Security Spec Staff

American Electric Power; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 137,000 - 178,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Base salary

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive

401(k) match

AEP Pension

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

American Electric Power in Columbus, Ohio seeks a Counterintelligence Investigator to detect, investigate, and respond to insider risks, protecting people, data, and critical infrastructure from threats.

You will partner with internal teams, document findings in case management systems, write comprehensive reports, and translate technical findings for executives and stakeholders. A strong background in CI, investigations, and security concepts is required.

Qualifications

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.
• Experience with CI missions: operations, investigations, collections, analysis, or production.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with strong analytical and critical-thinking skills.
• Experience conducting interviews, briefings, and debriefings.
• Experience with investigations with national security implications.

Responsibilities

• Identify, implement, and maintain CI controls to protect critical infrastructure from threats.
• Detect and assess nation-state efforts targeting sensitive information.
• Develop CI policies, procedures, and threat assessments; analyze data to improve CI programs.
• Conduct or support CI inquiries, investigations, and digital forensics, documenting findings.
• Produce concise investigative and analytic deliverables for technical and executive audiences.
• Perform targeted CI and supply chain risk assessments to inform enterprise decisions.
• Deliver counterintelligence awareness training.
• Conduct pre- and post-travel briefings and debriefings.
• Work independently while collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Skills

Security clearance

CI operations

Investigations

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Associate’s degree + 2 years relevant experience

High School Diploma/GED + 4 years relevant experience

Job description

Job Summary

The Counterintelligence Investigator is an individual contributor responsible for detecting, investigating, and responding to risks, helping to protect AEP’s people, data, and critical infrastructure from intentional and unintentional insider activity.

Job Description

The Counterintelligence Investigator partners closely with internal business partners to provide support for user investigations, documents findings through case management systems, and escalates high-profile or sensitive matters for further investigation and response. This position also writes comprehensive reports and is able to translate highly technical findings into common business language for various stakeholders.

What You’ll Do

Essential Job Functions & Tasks

• Identify, implement, and maintain counterintelligence (CI) controls to protect critical infrastructure and operational technology (OT) from nation-state cyber threats, malicious insiders, espionage, and supply chain exploitation.
• Detect, monitor, and assess nation-state efforts targeting the collection of sensitive, proprietary, or operationally critical information.
• Develop and maintain CI policies, procedures, and threat assessments, and analyze quantitative and qualitative data to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of CI programs.
• Conduct or support CI inquiries, investigations, and digital forensics efforts, including the documentation and referral of findings to appropriate stakeholders.
• Produce concise, insightful, and comprehensive investigative and analytic deliverables for both technical and executive audiences.
• Perform targeted CI and supply chain risk assessments to inform enterprise risk decisions.
• Deliver counterintelligence awareness training.
• Conduct pre and post travel briefings and debriefings.
• Work independently with minimal oversight while collaborating effectively across business partner teams.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.
• Demonstrated experience conducting or supporting one or more CI mission functions — operations, investigations, collections, analysis and production, or functional services.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong analytical and critical-thinking ability.
• Experience conducting interviews, briefings, and debriefings.
• Experience conducting investigations with national security implications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience conducting analysis of forensic outputs in support of insider threat and/or counterintelligence inquiries and investigations.
• Familiarity with electric utility operations, industrial control systems (ICS/SCADA), or critical infrastructure protection frameworks.
• Knowledge and experience with threat actor Tactics Techniques and Procedures
• Experience conducting large scale investigations involving various U.S. government agencies.

Preferred Certifications and Courses

• One or more insider threat certifications: Global Counter-Insider Threat Professional (GCITP), CERT Insider Threat Program Manager (ITPM), Certified Counter-Insider Threat Professional (CCITP-F, CCITP-A)
• Graduate of a credentialed counterintelligence special agent course (e.g., CISAC, DCAC, or equivalent)or a comparable federal investigations training program.
• One or more all-source analyst courses/certifications such as: Certified Department of Defense All-Source Analyst (CDASA) or Professional Analyst Career Education (PACE)
• One or more forensic/security certifications: GIAC Certified Forensic Examiner (GCFE), GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst (GCFA)
• One or more interview/interrogation courses/certifications

What We’re Looking For:

Education requirements are listed below:

• Bachelor’s degree OR associate’s degree with 2 years relevant experience in system administration/help desk/security (cyber or physical) OR High School Diploma/GED with 4 years relevant experience in IT system administration/help desk/security (cyber or physical).

Work Experience requirement listed below:

• 10 or more years of Information Technology related experience OR 8 or more years of security related experience, which may include military/government work experience in addition to any experience identified above.

What You’ll Get:

• Base salary
• Annual bonus
• Long-term incentive
• 401(k) match
• AEP Pension
• Comprehensive benefits package designed to support and enhance the overall well-being of employees.

At AEP, we’re more than just an energy company — we’re a team of dedicated professionals committed to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative energy solutions. Guided by our mission to put the customer first, we strive to exceed expectations by listening, responding, and continuously improving the way we serve our communities. If you’re passionate about making a meaningful impact and being part of a forward-thinking organization, this is the company for you!

Compensation Data

Compensation Grade:

SP20-010

Compensation Range:

$136,539.00 - $177,503.00

The Physical Demand Level for this job is: S – Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently. (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.

It is hereby reaffirmed that it is the policy of American Electric Power (AEP) to provide Equal Employment Opportunity in all respects of the employer-employee relationship including recruiting, hiring, upgrading and promotion, conditions and privileges of employment, company sponsored training programs, educational assistance, social and recreational programs, compensation, benefits, transfers, discipline, layoffs and termination of employment to all employees and applicants without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, veteran or military status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. When required by law, we might record certain information or applicants for employment may be invited to voluntarily disclose protected characteristics.