---
title: 'Special Security Officer (SSO) at Quantum Space'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/special-security-officer-sso-quantum-space-hawthorne-hhqbs6aeh42j'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-25'
---

# Special Security Officer (SSO) at Quantum Space

- **Company:** Quantum Space
- **Location:** Hawthorne, CA
- **Posted:** 2026-10-22
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-25
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/quantumspacellc/jobs/4458239009

## Job description

Quantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility and propulsion capability. We build fast and iterate quickly.

Who We’re Looking For

We are seeking an experienced Special Security Officer (SSO) to lead and support security operations for Quantum Space’s classified and national security programs.

This is a highly visible role for someone who understands how to operate effectively within the national security space environment and has experience supporting complex classified programs. The ideal candidate brings deep knowledge of government security requirements, strong relationships within the classified space community, and the ability to navigate customer organizations with credibility and sound judgment.

You will serve as a trusted security partner to our leadership, engineering, business development, and program teams while building and maintaining strong working relationships with government customers and security stakeholders. You will help ensure Quantum Space has the security infrastructure, processes, and partnerships necessary to pursue and execute increasingly complex classified missions.

This role is ideal for someone who combines deep security expertise with strong judgment, discretion, and the ability to build trusted relationships across government and industry.

Where You’ll Make an Impact

- Serve as a primary security interface between Quantum Space and U.S. Government customers, security representatives, and classified program stakeholders
- Build and maintain trusted relationships across the national security space and government security communities
- Develop and execute security strategies supporting classified programs and new mission opportunities
- Advise program and company leadership on security requirements, risks, and considerations affecting classified programs
- Manage security requirements associated with classified programs, facilities, personnel, information, and operations
- Support Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) and Special Access Program (SAP) activities, as applicable
- Coordinate personnel security actions, including clearance processing, indoctrinations, debriefings, visit requests, access determinations, and related documentation
- Support the establishment, accreditation, and ongoing operation of classified facilities and secure work environments, including SCIFs and SAPFs as required
- Develop, implement, and maintain security policies, procedures, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) consistent with government and customer requirements
- Interpret and implement applicable security directives, including ICDs, DoD requirements, and customer-specific guidance
- Partner with business development and program teams to identify security requirements early in the capture and program lifecycle
- Support classified proposal, capture, and customer engagement activities
- Conduct security education, training, briefings, and awareness programs for employees supporting classified activities
- Prepare for and support government security reviews, inspections, and assessments
- Maintain strict accountability and protection of classified information and assets
- Help build a security culture that enables teams to move quickly while maintaining uncompromising standards for protecting national security information

What It Takes

- 7+ years of progressively responsible security experience supporting classified U.S. Government, defense, intelligence, aerospace, or national security programs
- Significant experience supporting classified programs within the national security space or highly regulated aerospace and defense environment
- Strong understanding of personnel, physical, information, and program security requirements
- Experience supporting SCI and/or SAP environments
- Working knowledge of applicable security policies and frameworks, including ICD 705, DoD Manual 5205.07, NISPOM requirements, and related government security guidance
- Experience interacting directly with government security representatives and program security stakeholders
- Demonstrated ability to establish credibility and build trusted relationships with government customers
- Ability to navigate complex government organizations and security processes effectively
- Strong understanding of how security requirements intersect with program execution, business development, and new program capture
- Strong judgment, discretion, and ability to operate independently in sensitive environments
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex security requirements for technical and non-technical teams
- Active Top Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility
- Ability to maintain all security clearances and accesses required for the position

Nice-to-Have Experience

- Established relationships within the Southern California national security space and classified security community
- Experience supporting government space acquisition, development, or operational programs
- Experience serving as an SSO, CPSO, FSO, CSSO, or senior security professional supporting classified aerospace or space programs
- Experience working directly with government program offices and customer security organizations
- Experience establishing, accrediting, or managing a SCIF and/or SAPF
- Experience supporting SAP and SCI program environments
- Experience helping an organization establish or expand its classified program capabilities
- Familiarity with DCSA requirements, DISS, NBIS, NISS, and related security systems
- Experience supporting classified capture, proposals, and new business activities
- Knowledge of counterintelligence, OPSEC, insider threat, and security education programs
- Experience operating in a fast-paced aerospace, defense technology, or growth-stage environment

## What You’ll Get

- Ownership – Help build and shape Quantum Space’s classified security infrastructure and capabilities
- Partnership – Develop trusted relationships with customers and security stakeholders supporting critical national security missions
- Mission – Enable highly consequential spacecraft programs supporting U.S. national security objectives
- Impact – Directly influence Quantum Space’s ability to pursue, win, and execute classified missions
- Growth – Play a foundational role as our classified portfolio, facilities, and security organization expand
- Compensation – Competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, generous leave, HSA, 401(k) matching, and equity sharing

Location: Hawthorne, CA

Base Salary: $150,000 to $200,000

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Quantum Space's total compensation package.

Additional Requirements

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual per 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Apply now. Join us in building the next generation of spacecraft.

