Physical Security Technical Design Manager

About the Role

The Physical Security Technical Design Manager is the technical authority for Physical Security Engineering within the Smart Buildings team. The role is responsible for establishing and maintaining engineering excellence across all physical security projects by ensuring every design produced by the team meets the highest standards of technical accuracy, compliance, coordination and operational performance.

Responsibilities

Technical leadership

• Act as the technical authority for all Physical Security Engineering projects across the business.

• Provide technical leadership throughout the design lifecycle from concept through detailed design, construction support and project close-out.

• Establish and maintain engineering design standards, technical guidance documents, templates and best practice methodologies.

• Define and continuously improve the technical design processes used across the Physical Security discipline.

• Lead the development of innovative engineering solutions for complex and mission-critical facilities.

• Oversee the technical accuracy, completeness and consistency of every physical security design produced by the team.

• Chair technical design reviews, peer reviews and QA/QC reviews across all projects.

• Ensure all designs comply with relevant legislation, European & British Standards, International Standards and client-specific design requirements.

• Provide final technical approval for security design documentation prior to client issue.

• Identify technical risks and ensure appropriate engineering solutions are implemented.

• Develop and maintain technical review checklists, design assurance procedures and governance frameworks.

Lead the development of integrated physical security solutions including:

• CCTV

• Access Control

• Perimeter Intrusion Detection Systems (PIDS)

• Intrusion Detection Systems

• Intercom

• Security Management Systems (SMS/PSIM)

• Security Networks

• Review and validate security strategies, system architectures, calculations, specifications, schedules, schematics and detailed design drawings.

• Ensure coordinated multidisciplinary design integration with ICT, Electrical, Mechanical, Architectural, Civil and Structural engineering teams.

• Lead engineering workshops with clients, operators, contractors and specialist vendors to develop technically robust security solutions.

• Review specialist supplier proposals and technical submissions to ensure compliance with project requirements.

Standards & Technical Development

• Maintain expert knowledge of emerging security technologies, international standards and evolving industry best practice.

• Monitor changes to legislation, regulations and standards affecting physical security design.

• Develop internal engineering standards aligned with recognised industry frameworks.

• Drive standardisation across design documentation, specifications and technical deliverables.

• Represent the business on industry working groups, technical committees and professional forums where appropriate.

Team Development

• Mentor and develop Senior Engineers, Design Engineers and Graduate Engineers.

• Provide technical coaching and guidance across the engineering team.

• Support competency development and technical training programmes.

• Promote a culture of engineering excellence, innovation and continual learning.

• Assist with technical recruitment and capability development.

Project Support

• Provide technical support to project teams throughout design, procurement and construction.

• Support client presentations, technical workshops and engineering reviews.

• Resolve complex technical issues during design and construction.

• Support commissioning strategies, witness testing and system acceptance where required.

• Assist commercial teams with technical input into proposals and bids

About You

• Degree in Engineering or a related discipline.

• Extensive experience designing integrated physical security systems for mission-critical facilities, hyperscale data centres or critical infrastructure.

• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering projects within a consultancy environment.

• Strong experience delivering RIBA Stage 2–5 (or equivalent) design packages and leading technical assurance activities.

• Integrated CCTV, Access Control, IDS, PIDS, Intercom and SMS/PSIM systems

• Security network architecture and structured cabling

• Video analytics, biometrics and security integration platforms

• Defence in Depth, layered security, TVRA, security zoning and operational concepts

• Critical infrastructure protection and high-security facilities