Sr. Manager, Physical Security Design

Cipher Digital•Denver, CO

1d•Remote

About The Position

Cipher Digital is seeking a senior physical security design leader to own its physical security design program end to end. The role translates threat and risk into standardized, buildable designs and remains engaged through construction administration and record documentation to ensure the completed work matches design intent. The position establishes reference designs and standards and produces design packages complete enough for integrators to build directly from, without integrator-produced drawings or shop drawings. This is initially an individual-contributor role, with the opportunity to build and lead a design team as the company grows. The role is part of the Physical Security group within Cipher Digital’s converged security organization and works closely with the Integration and Operations leads, as well as enterprise GRC and information security functions. It reports to the Director, Physical Security. The position is remote, with travel up to approximately 25% based on project needs. When not traveling, work is performed from a home office or a local office where available. Site visits may involve standing and walking across large data center campuses, climbing stairs and ladders, and working around active and energized construction sites while following applicable safety practices and wearing required personal protective equipment.

Requirements

Eight or more years of experience in physical and electronic security systems (ESS), including several years leading design work, a design team, or design consultants.
A proven track record of turning over complex ESS designs on schedule.
Depth in access control, intrusion detection, video management, emergency communications, and integration architecture, including hands-on experience authoring or owning CSI Division 28 specifications.
Ability to translate threat and vulnerability assessments into layered security designs using principles such as defense in depth, CPTED, standoff, DORI, and the five Ds.
Experience coordinating security design with civil, architectural, electrical, and telecommunications disciplines to produce complete, buildable design packages.
Experience running or directing construction administration for ESS scopes of work, including RFIs, submittal review, and record and as-built production.
Working fluency in network and cybersecurity considerations for modern security systems, including segmentation, device hardening, and standards such as NIST and IEC 62443.
Working fluency with security design codes and standards, including NFPA 101 and IBC egress requirements, NFPA 72, and UL 294, and with AHJ review for security and low-voltage systems.
Comfort using design coordination and review tools such as Revit, AutoCAD, and Bluebeam, even if not personally producing drawings.
Working knowledge of Genetec or an equivalent enterprise access control, intrusion alarm, and video surveillance platform.
Demonstrated leadership across teams and external partners, with the ability to hire, develop, and lead a team as the role scales.
Excellent communication and presentation skills with executive leadership and customers.
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, architecture, security management, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
Ability to travel up to approximately 25% based on project needs.
Ability to perform periodic standing and walking across large data center campuses, climb stairs and ladders, work around active and energized construction sites, and wear required personal protective equipment.

Nice To Haves

Design experience in data center, mission-critical, or other critical-infrastructure construction.
Experience designing to customer- or tenant-imposed physical security standards, such as those of hyperscale cloud providers.
Familiarity with contractual security frameworks such as ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II, and with SLA-driven delivery.
CPP, PSP, CSPM, or PMP certification.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain corporate physical security design standards, reference designs, and technical guidelines for consistent and repeatable delivery across the portfolio.
Lead physical security technology strategy, including platform and device standardization and sequences of operation, in partnership with digital security and cybersecurity engineering functions.
Incorporate operational requirements and lessons learned from the Operations lead into design standards.
Own the physical security design lifecycle from concept and basis of design through construction administration and record documentation for new builds and expansions.
Drive consistent, on-time production of security design packages handed to Construction and ensure they are complete and accurate enough for integrators to build without integrator-produced drawings or shop drawings.
Translate threat and vulnerability assessments into layered security designs for critical infrastructure, applying principles including defense in depth, CPTED, standoff, DORI, and the five Ds.
Coordinate security scope with architectural, civil, structural, MEP, telecommunications, and IT/network engineering disciplines so security is integrated early in designs.
Run formal design reviews at schematic design, design development, and construction document milestones, including constructability reviews and security-lens value engineering.
Include the Integration lead in pre-issue-for-construction reviews to confirm packages are complete enough to build from and testable as drawn.
Provide cost and constructability input to project estimates, including consultant and EOR fee assumptions, device counts, and value-engineering trade-offs.
Direct design consultants and EORs through construction administration services, including RFI responses, product-submittal reviews, and strategically timed site visits.
Own RFI resolution and incorporation, direct EOR responses to field questions, and incorporate agreed changes into the design and record set.
Own final record and as-built documentation, incorporating field redlines, RFIs, and change-order additions.
Select, direct, and hold external design consultants, EORs, and specialty vendors accountable for scope, schedule, and deliverable quality across concurrent projects.
Serve as the organization’s senior physical security design authority and represent and defend design decisions to executive leadership, customers, and authorities having jurisdiction.
Hire, develop, and lead a design team as the role scales.