Physical Security Engineering Manager, Data Center Design Engineering, Data Center Design Engineering

Amazon • Columbus, OH

1d • $150,200 - $233,700 • Hybrid

About The Position

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is seeking a Manager, Physical Security Engineering to join its Data Center Design Engineering (DCDE) team within the Americas (AMER) region. This position supports Leased and Owned (Greenfield, Build-to-Suit, and Brownfield) commercial data center projects. Physical Security Engineering at AWS works to design safe, secure, resilient, and cost-effective data center facilities. As a Manager of Physical Security Engineering for Leased/Owned projects, you will lead a team of Physical Security Engineers (PSEs) responsible for delivering security designs across the full project lifecycle — from pre-design due diligence through construction administration and operational handoff — for AWS-owned and leased commercial data center campuses across the Americas region. You will be part of a highly creative and efficient design team comprised of Architects, Engineers, and Designers tasked with solving problems and challenging the status quo. As both a subject matter expert and a people manager, you will set the technical direction for your team, drive accountability across multiple simultaneous fast-paced projects, and be responsible for developing and communicating security design requirements to internal and external project partners and stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical field
• Experience in industrial or commercial engineering or project management in Mission Critical facilities including but not limited to: data centers, power generation, or oil/gas facilities
• 12+ years of physical security design experience, including cameras, access control, intrusion detection, perimeter fencing, and related systems
• 5+ years of experience managing and developing engineering teams, including performance management, talent development, and organizational planning
• 3+ years of physical security design experience in data center, mission-critical, or large-scale commercial/industrial facilities
• Demonstrated experience managing external design consultants and vendor relationships at scale
• Proven track record of delivering complex, multi-project programs on time and within budget

Nice To Haves

• Physical Security Professional (PSP) certification from ASIS International
• Certified Protection Professional (CPP) certification from ASIS International
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Registered Professional Engineer (PE) license or equivalent
• Experience with Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles
• Familiarity with large-scale operator BOD or Security Standards
• Experience leading teams across Greenfield, Build-to-Suit (BTS), and Brownfield data center project delivery models
• Working knowledge of Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) design, PIDS systems, and perimeter security architecture
• Proficiency with Bluebeam, AutoCAD, Autodesk REVIT, Autodesk Navisworks, or equivalent design review tools
• Ability to travel internationally
• Meets/exceeds Amazon's Leadership Principles requirements for this role
• Meets/exceeds Amazon's functional/technical depth and complexity for this role

Responsibilities

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team of Physical Security Engineers (PSEs) assigned to Leased/Owned commercial data center projects across the AMER region.
• Define clear performance expectations aligned to the DE Security performance bar, conduct regular 1:1s, and provide ongoing coaching and feedback to drive above-bar performance across the team.
• Own the Organization and Leadership Review (OLR) process for your team, including performance calibration, promotion decisions, and talent development planning.
• Create an inclusive team culture that rewards ownership, rigor, innovation, and continuous improvement, consistent with Amazon Leadership Principles.
• Oversee onboarding and new hire integration, ensuring PSEs are set up for success from day one with the right project assignments, shadowing opportunities, and resources.
• Set the technical direction and quality bar for security designs — including construction drawings and specifications — covering cameras, access control systems, intrusion detection, perimeter fencing, gates, sallyports, hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM), and Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems (PIDS) across Greenfield, Build-to-Suit (BTS), and Brownfield data center projects.
• Hold the team accountable for ensuring all security designs comply with the AWS Physical Security Standard (PSS) and Basis of Design (BOD) owner's requirements, and that non-compliant conditions are proactively managed through the appropriate SPEAR process.
• Establish and enforce QA/QC standards for consultant deliverable reviews at each design milestone (30%, 60%, 90%, 100%), ensuring the team delivers high-quality, timely feedback.
• Represent DE Security at key design forums including Security Page Turn meetings, Security Workgroup meetings, PIDS reviews, and cross-discipline coordination meetings, stepping in to resolve escalated technical issues as needed.
• Direct the team's engagement during the pre-design phase, ensuring PSEs provide meaningful physical security input during site selection, Due Diligence (DD), and test fit reviews for new campus acquisitions.
• Review and approve security risk assessments and DD approval inputs, ensuring the team applies consistent risk evaluation criteria aligned to the DE Security Due Diligence Checklist.
• Identify and escalate site-specific security risks — including standoff distances, neighboring facility risks, traffic patterns, sallyport configurations, and natural hazard considerations — that could impact project schedule, cost, or security posture.
• Own the team's contribution to the AWS Security Basis of Design (BOD), driving updates in coordination with the BOD Release Management Team, SPEAR internal security standards and audit teams, and relevant Security SMEs to ensure requirements remain current and performance-based.
• Sponsor and oversee programmatic initiatives including Security BOD template updates, QAQC checklist improvements, and cross-discipline coordination tools, assigning initiative owners and holding the team accountable to delivery timelines.
• Partner with SPEAR, DCESS, internal security standards, solutions, and audit teams, and other AWS security stakeholders to shape design standards, influence policy, and ensure the AMER Leased/Owned program reflects best-in-class security engineering practice.
• Hold the team accountable for PSE engagement during the construction administration phase, including oversight of RFI responses, product submittals, OAC meeting participation, and site visit execution.
• Ensure PSEs complete required construction site visits and Field Observation Reports per program standards, and that Design Handoff to Security Program Managers (SPMs) is executed completely and on time.
• Monitor project health across the portfolio, identify risks to cost, schedule, or security posture, and drive timely escalation and resolution.
• Serve as the primary escalation point and senior decision-maker for security design issues across Leased/Owned projects in the AMER region, partnering with DE Design Managers, TPMs, Construction Managers, and senior AWS leadership to resolve conflicts and drive alignment.
• Represent DE Security at DE Finance Meetings, presenting the team's security construction scope, PIDS conditions, retaining wall details, sallyport configurations, and BOD deviations to AWS Finance leadership.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with Security Program Managers (SPMs), Cluster Security Managers (CSMs), Regional Security Managers (RSMs), and partner DE disciplines to ensure security is fully integrated into project delivery.
• Own the team's engagement in the RFP process, ensuring security design scopes of work are complete, accurate, and reflective of known site complexities and AWS standards.
• Oversee vendor bid evaluations, pricing negotiations, and scope comprehension reviews in coordination with the DE Design Manager and DCSP procurement team.
• Drive accountability for vendor performance through annual Supplier Business Reviews (SBRs) and Security Vendor Feedback Surveys, using results to continuously improve the consultant management program.

Benefits

• health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage)
• 401(k) matching
• paid time off
• parental leave
• sign-on payments
• restricted stock units (RSUs)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager