Security Program Manager Jobs in Fort Collins, CO

Location: Longmont, CO (onsite)

Experience: 5+ years of FSO/CSSO experience is required.

Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Compensation: $130,000-$175,000

Who We Are

nLIGHT-DEFENSE Systems, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading developers of Directed Energy systems, which is a top modernization priority of the Department of Defense.  Our High Energy Laser (HEL) systems, Adaptive Optical (AO) systems, and Acquisition / Pointing / Tracking (APT) solutions are designed to overcome the most difficult challenges facing the deployment of high energy laser solutions to the United States military and our allies.  Located in Longmont, Colorado, nLIGHT-DEFENSE Systems, Inc. is a vertically integrated business that leverages internal capabilities – from semiconductor device through target identification – to develop systems that are both high-performance and cost-effective.  We continue to invest in capabilities, facilities and technology to bring leading edge HEL solutions to the warfighter. This is a great opportunity to work at a company that is on the leading edge of the HEL industry and provides a culture of excellence and commitment to delivering solutions to the warfighter and our country.  

Headquartered in Camas, Washington, nLIGHT is a publicly listed company (NASDAQ: LASR).

Summary:

The FSO position is a dual-hatted role serving as the Contractor Special Security Officer (CSSO) and Facility Security Officer (FSO), with responsibility for establishing, directing, and maintaining the company’s industrial and Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) security programs.
The CSSO/FSO is responsible for ensuring that company and customer security requirements are fully implemented and maintained at the nLIGHT DEFENSE Systems facility in Longmont and the parent company, nLIGHT, Inc., located in Camas, Washington. While leading the security functions at both locations, this role will sit in Longmont, Colorado. This role interfaces with all levels of company personnel, senior leadership, and U.S. Government security officials to ensure full compliance with 32 CFR Part 117 (NISPOM), Security Classification Guides (SCGs), and Contract Security Classification Specifications (DD Form 254), as well as applicable Intelligence Community and Cognizant Authority requirements.

The successful candidate will be a self-motivated security professional capable of operating independently while also collaborating closely with program managers, technical teams, and executive leadership. This role includes responsibility for developing and implementing security processes and procedures, conducting self-inspections and government assessments, expanding the company’s classified and SCI footprint, applying risk mitigation methodologies, and supporting customer and government security reviews. The CSSO/FSO plays a critical role in integrating security requirements into business operations while enabling secure mission execution.

All applicants must possess or be qualified to obtain a U.S. DoD Personnel Security Clearance. Preference will be given to candidates with an existing U.S. DoD Personnel Security Clearance.  Further information on requirements to obtain a security clearance is available at: https://www.dcsa.mil/mc/pv/mbi/gicp/.  Please review this information before applying.

Responsibilities:    

• Build, implement, manage, and maintain the company’s industrial and SCI security programs at the Longmont, Colorado and Camas, Washington facilities, ensuring compliance with 32 CFR Part 117 (NISPOM), applicable Security Classification Guides, SCI directives, and contract requirements.
• Lead day-to-day security operations for collateral and SCI programs, including personnel processing, document control, classified inventories, audits and self-inspections, incident reporting, visit certifications, and classified receipt, transmission, and destruction activities.
• Serve as the primary contractor authority for SCI security, managing and administering the SCI security program for assigned SCIFs and SCI-enabled spaces in accordance with DoD, Intelligence Community, and Cognizant Authority (CA) requirements.
• Act as the principal security interface with U.S. Government security officials, including DCSA, Government Special Security Officers (SSOs), Cognizant Security Authorities, and Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs), coordinating all collateral and SCI security matters through appropriate channels.
• Manage personnel security clearance processes for cleared employees, including submissions, eligibility tracking, reinvestigations, indoctrinations and debriefings, and accurate system-of-record maintenance in DISS, NISS, SIMS, and related security systems.
• Lead and administer the Insider Threat Program for cleared personnel, ensuring regulatory compliance and coordination with company leadership and government stakeholders.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute security education, training, and awareness (SETA) programs for collateral- and SCI-cleared personnel, including initial, annual, refresher, and special-topic briefings.
• Prepare for, support, and respond to U.S. Government audits, inspections, security vulnerability assessments, self-inspections, and accreditation activities, serving as the contractor lead and coordinating corrective actions.
• Ensure proper safeguarding, transmission, storage, control, and destruction of classified information, enforcing access control, escort procedures, foreign contact and travel reporting, courier authorizations, badge access, and secure communications requirements.
• Develop, maintain, and enforce security policies, SOPs, emergency response plans, and SCI security documentation, including configuration management controls and program-specific security plans.
• Oversee and investigate security incidents or violations, coordinating reporting, mitigation, and corrective actions in accordance with NISPOM, SCI policy, DCSA guidance, and internal company procedures.
• Review contracts, Statements of Work (SOWs), Performance Work Statements (PWSs), and DD Forms 254 to ensure security requirements are properly defined, implemented, and flowed down to programs and personnel
• Provide security input to proposals and capture efforts, including Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs), ensuring security requirements are accurately addressed.
• Support program and technical teams with secure meeting planning and visitor coordination, including processing collateral and SCI visit requests, VARs, and access approvals.
• Advise senior company leadership on collateral and SCI security risk, compliance posture, and operational impacts, ensuring security considerations are integrated into program execution and business planning.

 Required Experience / Capability:     

• Commitment to Excellence.  Attention to Detail.  Pride in Workmanship.  
• 5+ years of FSO experience
• Bachelors Degree or equivalent (4 years)
• Must complete DISS/NISS training
• Must hold Facility Program Management for Possessing Facilities certification
• Experience initiating CMMC efforts and CUI programs
• Current or able to obtain Industrial Security Professional (ISP) Certification
• Current or previously held and eligible TS/SCI
• Strong understanding of Physical Security requirements to include: Open Storage Areas
• Understanding of DISS, e-QIP, NISS, and ISFD
• Knowledge of COMSEC custodian duties
• Experience working in a fast-moving, dynamic environment with multiple government customers and program managers
• Thorough working knowledge of the 32 CFR Part 117 and other relevant DoD security guidance
• Experience developing and implementing OPSEC plans
• Must be able to read and interpret Security Classification Guides (SCGs) and develop and deliver training pertaining to them
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel)
• Possess a high degree of originality, creativity, initiative requiring minimal supervision
• Willingness to travel within the organizational Area of Responsibility (AOR)
• Thrive in high-responsibility role in a fast-moving, startup environment
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all matters related to facility security, industrial security, and NISPOM compliance

Benefits Summary:  

• 4 weeks of Paid Time Off per year 
• 11 paid Holidays 
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan 
• Tuition Assistance Program 
• Health (ACA Gold Plan), Vision and Dental Care paid by employer 100% for Employee and 75% for Dependents 
• Paid Family Leave, Short and Long Term Disability paid by employer 100% 
• Competitive 401k with company match and immediate vesting  

Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or age. For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please see this government poster: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal. If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact Human Resources at HR@nlightdefense.com.