Data Center Physical Security Systems Engineer

Details

About the Role

OpenAI is seeking a Data Center Physical Security Systems Engineer to define and deliver the physical security technology architecture that protects the infrastructure powering advanced AI systems. As OpenAI's global compute footprint continues to expand, this role will partner closely with infrastructure engineering, hardware operations, networking, and regional operations teams to design and deploy scalable security architectures across a diverse portfolio of data center environments.

The role is responsible for establishing architecture standards, technical requirements, and system designs that address security, operational, and compliance needs while supporting the rapid growth of OpenAI's global infrastructure. This is not a purely advisory architecture position. The successful candidate will actively prototype, integrate, troubleshoot, and drive technical solutions through implementation, helping transform security requirements into resilient, operational capabilities.

The ideal candidate combines deep expertise in physical security systems with the ability to design scalable, integrated, and reliable security architectures that support critical infrastructure at global scale.

The role requires approximately 25% global travel to support design reviews, deployments, and site assessments.

Responsibilities

• Define and design the physical security technology architecture strategy for AI data center environments, establishing scalable and resilient security system designs aligned with OpenAI's infrastructure risk profile.
• Define enterprise architecture standards and technical patterns for physical security capabilities, including access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, identity-based access, integrated monitoring, and emerging security technologies.
• Lead the architecture and governance of physical security systems and supporting platforms.
• Define security standards and requirements across diverse infrastructure deployment models.
• Define standards for secure deployment, operational resilience, maintenance, and lifecycle management of security technologies.
• Partner with Security Operations, Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, Compliance, Legal, Procurement, and external providers to ensure physical security systems are integrated, operationally effective, and capable of supporting enterprise risk management objectives.
• Provide technical leadership, design governance, and continuous improvement through architecture reviews, technology evaluations, deployment oversight, and the evolution of standards, reference architectures, and best practices across global AI infrastructure deployments.

Requirements

• Significant experience in physical security technology, security engineering, systems engineering, OT/ICS security, or adjacent cyber-physical infrastructure domains, with the ability to turn ambiguous problems into working technical systems.
• 15+ years of experience in physical security systems architecture, infrastructure security engineering, or security technology design.
• Experience building or hardening systems in hyperscale infrastructure, critical infrastructure, large-scale data centers, or complex cyber-physical environments.
• Experience designing physical security systems across multi-site or global infrastructure environments.
• Experience moving from architecture into implementation, including prototyping, integrating, commissioning, validating, and resolving complex field issues.
• Experience partnering with engineering, construction, networking, cybersecurity, SOC/GSOC, compliance, procurement, and provider teams.
• Strong judgment about when direct execution is required versus when a scalable partner or platform model is appropriate.
• Strong ability to translate complex architecture decisions into operational security outcomes.
• Strong experience with several of the following:
  • Enterprise access control systems certification.
  • Video management systems and CCTV analytics certification.
  • Identity-driven access management.
  • Integrated security monitoring.
  • Physical security infrastructure management.
• CPP, PMP, CSPM, CompTIA Security+, CISSP, and PMP certifications are not required but are highly desirable.

About OpenAI

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. OpenAI is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of legally protected characteristics. Background checks are administered in accordance with applicable law. OpenAI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.