Security Clearance Recruiting: From Secret to TS/SCI
ALAC places cleared engineers, program managers, and executives at defense tech and deep tech companies. We maintain active cleared pipelines at every classification level: so your search starts with candidates, not sourcing.
Security clearance recruiting is one of the most constrained talent markets in the United States. Fewer than 4 million Americans hold active clearances, and at the TS/SCI level the pool is a fraction of that number. Every cleared search requires pre-built relationships with verified cleared professionals, not cold outreach to candidates who may or may not be active, available, or still holding their clearance. ALAC HR Solutions runs active cleared talent pipelines because the defense tech companies we serve cannot wait for a recruiter to start from zero.
The Cleared Talent Pool Is Finite
Active security clearances are held by a small and concentrated subset of the American workforce. At TS/SCI, the number of available candidates for any given technical role can be measured in hundreds, not thousands. Security clearance recruiting requires relationships built before the search begins.
Clearance Status Must Be Verified
Candidates frequently misrepresent clearance status, recency, and scope. Security clearance recruiting requires verification of active status, the sponsoring agency, polygraph completion where required, and ITAR eligibility. ALAC verifies and discloses all of this before a candidate reaches a hiring manager.
Passive Candidates Dominate the Pool
The best cleared technical talent is rarely on job boards. Most cleared professionals hold stable, well-compensated positions and are not actively searching. Security clearance recruiting requires direct outreach to passive candidates through established relationships.
Clearance Transfer Timelines Affect Offers
Cleared candidates moving between employers may face interim clearance gaps or transfer delays depending on program requirements and sponsoring agency processes. Security clearance recruiting requires managing candidate and client expectations around these timelines.
ITAR and Export Control Add Complexity
Many defense tech roles require ITAR eligibility in addition to or instead of a clearance. Candidates must be U.S. persons under the EAR and ITAR definitions. Security clearance recruiting requires understanding these requirements and screening for compliance.
Why Defense Tech Companies Choose ALAC for Cleared Recruiting
Active Cleared Talent Pipeline
ALAC maintains active relationships with cleared engineers, program managers, and executives across Secret, Top Secret, and TS/SCI levels. Your search starts with candidates, not sourcing.
Clearance Verification on Every Submission
ALAC verifies clearance status, level, recency, sponsoring agency, polygraph status, and ITAR eligibility for every cleared candidate before submission. Hiring managers never receive a cleared candidate without a verified disclosure.
Military and Intelligence Community Network
ALAC founders are United States military veterans with direct professional networks in the defense and intelligence communities. This access to cleared passive candidates is not something that can be replicated by a generalist recruiter.
95% Hiring Manager Interview Approval Rate
Every cleared candidate is assessed for technical fit, program experience, clearance compliance, and two-year retention probability before being presented. Our 95% approval rate reflects the depth of that screening.
12-Month Replacement Guarantee
Every cleared placement is guaranteed for 12 months. If the hire does not work out for any reason, ALAC runs the search again at no additional cost.
Discretion and Compliance
Security clearance recruiting requires handling candidate information with the highest level of discretion and compliance. ALAC operates with the same information security standards expected in the environments we hire for.
45-Day
Average Fill Time
VS. 70-90 DAY INDUSTRY BENCHMARK
95%
Hiring Manager Interview Approval Rate
CANDIDATES APPROVED TO INTERVIEW
12-Month
Placement Guarantee
ON EVERY DIRECT-HIRE PLACEMENT
Frequently Asked Questions
The Search Starts When You Are Ready
Book a call and we will tell you within 24 hours whether we can help.