Principal, Security Design

Title: Principal, Security DesignLocation: Herndon, VA (preferred);
Denver, CO or Austin/Houston, TXTravel: Approximately 25% - 30% global travel

The Principal, Security Design is the design authority for physical security across the EdgeConneX global data center portfolio. The role owns the site design standard every EdgeConneX site is designed and built to, together with the design rules and templates site designs are produced from and owns the exception process for any deviation from it. It works with delivery, systems and operations teams across new builds, expansions and customer-specific projects for major cloud and enterprise customers.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Own the Physical Security Baseline and its supporting design standards and specifications for access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, intercom and perimeter protection, covering the security measures each site requires and where they are deployed, aligned with EdgeConneX platform and technical standards.

• Own design approval for all projects through a structured review process and personally lead complex and customer-specific designs.

• Set the baseline conformance criteria that design partners are measured against.

• Approve site security layouts and above-baseline security requirements.

• Define the review and approval framework for integrator submittals and approve submittals as required.

• Own the design rules, device libraries and templates used to produce site designs, keeping them aligned with the Physical Security Baseline and technical standards, working with the security systems and technology team on design tooling, and driving the portfolio toward templated site designs.

• Own the exception and deviation process for the Physical Security Baseline, including risk-based assessment and record-keeping.

• Maintain traceability from baseline requirement through design, installation and commissioning evidence.

• Own the security design documentation package, including standards, typical designs, checklists and specifications.

• Capture lessons from design reviews, commissioning, operations, incidents and audits, feeding them back into the baseline and typical designs.

• Work with security stakeholders to align the baseline with the physical security systems architecture and roadmap, and update site design requirements as platforms are upgraded or replaced.

• Map customer-contracted security specifications against the baseline and advise Sales and project teams on where a requirement can be met within the standard and where it needs an exception or a baseline change.

• Monitor changes to external standards and regulation, including EN/IEC, UL, NFPA and data protection requirements, and fold relevant changes into the baseline through gap analysis and remediation plans.

• Serve as the design escalation point for security integrators, design consultancies and commissioning teams on new builds and expansions, translating the baseline into design guides and commissioning acceptance criteria.

• Work with Security Operations to ensure designs meet operational requirements.

• Support customer, third-party and certification audits relating to EdgeConneX security design.

• Report baseline compliance, exception trends and design conformance to Security leadership, with recommendations.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Expert knowledge of physical security system design for critical infrastructure, including access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection and perimeter protection.

• Hands-on knowledge of enterprise access control and video management platforms is required.

• Working knowledge of relevant standards and codes, including IEC/EN 60839-11, EN/IEC 62676, EN 50131, EN 50136, UL 294, NFPA 72 and NFPA 101.

• Understanding of data protection requirements for video and biometric data, such as GDPR.

• Precise, structured technical writing, with the ability to turn standards and customer requirements into clear design requirements for engineers, integrators and auditors.

• Sound judgment balancing security rigor with cost, schedule and buildability, and the confidence to make and stand behind exception decisions under delivery pressure.

• Strong collaborator across design, construction, operations, IT and Sales, able to hold a position on the standard while keeping projects moving.

• Advanced proficiency in physical security design software, including automated and AI-assisted design tools, with the ability to develop, review and validate complex security designs.

• Strong attention to detail and record-keeping discipline.

Experience / Education:

• Minimum 8 years in physical security system design, security engineering or security consultancy, including at least 4 years setting design standards or acting as a design lead.

• Experience designing security for data centers, critical infrastructure or other high-security multi-site portfolios.

• Experience operating a design standard with an exception or deviation process, including documenting risk-based decisions.

• Demonstrated experience producing physical security designs from concept through construction documentation, including layouts, equipment schedules, bills of materials and technical specifications.

• Experience mapping customer or regulatory security requirements to a design standard.

• Experience working with security integrators and design consultancies through design, installation and commissioning.

• Ability to apply security design knowledge to third-party certifications such as ISO 27001, SOC 2 and PCI DSS.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

• Industry security certification such as PSP or CPP is highly desirable.

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