## About Quantum Space

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Quantum Space is building the next generation of advanced, maneuverable spacecraft (the Ranger platform) to disrupt the orbital economy by reducing the cost of operating across every orbit the nation needs to hold, from LEO through GEO and out to cislunar space.
- **Entity Type**: Private (going public via merger with Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. VI; anticipated ticker QSPC)
- **Headquarters**: Rockville, Maryland, United States
- **Founded**: 2022
- **Founders**: Dr. Kam Ghaffarian (Executive Chairman & Co-founder), Ben Reed (Chief Technology Officer), Adarsh Parekh (President & Co-founder), Kerry Wisnosky (Co-founder)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Defense and Space Manufacturing, National Security Space, Cislunar Infrastructure
- **Target customers**: Primarily Government (U.S. national security space agencies, Space Force, NASA, DARPA)
- **Mission or purpose statement**: To enable the freedom to maneuver in space for the United States, providing a maneuver-first architecture engineered for multi-orbit operations at scale.

## Products & Services
- **Ranger Spacecraft Platform**: A highly maneuverable orbital transfer and servicing platform. Key specs include up to 4,000+ kg of storable hydrazine, multi-mode propulsion, a 15-year operational life, on-orbit refueling capability, and a modular payload architecture. It is designed to reach GEO and beyond at up to 70% lower cost than conventional architectures.
- **Space Domain Awareness**: Providing ubiquitous awareness of activities on orbit, delivering actionable intelligence.
- **Payload Hosting & Data Services**: A standardized platform capable of being configured for any mission at any orbit, hosting government and commercial payloads.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed for the private company; the SPAC merger agreement values the combined entity, but specific valuation is not publicly available.
- **Key Metric**: $88M+ in secured government contracts. Total funding of $56.1M across 6 prior funding rounds.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. VI (SPAC merger partner); Dr. Kam Ghaffarian (also founded Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ: LUNR), X-energy (NASDAQ: XE), Axiom Space); Jim Bridenstine (CEO, former NASA Administrator).
- **Growth Signals**: Aggressive hiring with 31 active job postings and +158.3% monthly job posting growth; acquired Phase Four's multi-mode propulsion assets in September 2025; constructing a manufacturing facility at Tulsa International Airport; awarded a DARPA LASSO contract; going public via SPAC merger.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Massive Fuel Capacity & Maneuverability**: 4,000+ kg of storable fuel is significantly more than current spacecraft, and the multi-mode propulsion allows for speed, efficiency, and flexibility across all orbits.
- **Refuelable & Modular Architecture**: Designed for on-orbit refueling and a modular payload system, enabling long-duration missions (15 years) and rapid reconfiguration.
- **Deep IP Moat**: 17 issued and pending patents protecting the core technology.
- **Cost Disruption**: Claims up to 70% cost reduction for operations beyond LEO and up to 10x+ launch cost savings compared to conventional architectures.
- **National Security Focus**: Deeply embedded with U.S. Space Command and national security priorities, with leadership that includes former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and a 40-year Missile Defense Agency veteran.

## Strategic Focus
- **Golden Dome / National Security**: The company's Ranger spacecraft is positioned as a key platform for the proposed "Golden Dome" national security space architecture.
- **SPAC Merger & Public Listing**: Completing the merger with Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. VI to go public under the ticker QSPC.
- **Manufacturing Expansion**: Building out manufacturing capacity in Tulsa, OK, and Huntsville, AL, to scale production of the Ranger platform.
- **Cislunar Operations**: Developing capabilities for operations in cislunar space, including winning the DARPA LASSO contract.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-Driven**: The company is focused on a critical national security mission, offering employees a chance to work on technology that directly impacts U.S. space superiority.
- **High Growth Trajectory**: Rapidly scaling from a startup to a public company, with aggressive hiring, new facility construction, and major government contracts.
- **Flexible Work Environment**: The company emphasizes work-life balance and offers flexible working arrangements. Roles are available across multiple locations (Rockville, MD; Huntsville, AL; Hawthorne, CA; Tulsa, OK).
- **Competitive Compensation**: Offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, generous leave (including parental leave), FSA, 401(k) matching, and equity sharing.
- **Tight-Knit Team**: Described as a fast-paced, tight-knit team of engineers and scientists, offering exposure to the full lifecycle of mission development, launch, and operations.

## Sources
1. [quantumspace.us](https://www.quantumspace.us/)
2. [quantumspace.us/about](https://www.quantumspace.us/about)
3. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/quantumspace-us)
4. [investors.quantumspace.us](https://investors.quantumspace.us/)
5. [Greenhouse Careers Page](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/quantumspacellc/jobs/4193183009)

## Other roles at Quantum Space

- [Manufacturing Engineer II](https://feeny.ai/job/manufacturing-engineer-ii-quantum-space-tulsa-wga9zn1dx5xb) — Tulsa, OK
- [Controller](https://feeny.ai/job/controller-quantum-space-rockville-am48bcdwcm6x) — Rockville, MD
- [Information Systems Security Officer (ISSO) / GRC Analyst](https://feeny.ai/job/information-systems-security-officer-isso-grc-analyst-quantum-space-rockville-wyz4v99ynpdh) — Rockville, MD
- [Reliability Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/reliability-engineer-quantum-space-rockville-md-or-hawthorne-hf6wn74hcyrs) — Rockville MD OR Hawthorne, CA
- [Principal Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-spacecraft-guidance-navigation-control-engineer-quantum-space-qa1t3bxv3k77) — Rockville MD OR Hawthorne, CA
- [Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/spacecraft-guidance-navigation-control-engineer-quantum-space-rockville-zm632f2k9vyt) — Rockville, MD
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