Sr. Physical Security Engineer, Data Center Design Engineering

Amazon • Columbus, OH

4d • $136,600 - $184,800 • Onsite

About The Position

As a Senior Physical Security Engineer, you will serve as a technical leader for security design across Amazon Data Centers in the Americas Region and beyond. You will own complex, cross-team security design programs, drive regional and global standards, and directly shape the security architecture of AWS data center infrastructure at scale. You'll operate within a highly creative and efficient design team of Architects, Engineers, and Designers — and you'll be expected to lead, not simply contribute, when solving the most challenging physical security problems. You will work with limited guidance on ambiguous, high-impact problems. Your solutions must be extensible, cost-optimized, and designed to scale across multiple builds and geographies. As both a subject matter expert and a working leader, you'll mentor junior engineers, drive engineering best practices, and serve as the primary technical authority for complex projects spanning multiple partner teams and stakeholders.

Requirements

• 6+ years of industrial or commercial engineering in mission critical facilities including but not limited to: data centers, power generation or oil and gas facilities experience
• 5+ years of experience leading physical security design programs including construction drawings and specifications for access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, perimeter security, and related systems
• 5+ years of experience developing and reviewing design documentation (plans, specifications, submittals) for construction and/or permitting
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Security Engineering, related discipline, or equivalent work experience
• Demonstrated track record of driving design standards or engineering best practices across multiple projects or teams
• Experience directing external design consultants and holding them accountable to technical and schedule requirements
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel)

Nice To Haves

• Professional Engineering or Architectural License
• ASIS Physical Security Professional (PSP) or Certified Protection Professional (CPP) certification
• CSI Construction Documents Technologist (CDT) certification
• Experience applying Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles
• Familiarity with defense in depth security standards frameworks
• Experience with Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems (PIDS), Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM), and integrated security system design
• Working knowledge of building codes, AHJ requirements, and permitting processes across multiple jurisdictions
• Experience carrying design concepts from exploration through deployment at scale across multiple sites or regions
• Experience contributing to or authoring Basis of Design (BOD) documents or equivalent owner's requirements
• Experience collaborating with compliance, risk, and operations teams to validate security designs against standards
• Experience in physical security system commissioning and testing
• Experience researching new designs, technologies, and construction methods of data center equipment and facilities
• Proficiency with AutoCAD, Revit, Bluebeam, and Ai workflows

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end security design process including construction drawings, specifications, and standards for physical security systems (access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, perimeter fencing, gates, and more) across multiple simultaneous data center projects in the Americas Region.
• Drive development and continuous improvement of AWS physical security design standards, Basis of Design (BOD) documents, and template specifications ensuring they reflect current best practices, emerging technologies, and lessons learned from the field.
• Lead cross-functional design reviews and page turns, coordinating with Civil, Architectural, Electrical, and ICT disciplines to deliver integrated, compliant security designs.
• Identify, assess, and resolve complex design risks and architectural deficiencies proactively including those that span multiple teams or regions.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, construction methods, and security measures for applicability to AWS infrastructure, and champion adoption where ROI and scalability justify it.
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for physical security design consultants directing their work, reviewing deliverables, and holding them accountable to AWS standards and SLAs.
• Collaborate with AWS Security, and other security stakeholders to ensure design outputs align with operational and compliance requirements.
• Develop security design scopes of work for RFPs and provide technical input during vendor selection and bid evaluation.
• Mentor and develop junior Physical Security Engineers strengthening their technical acumen, design judgment, and capacity to deliver independently.
• Conduct site assessments, construction reviews, and design coordination meetings. Anticipated travel ≤ 25%.

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: Senior