Strong understanding of NISPOM, ICD 705, and DoD security protocols.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and enforcement of security protocols.
• Manage personnel and facility clearances, ensuring compliance.
• Serve as the primary security expert with government agencies.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

Job description

Low Earth orbit is open for business . Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules.

From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.

Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.

Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL (coming soon).

Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.

About The Role:

Varda supports a diverse and pioneering customer base—from pharmaceutical companies developing novel therapies in microgravity, to government agencies pushing the limits of microgravity, hypersonic reentry and advanced flight testing. These customers operate at the forefront of science and technology, and their missions drive our security requirements to be equally cutting-edge, robust, and adaptable.

As a Security Manager at Varda, you will be responsible for safeguarding the integrity of our missions and the sensitive data entrusted to us. You will lead the development and enforcement of security protocols that meet or exceed the expectations of our customers, who demand the highest standards due to the critical and sometimes classified nature of their work. This role requires close collaboration across mission management, business development, engineering and operations teams to ensure security is embedded throughout the lifecycle—from early customer engagement through launch, operations, and recovery. Your work will be instrumental in enabling our customers to innovate with confidence in some of the most challenging environments imaginable.

We are seeking a Security Manager to build and lead our security program from the ground up to ensure compliance with DoD, Intelligence Community and other customer-driven security requirements. This role will shape all things security at Varda -- from managing our Facility Security Clearances (FCLs), Personnel Security Clearances (PCLs), and Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIFs) to leading Communications Security (COMSEC), and Program Protection Plans (PPPs). This is a foundational role where you will define and implement security protocols, ensuring compliance with requirements while enabling our team to move quickly and iterate.

What You'll Do:

• Serve as Facility Security Officer (FSO) overseeing our facility clearance, personnel clearances, including training, administrative and compliance requirements and ensuring we have the right tools to do the job.
• Lead physical security operations across office, R&D, manufacturing and recovery spaces, ensuring adherence to national security standards.
• Manage our COMSEC program to protect classified communications.
• Serve as the ITPSO (Insider Threat Program Security Officer), developing a robust program to deter, detect and mitigate insider threats to critical information.
• Serve as the primary security expert with government agencies and partners, establishing classification levels, and defining storage and transmission protocols for classified information or hardware.
• Expand and accredit SCIFs and classified production facilities, working closely with internal teams and government stakeholders to support evolving mission needs.
• Collaborate with IT and Information Assurance teams to support current CUI requirements and plan for and maintain classified network capabilities and secure infrastructure.
• Create protocols to ensure compliance with NISPOM and contractual security requirements to meet all DD254, security classification guide, and other contract requirements.
• Define plans for Security team growth to ensure Varda is set up for success and has the right skills at the right time.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• Active Top Secret or Top Secret SCI clearance.
• 5+ years of experience as an FSO managing DoD and/or Intelligence Community security programs.
• Strong understanding of NISPOM, ICD 705, and DoD security protocols.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to brief executives, employees, and government stakeholders on security requirements.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Experience working with Special Access Programs / Special Access Required (SAP/SAR)
• Experience building a security program from the ground up in a commercial or government-contractor environment.
• Previous roles as CPSO (Contractor Program Security Officer) or CSSO (Contractor Special Security Officer).
• Hands-on experience with SCIF/SAPF planning, accreditation, and management.

Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. At present, some of our technology to which employees have access requires a license to be exported to individuals other than “U.S. Persons” as defined in U.S. export regulations. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our current policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.

“US person” means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum in the U.S.)

Learn more about the ITAR

• Exciting team of professionals at the top of their field working by your side
• Equity in a fully funded space startup with potential for significant growth (interns excluded)
• 401(k) matching (interns excluded)
• Unlimited PTO (interns excluded)
• Health insurance, including Vision and Dental
• Lunch and snacks provided on site every day. Dinners provided twice a week.
• Maternity / Paternity leave (interns excluded)

Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.

E-Verify Statement

Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about theE-Verify program.

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Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. At present, some of our technology to which employees have access requires a license to be exported to individuals other than “U.S. Persons” as defined in U.S. export regulations. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our current policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.“US person” means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum in the U.S.)Based upon the foregoing definitions, are you a U.S. Person? (Yes/No) * Select...

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