Contractor Special Security Officer (CSSO)

Job description

Leidos Security Operations is seeking an experienced Contractor Special Security Officer (CSSO) to support Department of Defense (DoD), Intelligence Community (IC), and U.S. Government programs in Huntsville, Alabama. The CSSO will provide security leadership and day-to-day execution for complex classified programs and operations. This position is responsible for ensuring compliance with the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), 32 CFR Part 117, applicable DoD and Intelligence Community requirements, customer directives, and Leidos security policies. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience supporting classified programs and secure operations, with expertise spanning personnel security, physical security, Special Access Program (SAP) and Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) requirements, classified material control, government inspections, and secure facility operations. The CSSO will partner closely with program management, engineering, facilities, and government security stakeholders to protect national security information and assets while enabling effective and uninterrupted mission execution. Primary Responsibilities • Execute and support all aspects of the industrial security program in accordance with NISPOM (32 CFR Part 117), DoD regulations, Intelligence Community directives, contractual requirements, and company policies. • Provide security oversight and support for classified programs, activities, facilities, information, systems, and assets. • Ensure classified information, hardware, technical data, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and government-furnished property and equipment are appropriately protected and controlled. • Support SAP and SCI security requirements and coordinate with government and customer security representatives to maintain compliant operations. • Support physical security requirements, including access control, intrusion detection systems, CCTV, visitor management, key and lock control, alarm response, and facility security procedures. • Support secure facility requirements and activities associated with ICD-705, including secure-area modifications, accreditation activities, and facility buildouts. • Administer personnel security activities, including clearance processing, indoctrinations, debriefings, foreign travel and foreign contact reporting, adverse information reporting, and security education and awareness. • Maintain effective working relationships with DCSA, DoD, Intelligence Community, and customer security organizations, representing Leidos during security inspections, assessments, reviews, and program discussions. • Prepare supported facilities and programs for government and customer security reviews, audits, and inspections, and drive timely resolution of findings and corrective actions. • Investigate security incidents and violations, document findings, and implement appropriate corrective and preventive actions. • Support insider threat identification, reporting, awareness, and mitigation activities. • Provide security guidance to program leadership, employees, engineers, and other stakeholders to integrate security requirements into operational planning and execution. • Identify opportunities to strengthen security processes, improve operational efficiency, reduce risk, and support continuous improvement. Basic Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree and 8+ years of relevant security experience. Additional relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree. • Demonstrated experience supporting industrial security operations in a classified environment. • Experience supporting Special Access Programs (SAP) and Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) programs. • Working knowledge of ICD-705 requirements and experience supporting secure facility construction, modification, accreditation, or buildout activities. • Experience serving as or supporting an FSO, CPSO, CSSO, or comparable security role. • Experience supporting U.S. Army, DoD, Intelligence Community, or other U.S. Government programs. • Knowledge of personnel security, physical security, classified material control, incident reporting, and government security inspection requirements. • Experience supporting insider threat programs and applying security best practices within classified environments. • Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively engage program leadership, employees, government customers, and security professionals. • Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility/access required. Preferred Qualifications • Experience supporting complex DoD, Intelligence Community, or U.S. Government programs. • Experience interacting directly with DCSA and government security representatives during inspections, assessments, and accreditation activities. • Demonstrated ability to interpret and implement complex government security requirements while enabling mission execution. • Experience developing or improving security procedures, compliance processes, and risk-mitigation strategies. • Demonstrated strategic leadership, sound judgment, customer focus, operational excellence, accountability, relationship building, and continuous improvement. Key Attributes for Success The successful candidate will be a hands-on security professional who can operate effectively in a dynamic classified environment. The role requires the ability to anticipate security risks, translate complex government requirements into practical solutions, build trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and maintain a strong security culture while enabling mission success. If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares. Original Posting: September 1, 2026 For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above. Pay Range: Pay Range $82,550.00 - $149,225.00 The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.