COMSEC Manager

Job description

Hermeus is a venture-backed defense aviation company reclaiming the lost art of rapid iterative prototyping to build the fastest aircraft in the world today. By prioritizing relentless hardware iteration, we deliver high-speed systems at the pace of the modern battlefield. We work with the Department of War to provide the high-speed capabilities our nation and its allies need to maintain a durable, asymmetric advantage. We are seeking an experienced COMSEC Manager to establish, manage, and oversee a Communications Security (COMSEC) program supporting highly classified aerospace and defense programs. This role will own the development and operation of the COMSEC account, including cryptographic equipment, keying material, Controlled Cryptographic Items (CCI), Secure Key Loaders (SKLs), and classified communications capabilities. The ideal candidate is a hands-on COMSEC professional who can build compliant processes from the ground up, operate independently, and serve as the organization’s subject-matter expert across security, engineering, program management, and operations. This role will support COMSEC requirements from initial program development through system integration, testing, deployment, and ongoing operations. ### Responsibilities - Establish, manage, and maintain the organization’s COMSEC account in accordance with applicable DoD, NSA, customer, and program requirements. - Manage the full lifecycle and accountability of COMSEC equipment, CCI, cryptographic keying material, SKLs, and associated records and documentation. - Develop and maintain COMSEC policies, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), local operating instructions, emergency procedures, training materials, and contingency plans. - Establish secure processes for the receipt, storage, issue, transfer, safeguarding, use, destruction, and disposition of COMSEC material. - Support classified communications and tactical data link capabilities, including Link 16 and associated cryptographic and key-management requirements. - Partner with security, engineering, program management, operations, government stakeholders, and external COMSEC authorities to integrate COMSEC requirements into program and system architectures. - Prepare for and support COMSEC inspections, audits, assessments, and government/customer reviews, including identifying compliance gaps and driving corrective actions to closure. - Provide COMSEC training and technical guidance while supporting program milestones, system integration, laboratory operations, field testing, deployments, and operational exercises. ### Requirements - Experience managing COMSEC operations within a DoD, aerospace, defense, intelligence, or similarly regulated classified environment. - Strong working knowledge of DoD/NSA COMSEC policies, procedures, accountability requirements, and classified information-handling practices. - Hands-on experience with cryptographic key management, Secure Key Loaders (SKLs), Controlled Cryptographic Items (CCI), and other COMSEC equipment and material. - Experience supporting classified communications and maintaining rigorous COMSEC inventory, accountability, and documentation processes. - Demonstrated experience preparing for and supporting COMSEC inspections, audits, and government or customer assessments. - Strong understanding of physical, personnel, information, and communications security requirements as they relate to COMSEC operations. - Ability to independently establish compliant processes, manage competing priorities, and operate effectively in a startup or rapidly evolving program environment. - Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to obtain and maintain required security clearances and accesses, including TS/SCI. ### Preferred Skills & Experience - Demonstrated experience standing up a COMSEC account from the ground up, including processes, documentation, inventory controls, and operational procedures. - Experience supporting aircraft, spacecraft, satellite, aerospace vehicle, or advanced defense-system programs. - Experience integrating COMSEC requirements into new system development, program architecture, and development-to-production or operational transitions. - Experience supporting system integration, laboratory testing, flight testing, field operations, or operational deployments involving classified communications. - Familiarity with tactical data links, including Link 16, MIDS, and JTIDS, and their associated cryptographic and key-management requirements. - Experience developing and delivering COMSEC training for personnel handling COMSEC equipment, keying material, or classified communications.