Security Clearance Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Security Clearance Manager

Location: Washington DC / BWI Area (preferred)

About Intuitive Machines

Intuitive Machines is an innovative and cutting-edge space company making cislunar space accessible to both public and private customers. Our mission is to further science and exploration, communications, and economic progress from the Earth to the Moon and beyond. With the first commercial lunar landing in history, multiple NASA lunar missions in development, and additional private missions on our manifest, we pride ourselves in supporting our customers and the nation in paving the way to return humans to the surface of the Moon. Our world-class team includes experts in all aspects of spacecraft subsystems design, development, and test, on-orbit operations, and safety.

As Security Clearance Manager , you will report to the Director of Security and coordinate with the other FSO’s to maintain and elevate Intuitive Machines overall security program. This will include managing the end-to-end personnel security process for Intuitive Machines. You will manage security clearance processing and tracking, visit authorizations, employee security training, and the Insider Threat Program. This role is critical for supporting classified contracts with the Intelligence Community (IC), DoD, and NASA while maintaining compliance in a fast-paced NewSpace environment.

You will serve as a trusted partner to program teams, HR, safety, compliance and executive leadership, ensuring that security processes enable mission execution and business velocity.

Responsibilities:

• Clearance Processing & Tracking: Manage the full lifecycle of personnel security clearances (Secret, Top Secret, SCI) for employees and contractors. Process initial investigations, periodic reinvestigations, and upgrades through DISS, NBIS, e-QIP, and other systems. Maintain accurate tracking, reporting, and reciprocity across IC, DoD, and NASA sponsors.
• Visit Certifications & Access Management: Oversee visit authorization requests, foreign visit disclosures, and classified visit certifications. Coordinate with government sponsors and facilities to enable seamless mission support and customer engagements.
• Employee Security Training & Awareness: Deliver comprehensive security education programs, including initial briefing, annual refresher training, counterintelligence awareness, and specialized training for handling classified information. Promote a strong security culture across a distributed workforce.
• Insider Threat Program: Act as the Insider Threat Personnel Senior Official (ITPSO) for the DC/Maryland area. Integrate multidisciplinary elements (HR, legal, IT security, behavioral analysis) for early detection, assessment, and mitigation of potential insider risks while protecting privacy and civil liberties.
• Compliance & Program Management: Ensure adherence to NISPOM, ICDs, DoD 5200 series, NASA personnel security directives, SEADs, and other relevant policies. Support Facility Clearance (FCL) requirements and prepare for audits and inspections.
• M&A and Growth Support: Integrate personnel security processes for multiple Intuitive Machines sites and acquired entities to support due diligence. Scale the program to accommodate rapid hiring and international expansion.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Serve as the primary interface with DCSA, DoD CAF, NASA security offices, IC agencies, and contracting officers in the national capital regions. Provide regular reporting to executive leadership and program teams on clearance status, program health, and risk posture.
• Process Optimization: Leverage automation and best practices to streamline workflows in a high-growth environment, reducing processing times while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and compliance.

Requirements:

• 3+ years of experience in personnel security, managing personnel security programs for government contractors.
• Deep specialized experience working with the Intelligence Community (IC), DoD, and NASA security environments.
• Expert knowledge of clearance processing systems (DISS, NBIS, e-QIP), NISPOM, ICD 704/705, SEAD 4/6, insider threat requirements (EO 13587, NIST), and NASA personnel security policies.
• Proven success building or maturing an Insider Threat Program.
• Strong understanding of industrial security, facility clearances, and visit authorization processes.
• Experience supporting classified space or aerospace programs is highly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Security Management, Intelligence Studies, or a related field; advanced degree or relevant certifications preferred.
• US citizenship required; active Top-Secret clearance with SCI eligibility (and recent polygraph preferred).
• FSO Program Management for Processing Facilities and Insider Threat Program Management Personnel certifications are required before start date.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Thrives in a fast-paced, ambiguous NewSpace environment and has experience scaling security programs in high-growth companies.
• Excellent communicator who can translate complex security requirements into actionable guidance for engineers, program managers, and executives.
• Collaborative team member with strong organizational and project management skills.
• Passion for space innovation and supporting missions that expand humanity’s presence in space.

US EEO Statement

Intuitive Machines is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, medical condition, marital or domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression and transgender status, mental disability or physical disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, citizenship, low-income status or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable law.