Industrial Security Manager (FSO)

About Nominal

Engineers today are building some of the most ambitious machines humanity has ever seen. They should have AI that’s purpose-built for them.

Nominal is building the Hardware Intelligence Platform that gives engineers increased visibility into complex physical systems, helps them make better decisions, and ultimately gets their products into the real world faster. It brings together the systems, data, intelligence, and applications hardware engineering requires to meet the AI moment. Hardware engineering teams use Nominal to simulate, test, manufacture, and operate the physical systems that keep the world moving, from spacecraft and autonomous vehicles to next-generation energy systems and robotics.

Our customers span aerospace, defense, manufacturing, transportation, energy, and robotics. They include Anduril, Shield AI, Wisk Aero, Pratt Miller Motorsports, Antares, and Shinkei Systems, amongst others, alongside programs within the U.S. Air Force and Navy. Our team draws from SpaceX, Palantir, Anduril, Applied Intuition, Tesla, and other leading companies, united by a common mission: giving hardware engineers the tools to build the future with speed, safety, and confidence. We're a fast-moving team that owns problems end-to-end, works across disciplines, and thrives at the intersection of hardware and software.

Some of the world’s leading technology investors, including Sequoia, Lightspeed, Founders Fund, General Catalyst, Lux Capital, and Insight Partners, are backing Nominal’s ambition to change how machines are built and operated. We’re looking for teammates who want to take on hard problems and help make a new generation of world-changing hardware possible.

We're looking for an Industrial Security Manager to serve as Nominal's Facility Security Officer and the single owner of our classified security program. We support Department of War customers across the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Army, and a growing share of our work with primes and commercial partners is classified. As AI changes how the country builds and tests its most advanced systems, more of the data behind those systems sits at higher classification levels. Getting that data safely into Nominal, and getting our engineers cleared and in the room, is now central to how we win.

You'll own the program end to end: facility clearance compliance, special access program administration, personnel security, controlled information handling, and the secure facilities our teams work in. This is a build role. You'll take what exists today, turn it into a program that scales with our classified growth, and see the long-lead needs coming before the business feels them.

What you'll do

• Own facility and physical security: Serve as Nominal's appointed FSO. Maintain facility clearance compliance and associated government records, lead engagement with DCSA, and oversee day-to-day physical security requirements for cleared facilities. Manage facility access, classified visits, inspections, and security readiness, including coordination of time-sensitive facility incidents.
• Build and run classified program security: Establish and administer classified security processes across our programs, including access requests, read-ons and debriefs, facility requirements, and coordination with government program security officers. Support SAP and SCI security administration and access requirements as programs demand.
• Scale our cleared workforce: Own personnel security operations across collateral, SCI, and SAP programs, including clearance sponsorship, investigations and reinvestigations, Continuous Vetting, access processing, mandatory reporting, and required security training. Build and optimize clearance pipelines, tracking, and forecasts to keep our people ready for the work ahead.
• Define how controlled information moves: Write the SOPs for how classified, CUI, ITAR, and export-controlled information enters, moves through, and leaves Nominal. Recommend the tooling to support it, and serve as Top Secret Control Officer when needed. Own remediation from security incidents, including remediation and clear communication with internal teams and government stakeholders.
• Turn contracts into requirements: Write and review DD-254s, scope security requirements on new government and prime opportunities, and give the business an early read on what each classified deal will take.
• Navigate government security requirements: Interpret and apply NISPOM, DCSA, and customer-specific security requirements. Resolve policy ambiguities, navigate complex approval processes, and develop practical, compliant solutions that enable our teams to move quickly.
• Lead insider threat and OPSEC: Serve as Insider Threat Program Senior Official and own Nominal's OPSEC program.
• Be the face of Nominal security: Act as our primary interface with DCSA, government security offices, and prime contractor security teams. Travel to customer sites as programs require.
• Make security a competitive advantage: Partner with Government, Legal, IT, InfoSec, People, and Engineering so security speeds up deployments instead of slowing them. The SOPs, checklists, and standards you set become how the company operates.

We're looking for

• Deep industrial security experience: 8+ years in industrial security, including 3+ years as an FSO, Contractor Program Security Officer, or Contractor Special Security Officer at a cleared contractor.
• Hands-on SAP administration: Experience administering special access programs as a CPSO or government program security officer. The Special Program Security Credential (SPSC) is strongly preferred.
• DD-254 expertise: You've written and negotiated DD-254s and know how contract security requirements translate into day-to-day obligations.
• Security systems fluency: Hands-on experience with NISS, DISS, NBIS, JADE, and similar government security systems. Fluency with DCSA security reviews, and the realities of keeping a cleared company compliant while it grows.
• A builder's mindset: You've created a scalable security program, not only maintained one, and you're comfortable writing the playbook when none exists.
• A business partner's instincts: You see security as part of how Nominal wins. You're clear, solutions-oriented, and steady with customers, auditors, and engineers alike.
• This position requires you to currently possess and be able to maintain a U.S. TS/SCI clearance, in order to meet U.S. regulatory eligibility requirements for the access to classified information associated with this role

Skills that supercharge us

• SCI and SAP administration and experience supporting multiple classification and access environments
• Facility accreditation through a DCSA assessment
• CUI and CMMC program experience
• FOCI mitigation
• Technology Control Plans for foreign national visitors
• Experience building a security program at a startup or defense tech company
• CDSE certifications such as SFPC, SAPPC, or ISOC

Benefits/Perks

• 100% coverage of medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Unlimited PTO and sick leave
• Free lunch, snacks, and coffee
• Professional Development Stipend
• In-office hardware lab with a $250 project stipend
• Annual company retreat
• 12 weeks parental leave
• Fertility and family planning ($15,000 lifetime)
• Wellness stipend ($100/month)
• $500/year hardware sensor stipend
• 401(k)
• Employee-friendly equity terms
• In-office 5 days per week

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Compensation

The base pay range for this role is $150,000 - $185,000 per year.