Lead Construction Surveillance Technician

Amentum has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Lead Construction Surveillance Technician (Lead CST) to support a secure construction project in Okinawa, Japan.

The Lead CST serves as the frontline supervisor and technical leader for assigned Construction Surveillance Technicians (CSTs) and is responsible for the successful execution of construction surveillance operations. Working under the direction of the Site Security Program Manager (SSPM) and designated site security leadership, the Lead CST provides leadership, technical oversight, personnel supervision, and accountability while ensuring construction activities are continuously evaluated for potential physical, technical, and counterintelligence threats.

The Lead CST is responsible for both mission accomplishment and the professional welfare of assigned CST personnel, including staffing and surveillance coverage, technical performance, training, mentoring, safety, operational readiness, and personnel development.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, and coordinate assigned CST personnel in daily construction surveillance and technical inspection operations.
• Plan CST staffing and assignments based on construction schedules, risk, workforce activities, project sequencing, and required surveillance coverage.
• Maintain accountability for assigned personnel and ensure required surveillance coverage is maintained throughout construction activities.
• Conduct daily briefings and ensure CST personnel understand construction activities, technical concerns, approved drawings, special instructions, and changes affecting security operations.
• Anticipate staffing, operational, and technical requirements and address potential gaps before they affect mission accomplishment.
• Monitor personnel performance, attendance, conduct, readiness, and technical proficiency while providing coaching, mentoring, and corrective guidance when required.
• Train and develop newly assigned and less-experienced CST personnel in surveillance techniques, anomaly recognition, drawing interpretation, inspection methods, reporting, and site-specific procedures.
• Maintain awareness of employee morale, workload, fatigue, safety, and working conditions that could affect personnel welfare or mission effectiveness.
• Coordinate closely with the SSPM, CAG leadership, construction personnel, Government representatives, and other security staff to ensure continuity of operations.
• Take appropriate action within assigned authority and promptly elevate significant technical, security, staffing, safety, or personnel concerns to site leadership.
• Ensure CST personnel comply with the Construction Security Plan (CSP), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Special Instructions, approved drawings, specifications, and applicable U.S. Government security requirements.

Construction Surveillance & Technical Responsibilities

• Lead and perform surveillance of construction activities conducted by uncleared personnel to prevent or detect the introduction of electronic, electrical, mechanical, or other hostile surveillance devices.
• Oversee screening and inspection of construction materials, equipment, furnishings, packages, boxes, crates, vehicles, and other items destined for secure areas.
• Operate and supervise the use of X-ray equipment and other approved technical inspection tools.
• Review construction drawings, specifications, submittals, design changes, and field conditions to verify work is performed in accordance with approved requirements.
• Interpret drawings and technical specifications and recognize conditions, modifications, or structural complexities that could conceal unauthorized changes or technical penetrations.
• Conduct risk analysis to determine required surveillance coverage and inspection levels throughout the construction lifecycle.
• Identify, document, and report construction anomalies, unauthorized deviations, unusual methods, concealed spaces, suspicious modifications, or conditions that could compromise security.
• Assess potential locations and methods that could be used to introduce clandestine surveillance devices or unauthorized materials.
• Apply knowledge of Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM), PHOTOINT, IMINT, counterintelligence principles, construction security surveillance, and technical threat awareness.
• Maintain working knowledge of civil, architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, telecommunications, and electronic construction disciplines sufficient to identify potential security concerns.
• Recognize suspicious behavior, unauthorized materials, unusual components, potential technical penetrations, or other conditions requiring additional review.
• Support personnel or vehicle searches, escorts, access-control functions, and other security duties when required.

Personnel Leadership & Team Development

• Establish and reinforce expectations for professionalism, vigilance, accountability, teamwork, safety, and technical competence.
• Provide direct supervision, mentoring, and professional development to assigned CST personnel.
• Evaluate personnel performance and identify opportunities for additional training, increased responsibility, or corrective action.
• Promote a professional and cohesive work environment in which employees understand their responsibilities and are treated fairly and consistently.
• Match employee skills and experience to surveillance assignments and technical responsibilities.
• Ensure personnel receive the training, equipment, information, and supervision necessary to accomplish assigned duties safely and effectively.
• Address workplace concerns and interpersonal issues at the appropriate supervisory level and elevate significant matters through established management channels.

Documentation & Reporting

The Lead CST is responsible for ensuring surveillance activities, inspections, anomalies, and reportable security matters are properly documented. Required documentation may include:

• Daily CST surveillance logs
• Construction inspection records
• Security incident, violation, and deviation reports
• Construction anomaly and deficiency reports
• Technical observations and findings
• Surveillance coverage records
• Material and equipment inspection records
• Shift turnover and pass-down information
• Photographic documentation
• Personnel accountability and assignment records
• Corrective-action recommendations

The Lead CST shall ensure required logs, photographs, inspection records, and reports are completed accurately and submitted in accordance with established procedures. Significant anomalies, suspicious activities, unauthorized materials, potential technical penetrations, or security violations shall be immediately reported to the SSPM or designated site leadership.

Safety & Operational Requirements

• Maintain a working knowledge of construction safety requirements and reinforce safe work practices among assigned CST personnel.
• Immediately address or report unsafe conditions that could affect employees, construction personnel, or surveillance operations.
• Maintain awareness of construction hazards, environmental conditions, fatigue, and other factors that could affect safety or performance.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods while conducting surveillance and inspections.
• Ability and willingness to work outdoors and in active construction environments during varying weather conditions.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining attention to detail, sound judgment, and situational awareness.
• Ability to supervise multiple personnel and surveillance activities simultaneously in a dynamic construction environment.
• Ability to work varying shifts, extended hours, weekends, holidays, or other schedules required to maintain surveillance coverage.

Minimum Qualifications

• U.S. citizen.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Active TOP SECRET personnel security clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) eligibility, maintained throughout contract performance.
• Completion of an approved U.S. Government CST certification course, SSM-approved equivalent training, or other qualifying training/experience.
• Minimum of five years of experience in one or more of the following:
  • Construction security surveillance
  • Technical Surveillance Countermeasures
  • Industrial or Government security involving counterintelligence
  • Construction quality assurance
  • Hands-on supervisory construction experience
• Demonstrated construction surveillance and technical inspection experience.
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, specifications, and technical documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coordinate, or supervise personnel.
• Ability to independently identify, analyze, document, and communicate construction security concerns.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Working knowledge of construction safety.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• Five or more years of construction-related experience.
• Previous Lead CST, senior CST, or supervisory construction-security experience.
• Previous CST experience supporting multiple domestic or overseas secure construction projects.
• Experience supervising, training, mentoring, and evaluating CST personnel.
• Experience with counterintelligence, intelligence analysis, or TSCM activities.
• Naval Construction Battalion (Seabee), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, or comparable construction training.
• Experience reviewing construction drawings, specifications, RFIs, submittals, and field modifications from a security perspective.
• Experience operating X-ray systems and other technical inspection equipment.
• Experience identifying construction anomalies, technical penetrations, unauthorized materials, or potential clandestine surveillance devices.
• Experience coordinating construction security operations with CAGs, contractors, subcontractors, Government representatives, and program leadership.
• Experience supporting overseas U.S. Government construction projects and applicable SOFA requirements.