Security Specialist - Program Protection Lead

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

Overview

AMERICAN SYSTEMS is an employee-owned federal government contractor supporting national priority programs through our strategic solutions in the areas of Information Technology, Test & Evaluation, Program Mission Support, Engineering & Analysis, and Training.

Responsibilities

As The Security Specialist - Program Protection Lead, you will:

• 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.
• By maintaining a coherent view of threats, critical assets, and protective actions, the Security Specialist Program Protection helps leadership make informed decisions and ensures that security considerations remain embedded in technical and operational planning rather than addressed only after risks emerge.

Essential Responsibilities:

• 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.
• Integrate protective requirements into engineering, acquisition, operational, sustainment, and decision-making activities.
• 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.

#F35

Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in a relevant discipline and 10 years of directly relevant experience; or a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline plus 14 years of directly related work experience.
• Experience must include support to Special Access Program and Sensitive Compartmented Information environments
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate effectively across Government, contractor, and external stakeholders; prepare briefings, reports, standard operating procedures, and official correspondence; and lead a team in fast paced classified environments.
• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility; must be able to meet any applicable Special Access Program eligibility requirements identified by the Government.

Pay Transparency Statement

AMERICAN SYSTEMS is committed to pay transparency for our applicants and employee-owners. The salary range for this position is USD $132,500.00/Yr. - USD $221,300.00/Yr. Actual compensation will be determined based on several factors permitted by law. AMERICAN SYSTEMS provides for the welfare of its employees and their dependents through a comprehensive benefits program by offering healthcare benefits, paid leave, retirement plans, insurance programs, and education and training assistance.

EEO Statement

EEO Race/Sex/Disability Status/Veteran Status