Where purpose connects

Security Clearance
Will you need a security clearance? Our business serves our nation's vital interests, helping protect the security of our country and its allies. As such, many of our available positions require a security clearance. If offered a position that requires a security clearance, the U.S. Government will require you to complete a detailed security questionnaire and undergo a background investigation. The government will evaluate whether you are reliable, trustworthy, of good conduct and character, and loyal to the United States.
7 octogons representing the security clearance questionnaire. Text on graphic: All about you, employers, family and citizenship, Illegal activity, finances, travel, residences.

Questionnaire
The first step in the clearance process is to complete a security questionnaire. The questionnaire is dependent on the level of clearance required by the job.  The most common clearances are "Confidential," "Secret'' and “Top Secret." You can view the different types of security questionnaires online. As you can see, the questionnaires seek detailed information on where you have lived and worked as well as personal data on your marital status, citizenship, relatives, travel, finances, illegal drug use, and police record.

Because a clearance must be sponsored, by either the government or a company, you will receive the appropriate questionnaire and other forms for the position after receiving an offer of employment. You cannot apply for a security clearance on your own.​​​​

Background Investigation
After you submit your security questionnaire, the U.S. Government will begin its background investigation. The investigation may include a personal interview, an interview of your family, friends, neighbors, classmates, supervisors and even a polygraph if the position requires access to Special Access Program (SAP) or Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).

Once the investigator has completed its report, a clearance adjudicator will carefully weigh the results of the investigation against existing adjudication guidelines. The guidelines list the following areas of concern:

- Allegiance to the United States (bad acts against the U.S.)
- Foreign influence (includes family members and other close ties who are not U.S. citizens)
- Foreign preference (exercising dual citizenship or using foreign passport)
- Sexual behavior (e.g. criminal in nature or evidence of poor judgment)
    - Important Note: Sexual orientation or sexual preference cannot be used as a disqualifying factor.
- Personal conduct (lying to the investigator or on your security questionnaire; refusing to cooperate)
- Financial considerations (living beyond your means, or having unexplained affluence)
- Alcohol consumption (excessive consumption that leads to questionable judgment, failure to control impulses, incidents)
- Drug involvement (abuse of drugs, legal or illegal)
- Emotional, mental and personality disorders (causing a defect in judgment, reliability or stability)
- Criminal conduct (history or pattern of criminal activity)
- Security violations (noncompliance with security regulations)
- Outside activities (employment by foreign countries, foreign nationals, foreign interests)
- Misuse of information technology systems (noncompliance with IT rules and procedures)

Your social media presence may be reviewed during the investigation. It is always a good idea – whether you are applying for a security clearance or not – to clean up your online presence by setting appropriate privacy settings and deleting inappropriate content. You cannot be forced to provide passwords to your private accounts.
You should review the adjudication guidelines if you have any questions or concerns about the background investigation process. The guidelines also note the mitigating factors the government will take into consideration too.

The adjudicator will apply the “whole person concept” in making their decision. This means that they will take into account the nature, extent and seriousness of any negative conduct; the circumstances surrounding it; the frequency; your age and maturity at the time; whether it was voluntary; the motivation for it; likelihood you would do it again, etc. BAE Systems has no involvement with the investigation or the U.S. Government’s decision to grant or deny a security clearance.

Let's connect your talent to our mission
If you can keep a secret, we want to talk. Here, you'll develop the latest technology and provide secuirty services that defend freedom as you continually hone your skills on a mission-focused team making a big impact on a global scale.

Explore our cleared careers today and take a step towards realizing your true potential tomorrow.
Apply now