Senior/Principal High-Risk Embedded Security Professional - Special Access Program Operations, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation's premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
• Extraordinary co-workers
• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)
• Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov

*These benefits vary by job classification.

We are seeking a High-Risk Embedded Security Professional to join the Program Security Office and play a key role in managing and supporting special access program security operations. In this critical and dynamic position, you will be deeply embedded within one or more programs, working closely with a diverse team of security expertsincluding cyber security staff, Field Intelligence Element personnel, physical security specialists, program managers, technical staff, and government sponsorsto provide expert guidance and oversight on complex security matters.

In this role, you will take ownership of managing the security program for your assigned area, ensuring full compliance with DOE and DOW requirements. Your leadership and attention to detail will be essential in maintaining the integrity and protection of sensitive programs. The position may require you to be on-call during non-working hours, ready to respond to security operations needs at Sandia National Laboratories.

If you are driven by a commitment to national security and thrive in a collaborative, mission-focused environment, this role offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact every day.

On any given day, you may be called on to:

• Ensure compliance with all applicable security policies and contract-specific requirements, interpreting and apply these standards to guide operations
• Assist in developing and refining standard operating procedures to improve security practices
• Deliver security education and training programs to enhance awareness and compliance
• Lead internal self-assessments in high-security operations to identify and mitigate risks
• Conduct risk assessments and provide detailed analysis and recommendations to management
• Administer personnel security processes, including program access requests and clearances
• Implement and monitor physical access controls, including rigorous visitor management to ensure appropriate briefings, need-to-know validation, and access authorization
• Manage the full lifecycle of classified and sensitive information, including proper classification, marking, accountability (with emphasis on Top Secret control), secure transmission, storage, reproduction, and destruction
• Develop and oversee transportation security plans for field tests and material movement, including on-site monitoring and enforcement
• Lead the accreditation of new facilities, including involvement in construction projects and ensuring physical security compliance
• Collaborate closely with Security Facility Operations (SFO), Cyber, IT, and accrediting officials to establish and maintain secure environments
• Serve as a key embedded liaison within the program, effectively functioning as part of the core program team and maintaining close engagement with program activities
• Act as a security inquiry official, providing expert guidance and resolution on security matters

This position requires the ability to be on-call and carry a pager. Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.

$87,400 - $168,800

*Salary range is estimated, and actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential.

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline (Security, Criminology, Cyber, IT, Political Science, Sociology, Human Resources, Business/Project Management or related) plus 5 years of relevant security experience.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q and SCI clearance, which may require polygraph testing

• Active DOE Q clearance and SCI access.
• Experience with Special Access Programs (SAPs), Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) programs, Controlled Access Programs (CAPs), and/or sigma programs.
• Understanding of various security-related DOE Orders, DoD requirements, Intelligence Community Directives, and Sandia policies.
• Basic knowledge of the Risk Management Framework for DoD Information Technology requirements.
• Experience with Sandia, the Field Intelligence Element (FIE), or other government operations (IC, DoD, NRO, CIA, etc.).
• Demonstrated ability to lead integrated teams to solve complex issues.
• Demonstrated ability to lead process improvement efforts, obtain buy-in from various stakeholders, and measure impact.
• Ability to develop strong relationships with mission partners and sponsors.
• Makes recommendations to management on policies and general business operations.
• Self-motivated and proactive mindset with the ability to work independently in a dynamic, evolving environment without a fixed daily task list.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to changing program needs while maintaining a high-security posture.

The High Security Operations (HSO) group performs high impact, national security work for a broad segment of the Intelligence Community (IC) as well as DOE and NNSA special access programs. We protect our customers information and assets by providing a secure environment that allows Sandia to deliver products and services that protect our nations security. The HSO group is responsible for interpretating and providing oversight of special access program security requirements, to include information, personnel, physical and operational security, access controls, facility accreditation, incident investigation and program access management.

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of three (3) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

Sandia is required by DOE to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants for employment need to be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance and SCI access, both of which require US citizenship. SCI access may also require a polygraph examination. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain these levels of access may be impacted.

Applicants offered employment with Sandia are subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by the DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.