VP of Security

Location: Arlington, VA

Worker Type

Regular

Summary

We are seeking a Vice President, of Security. This role will lead all aspects of security at AV while delivering comprehensive expertise to support company strategies and business objectives. This position requires a dynamic individual with extensive knowledge in all facets of security—including industrial security, physical security, technical operations, classified program management, personnel security, and corporate and risk intelligence services. This role will partner with the CISO to ensure a robust, comprehensive security posture for AV.

Additionally, this role will serve as a subject matter expert on U.S. government policies and regulations—including Intelligence Community Directives, industry guidance, and DoD policy. In this capacity, the VP, of Global Facilities Security and CSO will foster robust relationships with key U.S. Government agencies and ensure compliance with all federal oversight requirements to support our security needs and drive business growth.

This role is critical to integrating AV’s recent acquisitions and building a team that can enable delivery success and business growth. We seek a mission-oriented leader who is deeply committed to protecting national security interests and cultivating a culture of accountability, trust, and excellence across the security team and the entire organization.

The ideal candidate brings extensive experience in security program management, U.S. government compliance requirements, and classified program management—combined with proven leadership, collaboration, and talent development skills—to foster a superior security culture.

Position Responsibilities

Security Leadership & Culture Development

• Lead the security program by ensuring compliance with DoD, Intelligence Community (IC), and federal regulations (e.g., 32 CFR Part 117 (NISPOM), DoDM 5205.07, ICDs, and other applicable directives).
• Establish and sustain a robust security culture aligned with mission-critical customer needs and active employee engagement, ensuring that security is not merely a compliance function but a strategic enabler of business success.
• Oversee security investigations, including , preparing detailed incident reports , and recommending mitigating and corrective actions.
• Develop and implement education, training, and awareness programs to reinforce best practices and enhance security consciousness organization wide.

Program Compliance & Oversight

• Manage a Security leadership team who are overseeing security operations for industrial security, special security, and corporate and risk intelligence.
• Maintain an organization prepared to enable business success and assist with navigating with DD Form 254 requirements, program security guides, and classified contract obligations.
• Lead industrial security self-inspections, audits, and assessments to proactively identify and mitigate security risks, preparing for Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) as well as customer security reviews.
• Oversee classified information technology, including adherence to U.S. government requirements.

Personnel & Physical Security Operations

• Conduct security briefings and maintain a comprehensive training, education, and awareness program.
• Oversee personnel security functions, including eligibility determinations, clearance processing, Continuous Evaluation (CE), and reporting for employees with access to classified materials.
• Establish procedures for handling, storing, and maintaining records, as well as granting access to restricted materials and program areas for employees and visitors.
• Oversee physical security measures for all U.S. AV facilities, including intrusion detection systems (IDS), access control, surveillance systems, guard forces, and visitor management in line with government and corporate policies for designated secure areas.
• Coordinate secure construction planning and obtain accreditation for classified workspaces (e.g., SCIFs, SAPFs) as needed.
• Oversee travel security and executive protection requirements.
• Develop international security strategies in support of AV’s business objectives.

Cross-Functional & Customer Engagement

• Serve as the primary security representative to government agencies, defense contractors, and intelligence community partners, ensuring alignment on security requirements and overall operational effectiveness.
• Collaborate with executive leadership, program managers, and cybersecurity teams to integrate security into business strategies and operational planning.
• Mentor, train, and develop a team of security professionals to ensure high performance and foster career growth.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with subcontractors to ensure strict adherence to the security requirements outlined in DD Form 254, as required.

Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Active U.S. Government Top-Secret clearance with SCI eligibility (with CI or Full Scope Polygraph preferred).
• A minimum of 15 years’ experience in industrial security, SAP/SCI programs, and management of classified security programs.
• Minimum 10 years of direct managerial experience required.
• Demonstrated deep understanding of NISPOM, ICD 705, DoDM 5205.07, and other relevant security regulatory frameworks.
• Proven experience leading DCSA security reviews, customer inspections, and government audits.
• Proven ability to cultivate a high-performing security culture that balances mission execution with robust team engagement.
• Excellent interpersonal and cross-functional collaboration skills, coupled with exceptional leadership capabilities.
• Self-motivated with the demonstrated ability to work independently.
• Superior oral and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• A high degree of professionalism and meticulous attention to detail.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Certifications such as PSP, CISSP, ISP, or SPeD are preferred.
• Experience managing multiple security disciplines—including personnel, physical, cybersecurity, operations security (OPSEC), and information security (INFOSEC)—in a complex environment.
• Prior experience collaborating with defense primes, intelligence agencies, or DoD contractors in a senior security capacity.
• Demonstrated ability to drive process improvements, build scalable security programs, and elevate organizational compliance

Travel Requirement

• Travel up to 50% of the time.

Physical Demands

• Ability to sit, stand, stoop, reach, lift (up to 10 lbs.), bend, etc. Hand and wrist dexterity to utilize the computer.

Environmental Conditions Critical to Performance

• Work is in an office environment, climate controlled through central air conditioning/heating.

Clearance Level

Secret

The salary range for this role is

$245,500 - $393,000

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction.

Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee.

See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits: AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.

About AV

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.

If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR

U.S. Citizenship required

Additional Locations: Simi Valley, CA