Data Center Security Lead

Metric DCX; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Metric DCX is seeking an experienced Data Center Security Lead in Houston to own physical and operational security for a high‑reliability data center. You will lead a security team, set standards, and serve as the senior point of accountability for access control, surveillance, incident response, and audit readiness.

You will be on the floor frequently, building a vigilant, professional, and customer-focused security culture while collaborating with IT security, facilities, and engineering teams.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a 24/7 security team in data center or critical infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and schedule a 24/7 security team, including in-house staff and third-party guarding contractors

Skills

Leadership & team management

Incident response

Physical security concepts

Security governance & audits

Security standards (ISO 27001, SOC 2)

Stakeholder communication

Risk assessment

Security licensing (Texas DPS)

Vendor management

Education

CPP/PSP/CISSP/CISM certification

Tools

CCTV/VMS

Access control systems

Perimeter security

Intrusion detection systems

Job description

We're looking for an experienced Data Center Security Lead to own the physical and operational security of a Houston data center facility. You'll lead a team of security officers and technicians, set the standards that protect our customers' critical infrastructure, and act as the senior point of accountability for access control, surveillance, incident response, and audit readiness.

This is a hands-on leadership role. You'll be on the floor as often as you're in meetings, building a security culture that is vigilant, professional, and customer-focused.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and schedule a 24/7 security team, including in-house staff and third-party guarding contractors
• Design, implement, and maintain physical security controls: perimeter protection, mantraps, biometric and card access, CCTV, intrusion detection, and visitor management
• Manage access governance, including regular access reviews, customer escorted-access procedures, and tailgating prevention
• Own incident response for physical security events, from investigation through root cause analysis and corrective action
• Maintain compliance with frameworks such as ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and customer-specific security requirements
• Lead internal audits and host external auditors and customer inspections
• Conduct regular risk assessments, physical penetration tests, and drills (evacuation, lockdown, shelter-in-place, bomb threat)
• Develop and maintain severe weather and business continuity plans, including hurricane season preparedness, flooding, and extended power or grid disruption
• Partner with IT security, facilities, and engineering teams to align physical and cyber controls
• Manage the security budget, vendor contracts, and equipment lifecycle
• Produce clear reporting on incidents, KPIs, and risk for senior management
• Proven experience in a security leadership role within a data center, critical infrastructure, or similarly high-security environment
• Strong working knowledge of physical security systems (access control, CCTV/VMS, intrusion detection, perimeter security)
• Experience managing shift-based teams and third-party contractors
• Solid understanding of ISO 27001, SOC 2, NIST 800-53, or equivalent security standards
• Excellent incident management, investigation, and report-writing skills
• Calm, decisive, and professional under pressure, with strong stakeholder communication
• Ability to obtain any required Texas security licensing (for example, through the Texas Department of Public Safety Private Security Program)
• Professional certification such as CPP, PSP, CISSP, CISM, or equivalent
• Background in military, law enforcement, or government security
• Experience with Tier III/IV facilities and colocation customer environments
• Experience with emergency and disaster response planning in the Gulf Coast region
• Familiarity with converged physical/cyber security approaches
• Ability to obtain a U.S. government security clearance, where required by customer contracts