Team Lead for Classified Systems

Requisition Id16548

Overview:

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking a Team Lead for Classified Systems to guide a multidisciplinary team supporting national security missions across ORNL's classified and isolated computing environments. This position leads user support specialists, COMSEC officers, and systems engineers, including staff embedded directly within classified programs.

As part of the Support Services & Isolated Environments Group, you will combine staff leadership, critical thinking, strategic planning, COMSEC oversight, and hands-on technical expertise to enable secure, reliable IT operations that protect ORNL assets while empowering mission success.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

Team Leadership & Staff Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a diverse team spanning user support, COMSEC, and systems engineering roles.
• Provide performance management, annual planning, and ongoing professional development opportunities.
• Conduct routine check-ins, monitor workload, identify roadblocks, and manage shifting program needs.
• Oversee staffing plans, training strategies, and budget allocations for all roles, including COMSEC personnel.
• Build and maintain meaningful performance metrics to demonstrate impact and operational quality.

COMSEC Oversight

• Provide leadership, guidance, and accountability for COMSEC officers supporting classified programs.
• Ensure proper handling, control, lifecycle management, and destruction of COMSEC material in accordance with NNSA/DOE and national policy requirements.
• Develop and maintain internal processes that ensure COMSEC compliance across all supported environments.
• Coordinate with security organizations and program leads to ensure readiness for inspections, audits, and program reviews.
• Ensure COMSEC training, access, and certifications are current for all assigned personnel.

Strategic & Critical Thinking Responsibilities

• Develop strategic plans for classified IT and COMSEC services, anticipating future capability needs, staffing models, compliance posture, and technology direction.
• Evaluate ambiguous operational and security challenges, assess risks, and recommend data-driven solutions.
• Partner with program leads to align long-term IT and security direction with sponsor objectives and mission priorities.

Project & Operational Management

• Manage a portfolio of technical and security-related projects to ensure on-time and on-budget delivery.
• Coordinate staff assignments across both direct support roles and embedded project positions.
• Engage customers and program leads to adjust support strategies as mission needs evolve.
• Ensure readiness of classified and isolated environments in support of operational milestones, reviews, and sponsor deliverables.

Technical Contributions

• Utilize the team's subject matter experts to design, deploy, secure, and maintain systems across Windows/Linux environments, VMware clusters, Citrix platforms, and associated applications.
• Ensure proper configuration management, backup strategies, system hardening, and automated monitoring are implemented and remain compliant with National Security requirements and policies.
• Support SME efforts in troubleshooting, vendor coordination, system documentation, and architecture improvements.
• Ensure consistent compliance with ORNL IT policies, NSSD security requirements, COMSEC directives, and all classified computing guidelines.

Deliver ORNL's mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace - in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• A BS degree in computer science, computer engineering, information systems, business, technology, science, or a related field of study and 8 or more years of aligned experience is required for consideration. An overall combination of equivalent experience may be considered.
• Active clearance status from the US DOE or US DOD.
• Strong understanding of NSSD classified security policies and COMSEC requirements.
• Experience managing technical projects.
• Experience working within closed secure networks

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to lead diverse technical and security-focused teams
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.

Special Requirements:

• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
• Q Clearance: This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a clearance from the Department of Energy. As such, this position is a Workplace Substance Abuse (WSAP) testing designated position. WSAP positions require passing a pre-placement drug test and participation in an ongoing random drug testing program.

About ORNL:

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation's most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.