Chief Security Officer (CSO)

Who we are Neros is a defense technology company rebuilding America’s drone industrial base. We design and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are tested in combat, iterated at startup speed, and built at massive scale. Our team culture is fast, hands-on, and obsessed with closing the gap between design and deployment. As drones transform the character of warfare, Neros is delivering the systems the West needs to compete on the modern battlefield and deter the adversaries of democracy. We’re hiring engineers, operators, and builders who want to move fast, take on extreme ownership, and get capability into the hands of warfighters in months, not years. What you will be doing The Chief Security Officer (CSO) is the architect of Neros’ defensive posture, unifying physical, digital, and industrial security under a single strategic command. Reporting directly to the CEO, this role will design and operationalize the security infrastructure for all current and future manufacturing facilities while building out a dedicated Security Organization—managing an FSO, CISO, dedicated security personnel, and engaging external security vendors—to ensure our people, IP, and production lines are protected from threats and compliant with DoD standards. This is a high-ownership executive role for an interdisciplinary leader driven by real-world outcomes—protecting defense manufacturing sites, neutralizing deliberate cyber attacks, and managing the operational risk of deploying hardware systems into active war zones. Multi-Domain Security Architecture: Design and implement a unified security strategy that covers all aspects of our organization, including facility hardening, digital network defense, personnel security, and more. Facility & Industrial Protection: Oversee the security build-out of current and upcoming facilities, including access, surveillance, and inventory controls to secure our production lines without stifling throughput. Compliance & Governance: Secure Neros’ ability to win prime contracts by driving the roadmap to necessary security clearances, certifications, and accreditations; direct the CISO and FSO to execute technical and physical controls required for DCSA, ITAR/EAR, and other compliances. Team Leadership: Build and run the CSO office—recruiting and managing dedicated security personnel to assist in executing daily operations—while partnering as a peer with Neros Leadership to align corporate infrastructure with security governance. Crisis & Risk Management: Define protocols for emergency response, insider threat detection, and business continuity, ensuring Neros remains operational under pressure. You should have the following 8+ years of progressive experience in corporate or government security, with at least 2 years in a leadership role (CSO, VP, or Director level) Currently holds or has the ability to obtain TS/SCI Security Clearance Proven experience managing "converged" security (ownership of both physical security and cybersecurity strategy) Deep expertise in physical security system design (access control, CCTV, IDS) and facility hardening, ideally for manufacturing or critical infrastructure Strong working knowledge of government compliance frameworks (NIST 800-171, CMMC, NISPOM, ITAR/EAR) Experience partnering with IT leadership to secure complex network architectures Demonstrated ability to build security teams and programs from scratch in a high-growth environment Willingness to work in-person in Los Angeles, CA Nice to have Experience obtaining Facility Security Clearances and guiding companies through FCL sponsorship Background in the intelligence community, military intelligence, or other special operations Experience with SCIF/SAPF construction and accreditation Previous experience at a hardware companies Previous experience scaling companies from Series B+ US Salary Range $200,000 - $250,000 USD The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, in