Data Center Physical Security Systems Engineer

Details

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 expands, this role partners closely with infrastructure engineering, hardware operations, networking, and regional operations teams to design and deploy scalable security architectures across diverse data center environments. This is not a purely advisory architecture position — the successful candidate will prototype, integrate, troubleshoot, and drive technical solutions through implementation. Ability to travel approximately 25% globally 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, able 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: prototyping, integrating, commissioning, validating, and resolving hard field issues.
• Experience partnering with engineering, construction, networking, cybersecurity, SOC/GSOC, compliance, procurement, and provider teams.
• Strong judgment about where direct execution is required versus where a scalable partner or platform model is the right answer.
• Strong ability to translate complex architecture decisions into operational security outcomes.
• Strong experience with several of the following: enterprise access control systems, video management systems and CCTV analytics, identity-driven access management, integrated security monitoring, and physical security infrastructure management.
• CPP, PMP, CSPM, CompTIA Security+, CISSP, and PMP certifications are not required but are highly desirable.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family, with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts.
• Pre-tax accounts for Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, and commuter expenses (parking and transit).
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match.
• Paid parental leave (up to 24 weeks for birth parents and 20 weeks for non-birthing parents), plus paid medical and caregiver leave (up to 8 weeks).
• Paid time off: flexible PTO for exempt employees and up to 15 days annually for non-exempt employees.
• 13+ paid company holidays and multiple paid coordinated company office closures throughout the year, plus paid sick or safe time as required by local law.
• Mental health and wellness support.
• Employer-paid basic life and disability coverage.
• Annual learning and development stipend.
• Daily meals in offices and meal delivery credits as eligible.
• Relocation support for eligible employees.
• Additional taxable fringe benefits (charitable donation matching, wellness stipends) as provided.