Secret Clearance Aerospace & Defense Jobs
Secret clearance is the most common requirement for aerospace and defense engineering roles. It covers information whose unauthorized disclosure could cause serious damage to national security.
What is a Secret Clearance?
A Secret clearance is granted by the U.S. Department of Defense (or sponsoring agency) after a Tier 3 background investigation. It must be sponsored by an employer with a facility clearance and a specific need — you cannot obtain one on your own. Once granted, it is typically reinvestigated every 5 years.
Why aerospace & defense employers need it
Most defense contractors and many advanced air mobility, UAV, and space companies hold classified contracts. A Secret clearance lets an engineer touch the programs that actually drive hiring — flight controls, propulsion, sensors, and autonomy work tied to government programs. Cleared candidates are dramatically faster and cheaper to onboard, which is why employers pay a premium for them.
Typical roles requiring Secret
Tips for cleared candidates
- You need an employer to sponsor the clearance — search and apply to roles that accept candidates who are clearable.
- Keep your clearance active: a clearance generally lapses 24 months after you leave a cleared position.
- On WWAEN you can mark your clearance level and verification status so cleared-talent recruiters can find you.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a Secret clearance?
Investigation timelines vary, but a Secret clearance commonly takes a few months from sponsorship to adjudication. Interim Secret eligibility can sometimes be granted faster.
Can I get a Secret clearance without a job?
No. A clearance must be sponsored by an employer or agency with a demonstrated need. There is no way to self-apply.
Does a Secret clearance expire?
It is periodically reinvestigated (about every 5 years) and generally lapses 24 months after you leave a position that required it.
Find verified, cleared aerospace talent
WWAEN lets employers filter candidates by clearance level and verification status — the cleared-talent pool LinkedIn and Indeed can't surface. Hierarchical matching means a Secret holder also appears for lower-clearance roles.
Other clearance levels
Top Secret clearance covers information whose disclosure could cause exceptionally grave damage to national security — required for the most sensitive aerospace and defense programs.
TS/SCI (Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information) is the highest tier most aerospace engineers will encounter, gating access to compartmented intelligence programs.
Public Trust is not a classified clearance but a suitability determination for positions of trust — common for federal contractors in aviation and aerospace support roles.