Chief Information Officer

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. (TDSI) Headquartered in Clarksburg, MD, is a U.S. company that has been serving domestic and international defense Air, Land and Sea domains for 60+ years. With over 1,000 employees, TDSI and its four subsidiaries (Advanced Acoustic Concepts, Digital Receiver Technology, Tampa Microwave, and Trusted Cyber Technologies), supports U.S. Joint Services, special operations forces and multi-national partners with a variety of communication, visualization, signal intelligence/electronic warfare, and sensor/sonar capabilities. TDSI’s key technologies include tactical handheld radios, expeditionary satellite terminals, helmet-mounted displays, optics and target recognition capability, advanced radars, undersea sensing and missile systems. Lives depend on what we do!

Top Benefits (Subject to terms of applicable policies/plans)

• Competitive Salary
• Yearly Incentive Compensation Plan
• Medical insurance for self and eligible family members
• Generous 401(k) program- up to 7% company contribution and 100% immediate vesting
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid wellness, vacation, and holiday leave
• Paid maternity, paternity, and parental leave
• 9/80 Work Schedule (every other Friday off)
• Hybrid Working Environment

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. (TDSI) seeks a strategic and transformational Chief Information Officer (CIO) out of our Clarksburg, MD office to lead enterprise technology strategy, cybersecurity, digital transformation, and IT operations.

The CIO will align technology investments with business priorities, drive innovation and operational excellence, and ensure a secure, scalable, and compliant technology environment. The CIO oversees enterprise applications, infrastructure, cloud services, cybersecurity, data and analytics, and IT governance across TDSI and its subsidiaries, while partnering closely with executive leadership, Corporate Security, and the Government Security Committee (GSC).

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Digital Transformation

• Develop and execute the enterprise technology strategy to support business growth, operational excellence, and innovation.
• Advise executive leadership and the GSC on technology investments, cybersecurity risks, emerging technologies, and digital transformation opportunities.
• Lead enterprise modernization initiatives, including cloud adoption, automation, AI governance, and data-driven decision-making.

Information Technology & Operations

• Direct enterprise IT operations, including infrastructure, cloud services, networks, enterprise applications, and end-user support.
• Ensure secure, reliable, and scalable technology services while driving enterprise architecture, IT governance, and technology roadmap planning.
• Establish performance metrics and operating standards that enhance service delivery, efficiency, and business value.

Cybersecurity, Risk & Compliance

• Provide executive oversight of cybersecurity, information assurance, and enterprise risk management programs.
• Ensure compliance with CMMC, NIST 800-171, DFARS, NISPOM, and other applicable regulatory requirements.
• Lead business continuity, disaster recovery, incident response, and resilience planning in partnership with Corporate Security and compliance stakeholders.

Financial & Organizational Leadership

• Lead technology investment planning, budgeting, vendor management, and strategic sourcing to maximize business value and return on investment.
• Build, develop, and retain high-performing technology teams while fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Drive organizational effectiveness through talent development, succession planning, and performance management.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's operating policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities can include interviewing, hiring, training and developing employees; creating effective staff plans - assigning and directing work; performance appraisals, employee recognition, as well as the administration of discipline when required; addressing complaints and resolving conflicts. Active mentoring and development of staff is a critical element of the supervisory responsibilities to create a highly performing cohesive team.

Qualifications

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• U.S. Citizenship required. - Applicants selected may be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 15+ years of progressive information technology leadership experience, including 10+ years in executive or senior leadership roles.
• Demonstrated success leading enterprise-wide technology transformation, organizational change, and business modernization initiatives.
• Deep expertise in cybersecurity, cloud technologies, enterprise architecture, infrastructure operations, digital transformation, and IT governance.
• Experience managing complex technology organizations, multimillion-dollar budgets, and strategic vendor relationships.
• Proven ability to influence executive stakeholders and translate business strategy into technology-enabled outcomes.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, collaboration, and change management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within the defense, aerospace, federal contracting, intelligence, or other highly regulated industries.
• Experience operating within organizations subject to FOCI mitigation, Proxy Agreements, or similar governance structures.
• Proven success supporting security-cleared environments and implementing CMMC, NIST, and related cybersecurity frameworks.
• Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), Information Systems, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Professional certifications such as CISSP, CISM, CGEIT, PMP, ITIL, or equivalent.
• Experience leading cloud transformation, acquisitions and integration efforts, enterprise data modernization, and AI-enabled business initiatives.

The annualized pay range for this role is $250,000-350,000 USD along with a target incentive compensation plan (ICP) of 20-30%. The pay range provided is a good faith estimate representative of the experience level for the role described above. TDSI considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.

For specific questions about this job posting, candidates may contact talent acquisition at careers@thalesdsi.com.

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. is committed to non-discrimination as applicable under federal, state and local laws. We are an E-Verify Employer.

If you need an accommodation or assistance in order to apply for a position with Thales Defense & Security, Inc., please call Human Resources at 202-961-1016.