Senior Manager, Physical Security

AV is seeking a Senior Physical Security Manager to lead 24/7 security operations (e.g., Physical Security, Plant Protection, Incident and Emergency response) and contract security personnel. This position will report directly to the Director, Industrial Security and manages all Physical Security operations, programs, and personnel in a developing physical security team.

About the role

This role will oversee and coordinate integrated security program efforts including the development, implementation, and operation across the company. The successful candidate will develop and implement enterprise-wide security policies, standards, and metrics to measure program effectiveness and ensure alignment with the company's risk posture. Work directly with the Director, Industrial Security to define AV's strategy for physical safety, workforce protection, and business resiliency. Develop and manage a security ecosystem for campus monitoring, access control, and converged threat detection to physical assets and facilities.

Responsibilities

• Own the full physical security assessment lifecycle — from analysis, design through execution, reporting, and mitigation tracking
• Lead comprehensive physical security assessments across varying facility types and geographic regions using desktop and field research
• Define and maintain the overall physical security assessment strategy; ensuring methodologies stay current, standards-aware, and consistently applied across infrastructure types and project timelines
• Conduct security risk analysis for new and existing infrastructure; identifying vulnerabilities, evaluating physical security factors, and developing risk reduction strategies for unique operating environments
• Develop and implement physical security control strategies that balance security requirements against operational and business needs
• Build repeatable processes, tools, and mechanisms that increase speed and consistency of physical security delivery across the organization
• Communicate assessment findings and recommendations to diverse audiences; from practitioners to senior executives — through written reports, presentations, and direct engagement
• Lead project and program execution across the physical security portfolio; managing stakeholders, tracking milestones, and driving efforts to completion
• Evaluate security implications of technology projects and infrastructure changes from a physical security perspective

Requirements

• At least 13+ years of hands-on experience in Physical Security across the entire security spectrum (Physical Security, Executive Protection, Crisis Management, Emergency response)
• At least 6+ years of demonstrated management and/or leadership experience developing a physical security program, managing resources, and budgets for small security teams
• Demonstrated experience in physical security technology, guard force management, and defense-in-depth security principles
• Current DOD Secret level security clearance in order to be considered, Top Secret preferred
• Ability to travel up to 50%
• U.S. Citizenship required

Qualifications

• Proficient in a variety of conventional system and application software, including task/project management, visitor management, and facility management
• Membership in professional networking groups such as ASIS, InfraGard, or other physical security groups
• Proven ability and experience working with US Government security leadership in DOD and IC security programs
• Demonstrated experience in the construction of secure spaces such as Closed Areas, SCIFs and/or SAPF
• Possess a breadth of demonstrated business and management skills, knowledge and abilities

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in an office environment (Constant)
• Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

Pay

The salary range for this role is $141,000 - $215,000. AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401K with company matching
• 9/80 work schedule
• Paid holiday shutdown

About AV

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best. We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next. If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.