Government technology has failed citizens, public servants, and service members for decades.
Kaizen powers America’s application layer. We replace the legacy systems federal agencies run on with modern software, built with craft. The ticketing platform a resident uses to visit a presidential library. The marketplace DoW uses for counter-drone procurement to protect lives and critical infrastructure. The system a Veteran uses to access benefits. We build systems of record, of national consequence. Our AI-native modules and harness allow us to do so in weeks and months, not years.
This year, our revenue has grown 35x. Next year, our software will serve over 100 million Americans across dozens of federal agencies.
Founded in 2022 and based in New York City and DC, Kaizen has raised $35 million from NEA, a16z, Accel, 776, and Carpenter Capital.
The Role
Kaizen has a classified pipeline, a DD-254 in motion, and an FCL application that needs to get started. This is the company's first in-house FSO, with a mandate to stand up the NISP from scratch.
This role sits within Business Operations and Corporate Affairs. You'll work alongside the Security Compliance Program Manage and Contracts Manager. You own the NISP, the classified program, and the cleared workforce. The broader compliance and technical security work belongs to your counterparts.
Location
Based in Washington DC or NYC, hybrid structure, working from our office Tuesday-Thursday.
What You'll Do
Drive Kaizen's FCL application through DCSA assessment from day one. Serve as the primary government interface through designation, assessment, and approval, and be ready to move the moment the DD-254 is issued.
Sponsor and transfer existing cleared personnel onto Kaizen's facility clearance immediately upon FCL approval, then manage an active clearance pipeline for an initial cohort of 20 staff.
Build Kaizen's NISP program from scratch: security procedures, self-inspection cadence, insider threat program, visitor authorizations, and classified material controls (storage, transmission, destruction, and accountability).
Support BD and Proposals with security inputs to RFPs, BAAs, and contract security classification specifications (DD-254s). Review PWS/SOWs for security requirements and ensure properly executed DD Form 254s.
Manage SF-312 non-disclosure agreements for all cleared personnel.
Conduct all required security education and awareness: initial briefings, debriefings, annual refresher training, and foreign contact and travel requirements for cleared personnel.
Own FOCI documentation and reporting in coordination with legal, given Kaizen's venture and LP investor structure.
Lead the accreditation of Kaizen's future SCIF per ICD 705, from construction coordination through formal approval.
Work cross-functionally with Business Ops, Engineering, HR, and Legal to embed security requirements into hiring, contracting, and operations.
What You'll Bring
An active TS/SCI clearance.
Prior experience standing up a NISP program from scratch, including filing an initial FCL package and working directly with DCSA through the assessment process, not inheriting a program someone else built.
Hands-on experience opening and accrediting a SCIF per ICD 705 standards, from coordination through formal CSA approval.
FOCI experience, including SF-328 filings and working through venture or LP investor disclosure requirements.
Deep NISPOM fluency. Can build an audit-ready program and knows what a self-inspection should surface.
DCSA Facility Program Management certification for Possessing Facilities, or willingness to complete it within the first 90 days of designation.
Comfortable operating without a playbook. Builds structure as they go without waiting for direction.
Familiar with CMMC and the DoD controlled information environment Kaizen is building toward.
Have FSO experience at a startup or small defense tech company rather than solely at large primes where someone else ran the actual NISP mechanics.
Have managed clearance pipelines across both defense and civilian federal agency contexts
Don't Apply If...
You have only ever maintained a NISP program someone else built. This role requires standing one up (FCL application, DCSA relationship, program infrastructure) from nothing.
You need a structured environment and a defined playbook. The FSO is the one building it.
The federal mission doesn't interest you. That's a mismatch for this role.
You are not comfortable being a team of one while the organization around you grows. There is no security staff to hand work to. You build it, you run it, you own it.
If you want to build Kaizen's cleared enterprise from the ground up, at a company winning real federal work across defense and civilian agencies, reach out!
What Kaizen Offers
Health & Insurance
100% coverage across the board: medical through Oxford/United (Gold and Platinum PPO plans), dental through Guardian PPO, and vision through Beam — all fully covered for employees, with 100% coverage for dependents.
$100,000 in fully paid life insurance. FSA and Dependent Care FSA.
One Medical membership, on us — same-day primary care, 24/7 virtual visits, and offices all over the city.
Fertility and family-building support through Carrot.
401(k) through Guideline, with a 2% company match.
Family & Time Off
16 weeks of fully paid parental leave for birthing parents. 10 weeks fully paid for non-birthing parents.
Unlimited PTO, with a two-week minimum (we mean it when we say take time off!)
Closed for all federal holidays.
Company-wide winter break the week of Christmas.
Company offsites throughout the year.
Office & Remote Setup
Up to $750 one-time home office or desk setup stipend for NYC-based employees. $500 for remote employees.
$50/month commuter benefit (company contribution).
Expensed lunch while in the office.
Company-provided laptop of your choice.
Wellness
Fully covered gym membership at Grindhouse — right across the street from our office at 47 W 17th St (and in Williamsburg). A $225/month value, on us. For remote employees, $100/month dedicated to gym or physical fitness reimbursement.
Stipends
$100/month utility stipend.
$500/year professional development.
$250/year recreation.
$300/quarter pet care stipend.