COMSEC Manager

COMSEC Manager 

Castelion is a fast-paced startup developing innovative technology for high-consequence missions. We operate with urgency, ownership, and a commitment to exceptional security standards. We are seeking a highly experienced COMSEC Manager to lead and scale our Communications Security program. This is a hands-on leadership role for an established COMSEC professional who can build compliant infrastructure, advise executive and technical leadership, and support the company’s rapid growth.  

Position Summary

The COMSEC Manager will have overall responsibility for the company’s COMSEC program, including governance, account management, personnel authorization, cryptographic material accountability, secure communications operations, compliance, inspections, and incident response. The successful candidate will bring substantial experience managing complex COMSEC programs in defense, aerospace, intelligence, or other highly regulated environments. This individual must be comfortable operating independently, making high-consequence decisions, and creating scalable processes in an evolving startup environment.  

Key Responsibilities  

• Lead the company-wide COMSEC program and serve as the senior subject matter expert for COMSEC matters. 
• Establish, maintain, and continuously improve COMSEC policies, procedures, controls, and operating standards. 
• Manage one or more COMSEC accounts, including cryptographic material, equipment, facilities, records, inventories, and personnel access. 
• Ensure compliant receipt, issuance, transfer, storage, use, accountability, return, and destruction of COMSEC material. 
• Serve as the primary liaison with government COMSEC authorities, NSA, DoD organizations, customers, security representatives, and auditors. 
• Advise executive leadership, program managers, engineers, and operations teams on COMSEC requirements and risk. 
• Lead preparations for government inspections, customer assessments, internal audits, and compliance reviews. 
• Direct COMSEC incident reporting, investigation, containment, corrective action, and lessons-learned activities. 
• Establish training, appointment, authorization, and recurring certification programs for COMSEC personnel and users. 
• Oversee the secure deployment, operation, maintenance, and lifecycle management of COMSEC equipment. 
• Develop scalable processes and systems that support rapid organizational growth without sacrificing security or compliance. 
• Identify program risks, resolve complex issues, and drive continuous improvement across security operations. 
• Mentor and develop COMSEC custodians, security personnel, and cross-functional stakeholders. 
• Support broader classified security, facility security, cybersecurity, and customer assurance activities as needed. 

Required Qualifications  

• 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in COMSEC, classified communications, information assurance, or a closely related security discipline. 
• Extensive experience serving as a COMSEC Manager, COMSEC Custodian, Alternate COMSEC Custodian, or equivalent program lead. 
• Demonstrated experience managing complex COMSEC programs, accounts, facilities, equipment, and cryptographic key material. 
• Deep knowledge of applicable NSA, DoD, NISPOM, government, and customer-specific COMSEC requirements. 
• Proven experience leading inspections, audits, investigations, risk assessments, and corrective-action programs. 
• Experience developing and implementing COMSEC policies and procedures in a growing or changing organization. 
• Demonstrated ability to brief senior leadership and communicate complex security requirements clearly. 
• Strong judgment, discretion, attention to detail, and ability to make independent decisions. 
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced startup environment with shifting priorities. 
• Active Top Secret/SCI/SAP clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain the required clearance. 

 Preferred Qualifications  

• Experience leading COMSEC programs across multiple sites, programs, or customer environments. 
• Experience supporting defense, aerospace, intelligence, national security, or other mission-critical organizations. 
• Prior military experience in COMSEC, signals, communications, cybersecurity, or information assurance. 
• Experience with electronic key management systems, cryptographic equipment, secure voice/data systems, and classified networks. 
• Experience building security programs and infrastructure at a startup or high-growth company. 
• Current COMSEC Manager or equivalent advanced training and certification. 
• Professional security certification such as CISSP, CISM, Security+, or equivalent. 

What We Value  

• Ownership: You take responsibility and follow issues through to resolution. 
• Speed with discipline: You move quickly while maintaining strong security controls. 
• Practical judgment: You know how to apply requirements in real operating environments. 
• Clear communication: You make complex security requirements understandable and actionable. 
• Continuous improvement: You build systems that scale rather than relying on manual workarounds.