Senior Physical Security Design Engineer

About Ethos

Ethos is a collaborative team of engineers, consultants, and creative thinkers designing and delivering data centre and energy infrastructure across the world's most dynamic markets. As a multidisciplinary consultancy, we combine technical expertise, creativity, and integrated delivery to lead complex, mission-critical projects.

About the Job

The Senior Physical Security Design Engineer is a senior technical role within the Smart Buildings team, responsible for the delivery of high-quality physical security designs across mission-critical, data centre and complex infrastructure projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical design and coordination of integrated physical security systems including CCTV, Access Control, Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems (PIDS), Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), Intercom and Security Management Systems.

• Produce and review security design documentation including design reports, technical specifications, equipment schedules, calculations, schematics, layouts and detailed construction drawings.

• Develop security strategies and engineering solutions that satisfy client operational requirements while complying with relevant standards, legislation and project objectives.

• Coordinate physical security designs with ICT, Electrical, Mechanical, Architectural, Civil and Structural disciplines to ensure fully integrated design solutions.

• Participate in technical workshops with clients, operators, architects, contractors and specialist vendors to develop and validate security design requirements.

• Undertake technical assessments including Threat, Vulnerability and Risk Assessments (TVRA), security zoning studies, design risk assessments and engineering option appraisals.

• Review vendor proposals, technical submissions and contractor deliverables to ensure compliance with project specifications and design intent.

• Prepare equipment schedules, cable schedules, device layouts and system architecture diagrams suitable for construction and procurement.

• Ensure designs comply with relevant British, European and International Standards together with applicable client design standards and regulatory requirements.

• Undertake design coordination reviews using BIM/Revit, Bluebeam and other digital engineering tools.

• Carry out design QA/QC reviews and technical assurance activities in accordance with the company's Quality Management System.

• Support commissioning planning, witness testing and technical issue resolution during construction and project delivery.

• Provide technical mentoring and guidance to graduate and junior engineers, supporting continuous professional development within the team.

• Maintain awareness of emerging technologies, industry trends and best practice in physical security design, particularly within hyperscale and colocation data centre environments.

• Support continuous improvement initiatives through the development of design standards, templates, technical guidance documents and lessons learned.

About You

• Degree in Electronic, Electrical, Building Services, Security Engineering or a related discipline.

• Experience designing physical security systems for data centres, critical infrastructure or other high-security facilities.

• Proven delivery of RIBA Stages 2–5 (or equivalent) physical security designs.

• Experience producing specifications, reports, schematics, layouts and coordinated design documentation.

• Experience working within multidisciplinary engineering teams.

• Knowledge of BIM workflows and proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit, Bluebeam and Microsoft Office.

• Ability to manage multiple projects and deliver high-quality work to programme.

• Understanding of physical security design for mission-critical facilities.

• Knowledge of relevant EN, ISO, BS and IEC standards.

• Familiarity with security risk management, Defence in Depth and layered security principles.

• Understanding of IP networking, security system resilience, cybersecurity interfaces and structured cabling.

• Committed to engineering quality and continuous improvement.

Why Join Us?

• Join collaborative leaders – Work alongside experienced, approachable professionals who

  combine technical excellence with calm, supportive leadership.

• Make a real impact – Contribute to mission-critical infrastructure projects that support the digital and energy transition across EMEA and beyond.

• Grow with us – As a rapidly growing consultancy, we offer opportunities to develop your skills, broaden your experience, and build your career.

• Shape a more sustainable future – Sustainability isn't an initiative—it's embedded in every project, every discipline, and every decision we make.