Security Specialist - Program Protection
Arlington, VAFull-time$133–221K/yrPosted 3mo agoStill listed today
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At a glance
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Job overview
AMERICAN SYSTEMS seeks a Security Specialist - Program Protection to integrate safeguards into planning and execution for sensitive technologies, critical information, and mission capabilities. The role develops protection plans, assesses vulnerabilities and risks, coordinates measures across government and contractor stakeholders, and tracks implementation. The specialist also briefs leadership on protection priorities and recommends updates as program activities or threat conditions change.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Benefits
Full job description
Overview
AMERICAN SYSTEMS is an employee-owned federal government contractor supporting national priority programs through our strategic solutions in the areas of Information Technology, Engineering & Analysis, Test & Evaluation, and Training.
Responsibilities
As The Security Specialist - Program Protection, you will:
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Integrates safeguards into planning and execution to protect critical information, sensitive technologies, and mission capabilities from compromise or exploitation.
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Support risk-informed protection strategies, develop and maintain protective documentation, and coordinate security measures across engineering, acquisition, operations, security, and other functional stakeholders.
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Evaluate vulnerabilities and dependencies, translate identified risks into practical controls, and monitor implementation throughout program activities.
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By maintaining a coherent view of threats, critical assets, and protective actions, the Security Specialist Program Protection helps leadership make informed decisions and ensures that security considerations remain embedded in technical and operational planning rather than addressed only after risks emerge.
Essential Responsibilities:
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Develop and maintain program-protection plans, strategies, assessments, and supporting documentation.
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Identify critical information, technologies, capabilities, and dependencies requiring coordinated protection measures.
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Assess vulnerabilities and security risks that could affect sensitive program information or mission capabilities.
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Integrate protective requirements into engineering, acquisition, operational, sustainment, and decision-making activities.
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Coordinate safeguards with Government security, technical, intelligence, export, disclosure, and operational stakeholders.
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Track implementation of approved protection measures and document risks, decisions, exceptions, and corrective actions.
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Prepare leadership briefings and recommendations addressing protection priorities, residual risk, and emerging concerns.
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Evaluate changes in program activities or threat conditions and recommend updates to protective strategies.
#F35
Qualifications
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Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in a relevant discipline and 10 years of directly relevant experience; or a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline plus 14 years of directly related work experience.
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Experience must include support to Special Access Program and Sensitive Compartmented Information environments
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Demonstrated ability to coordinate effectively across Government, contractor, and external stakeholders; prepare briefings, reports, standard operating procedures, and official correspondence; and lead a team in fast paced classified environments.
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Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility; must be able to meet any applicable Special Access Program eligibility requirements identified by the Government.
Pay Transparency Statement AMERICAN SYSTEMS is committed to pay transparency for our applicants and employee-owners. The salary range for this position is USD $132,500.00/Yr. - USD $221,300.00/Yr. Actual compensation will be determined based on several factors permitted by law. AMERICAN SYSTEMS provides for the welfare of its employees and their dependents through a comprehensive benefits program by offering healthcare benefits, paid leave, retirement plans, insurance programs, and education and training assistance. EEO Statement EEO Race/Sex/Disability Status/Veteran Status
How this job compares
Set against the 593 open Security Specialist jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 10, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$133–221K/yr
- Virginia median$95–126K/yr59 salary ranges
- US median$85–121K/yr333 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $177K, is 61% above the Virginia median midpoint ($110K) — in the top quarter of Security Specialist salary ranges in Virginia.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 88 open Security Specialist jobs in Virginia and 593 across the US. 1% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in Virginia
- Serco18 open
- Amazon6 open
- NANA Regional Corporation5 open
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 10 years of experience — more than three in four Security Specialist postings that state a minimum ask for (median 4 years, across 425 postings).
- Education
- 133 of the 593 open Security Specialist jobs (22%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 10, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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