Senior Personnel Security Specialist - AFSO Development Track

Koam Engineering Systems, Inc. (KES Inc.) is an employee‑owned small business specializing in technology innovation and systems integration by combining innovative products and reliable engineering services. Headquartered in San Diego, California and with offices in Gig Harbor, WA KES provides services globally in systems engineering & technical assistance, requirements analysis, software design & development, systems integration & testing, independent verification & validation, and operational & logistic support.

The Senior Personnel Security Specialist serves as KES’s primary subject‑matter expert for personnel security (PERSEC) and independently administers the company’s day‑to‑day personnel security program for corporate, division, remote, and customer‑site personnel. The position manages national security eligibility, access, background investigation, reporting, briefing, visit, credentialing, and related record‑keeping requirements in support of KES operations under the National Industrial Security Program (NISP).

This position requires exceptional discretion, accuracy, professional judgment, ownership, and follow‑through. The selected individual will routinely represent KES when coordinating with employees, applicants, management, government customers, government security officers, and the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). The individual must be able to interpret and apply applicable personnel security requirements, including 32 CFR Part 117, Security Executive Agent Directives (SEADs), DCSA guidance, and customer‑specific requirements, rather than relying solely on procedural checklists.

The position is initially focused on expert‑level PERSEC performance and is not expected to assume the full scope of Assistant Facility Security Officer (AFSO) responsibilities upon hire. After demonstrating sustained PERSEC proficiency, sound judgment, reliability, initiative, and the ability to understand how security supports KES business operations, the employee may be selected for structured development and appointment as an AFSO. Advancement is based on demonstrated capability, successful completion of assigned development objectives, and business need;

it is not automatic or guaranteed.

• Independently manage personnel security actions for applicants, employees, consultants, and terminating personnel from pre‑employment screening through final out‑processing.
• Initiate, review, validate, and monitor national security background investigation and reinvestigation submissions through the National Background Investigation Services (NBIS) and NBIS eApp, ensuring packages are complete, accurate, timely, and suitable for submission.
• Maintain accurate personnel security and access records in the Defense Information System for Security (DISS) and applicable internal security management systems.
• Review clearance eligibility, access, investigation, and continuous vetting information; identify discrepancies or concerns; research requirements; and recommend appropriate action to the Corporate FSO.
• Receive, evaluate, document, and process employee self‑reports and potential personnel security incidents in accordance with SEAD 3, 32 CFR Part 117, DCSA guidance, contractual requirements, and KES procedures.
• Prepare clear, accurate, and timely initial, follow‑up, and final reports for review and submission to the appropriate government authority.
• Provide knowledgeable guidance to employees and management regarding reporting obligations, eligibility and access requirements, foreign travel, foreign contacts, adverse information, and other personnel security matters.
• Coordinate with Recruiting and Human Resources to evaluate clearance, investigation, citizenship, access, and position‑of‑trust requirements for candidates and employees while protecting sensitive personal information.
• Guide individuals through completion of government questionnaires, releases, and supporting documentation; conduct detailed quality reviews to minimize rejections, delays, and avoidable follow‑up.
• Process electronic fingerprints through the Secure Web Fingerprint Transmission (SWFT) system…