Security Lead
Northwood Space
torrance, ca, usa
Posted on Nov 20, 2025
Location
Torrance, CA
Employment Type
Full time
Department
Software
About Northwood
Northwood is deploying a global network of phased array ground stations that will fundamentally change how satellites communicate with Earth. These systems support real-time, high-throughput communications that commercial and government customers rely on for mission-critical operations. As a Senior Security Engineer, you will design and implement security architectures for infrastructure that simply does not exist anywhere else.
This is an opportunity to define the security posture of a rapidly scaling space-communications network—where the stakes include national security, global communications integrity, and uninterrupted mission operations.
Role Overview
You will own security end-to-end across distributed ground station infrastructure, cloud environments, RF systems, and data pipelines. This is not a legacy environment, you are building greenfield security systems for first-of-their-kind technology. You will design architectures, lead incident response, build automated compliance workflows, and serve as a key security interface for government customers including Space Force.
Key Responsibilities
Security Architecture & Infrastructure
Design security from the ground up for brand-new ground station infrastructure, RF systems, and space-communication protocols
Design, build, and maintain scalable, zero-trust architectures across cloud, edge, and physical ground station systems.
Conduct security architecture reviews for highly regulated and mission-critical environments where “good enough” is not acceptable.
Implement identity, secrets management, network segmentation, and encryption models across globally distributed systems.
Global Ground Station & Distributed Systems Security
Secure phased-array networks capable of tracking hundreds of satellites across multiple orbits simultaneously.
Design and implement controls for distributed, latency-sensitive systems spanning continents.
Develop and deploy detection, logging, and telemetry pipelines
Threat Detection, Incident Response & Monitoring
Lead incident response, threat hunting, and forensic analysis across cloud, on-prem, RF, and edge computing environments.
Deploy and manage enterprise SIEM platforms (Splunk, Sentinel, Panther, etc.) and endpoint solutions (CrowdStrike, SentinelOne).
Establish continuous monitoring strategies tailored for nontraditional environments where standard corporate controls don’t apply.
Governance, Compliance & Security Programs
Build automated CI/CD-integrated compliance pipelines that satisfy FedRAMP, DFARS, NIST 800-171, and internal program requirements without slowing engineering velocity.
Create security documentation, standards, and processes for internal and external audits.
Interface directly with government customers, serving as a trusted security liaison.
Policies, Risk Management & Security Operations
Conduct risk assessments, vulnerability analyses, and mitigation planning for cloud, physical, and RF assets.
Establish security policies, procedures, and governance frameworks appropriate for national-security-grade infrastructure.
Provide guidance on endpoint security, SaaS hardening, and cloud security across AWS, GovCloud, and air-gapped environments.
Work hand in hand with vendors on Red Teaming Northwoods corp and production systems
Cross-Functional & Leadership Responsibilities
Collaborate with engineering, network operations, RF, and compliance teams as a primary security subject-matter expert.
Develop internal security awareness and training (where applicable) for engineering orgs.
Drive complex, multi-stakeholder security initiatives with direct impact on national security missions.
Basic Qualifications
Strong experience conducting security architecture reviews in regulated, high-assurance environments.
Deep understanding of NIST 800-171, CUI, FedRAMP, and secure cloud implementation patterns.
Proficiency in Python, Go, Rust, or similar languages for building automation and custom security tooling.
Hands-on experience securing AWS GovCloud or other government cloud environments.
Experience implementing defensive controls across endpoints, SaaS, and distributed/edge infrastructure.
Ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience designing large-scale log ingestion pipelines for distributed systems with massive telemetry volumes.
Hands-on experience with SIEMs (Splunk, QRadar, Sentinel, Panther) and modern EDR platforms.
5+ years of production experience with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, AWS CDK); you treat security configuration as code.
Strong Linux experience, ideally with custom or specialized distributions.
Knowledge of DFARS and government contracting security requirements.
Familiarity with EMASS or similar assessment and accreditation tools.
Demonstrated experience leading security efforts tied to government or national security missions.
Why Northwood
Build security systems for infrastructure that has never existed before.
Direct impact on missions that matter- to national security, global communications, and commercial space innovation.
Fast-moving hardware + cloud + RF environment with no legacy constraints.