Security Design Project Engineer 3 - Charleston, SC

M.C. Dean, Inc; Charleston (SC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

M.C. Dean, Inc. seeks a Senior Design Security Engineer 3 to design and deploy physical security solutions for federal, local, and commercial clients.

You will lead a regional engineering team out of San Jose, CA, and ensure design excellence across intrusion, access control, biometrics, and video systems. The role requires deep systems design experience, coordination with customers and partners, and the ability to travel up to 25% domestically and internationally.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years of experience in programs and contracts of similar scope.

Responsibilities

• Lead security design and deployment across projects.
• Coordinate with clients, partners, vendors and internal teams.
• Develop BOM and forecast engineering time for bids.
• Provide site surveys and commissioning support.
• Review RFPs, SOW and client specs to shape project scope.

Skills

Communication skills

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Time management

MS Office (Excel/Word/PowerPoint)

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in System Engineering / CS / Info Systems / Engg Management

Job description

Overview

About M.C. Dean is Building Intelligence®. We design, build, operate, and maintain cyber‑physical solutions for the nation’s most mission‑critical facilities, secure environments, complex infrastructure, and global enterprises. With over 9,000 employees, our capabilities span electrical, electronic security, telecommunications, life safety, automation and controls, audiovisual, and IT systems. Headquarters in Tysons, Virginia, M.C. Dean delivers resilient, secure, and innovative power and technology solutions through engineering expertise and smart systems integration.

Why Join Us?

Our people are passionate about engineering innovation that improves lives and drives impactful change. Guided by our core values—agility, expertise, and trust—we foster a collaborative and forward‑thinking work environment. At M.C. Dean, we are committed to building the next generation of technical leaders in electrical, engineering, and cybersecurity industries.

We are seeking an Engineer 3 to join our Security and Electronic Systems (SES) business unit. As part of the (SES) Strategic Business Unit you will be part of a team that designs, engineers, integrates, operates and maintains electronic security services inclusive of intrusion detection, access control, biometric authentication, video surveillance, audio visual, IT systems, perimeter defense and command and control systems for federal, local and commercial customers across high‑growth markets.

Responsibilities

As a Senior Design Security Engineer 3, you will be an expert in designing and deploying various technologies to improve our customers’ physical security posture along with managing technical requirements and leading the regional engineering team out of San Jose, CA.

This position requires in‑depth knowledge and understanding of physical security solutions, design modeling and standards, implementing and improving design delivery processes, deploying tried and true, as well as cutting edge technology. You should be able to quickly and thoroughly understand customers’ needs and translate that into solutions designs that can be deployed at scale globally. This position is located in San Jose, CA and the candidate should be willing to relocate.

The responsibilities of this role include development of systems and project requirements as per clients’ needs, collaboration with clients, partners, vendors and internal teams to provide best‑in‑class solutions, high level of systems designs with required technical specifications, systems analysis reports and design development, the preparation of new builds and projects drawings, specifications, technology product selection, installation sequence planning, commissioning testing/commissioning scripts, process streamlining and improvements.

• Manages system requirements and derived requirements to ensure the delivery of security systems that are compliant with commercial client and data center construction standards.
• Responsible for all technical submittals (Product Data, O&M, Warranty) for delivering security projects. Work with a team of engineers, project managers, and field technicians.
• Support project lifecycle of large scale construction project.
• Manage multiple project designs concurrently and ensure they meet customer standards.
• Participate in coordination calls with the engineering team and designated project manager to ensure proper communication and delivery.
• Attend coordination calls with contractors/trade groups to coordinate dependencies with regards to security drawings and installation.
• Track revisions, RFIs, submittals, Bill of Materials throughout project lifecycle.
• Lead Design Review sessions with team members and Page Turn review calls with the client.
• Developing and improving design standards.
• Leading complex projects, mentoring and overseeing projects execution through design excellence processes, ensuring high delivery quality.
• Leading Pre‑Installation Testing & Check Out of security equipment for various projects - coordinating schedule, checklist, and shipment due dates.
• Review Request for Proposals (RFP) documentation, Statement of Work, and Client Specifications provided for new project bids. Develop Bill of Materials (BOM) and Forecast Engineering Time for new project bids.
• Provide in person site surveys and field troubleshooting/commissioning support.

Qualifications

Ability to travel up to 10%.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in System Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering Science, Engineering Management, or related discipline from an accredited college or university is required with 5+ years of experience in programs and contracts of similar scope, type and complexity. with the provision of SE services for physical security system and IT solutions.

Desired Skills

• Strong Oral, Written and Presentation Skills.
• Demonstrated background working with multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated time management and organization skills to meet deadlines and quality objectives.
• Strong MS Excel, Word and PowerPoint Skills is a plus.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 25% of the time.

Abilities

• Exposure to computer screens for an extended period of time.
• Sitting for extended periods of time.
• Reach by extending hands or arms in any direction.
• Have finger dexterity in order to manipulate objects with fingers rather than whole hands or arms, for example, using a keyboard.
• Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Identify and understand the speech of another person.