Senior Physical Security Designer & Systems Architect

Control-Risks; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Control Risks is seeking a Physical Security Designer to grow its North America BE&I practice. You will prepare design drawings, specifications, and technical files for electronic and non-electronic security systems across facilities upgrades and new construction.

Join a US-based Americas BE&I team with responsibilities from concept through as-built reviews, including site surveys, risk assessments, and coordinated design deliverables for multiple markets.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant experience in design, construction, electronics engineering, security delivery, and/or physical protection systems design.
• Significant experience designing electronic security systems such as access control, intrusion detection, video surveillance, duress, emergency communications, intercom, visitor management, and related systems.
• Working knowledge of non-electronic physical protection systems and design approaches, including perimeter fencing, CPTED, vehicle barriers, hostile vehicle mitigation, protective design, and facility hardening measures.
• Experience interpreting and applying U.S. and North American building codes, life safety codes, accessibility requirements, security standards, design standards, and industry guidelines within design projects and design document reviews.
• Knowledge of design and construction management processes and phases, including concept, schematic design, design development, construction documentation, construction administration, and as-built review activities.

Responsibilities

• Prepare security design documents, including existing conditions reports, design programming materials, basis of design narratives, equipment specifications, equipment schedules, 30/60/100 percent drawings, and as-built drawing reviews.
• Produce, review, and coordinate drawings and technical files for electronic physical protection systems, including access control, intrusion detection, video surveillance, duress, emergency communications, intercom, and related systems.
• Support design work for non-electronic physical protection measures, including perimeter protection, CPTED, security operations considerations, protective barriers, and related facility hardening measures.
• Teach, mentor, and support non-designer security and risk management professionals so they can contribute effectively to design programming and security design requirements development.
• Support quality reviews of internal and subcontractor design documents, including drawing sets, specifications, schedules, design narratives, and technical submittals.
• Perform site surveys, existing conditions reviews, installation inspections, and physical security assessments in support of project delivery and broader risk assessment work across Control Risks markets.
• Translate assessment findings, threat and vulnerability considerations, operational requirements, and client priorities into practical security design requirements and coordinated deliverables.
• Coordinate with architects, engineers, project managers, owners, operators, security integrators, and other design team members to support proportionate, code-aware, and technically sound security solutions.
• Contribute to proposals, scopes of work, level-of-effort estimates, and project budgets where design assumptions, deliverables, and required inputs must be clearly defined.

Skills

Security design

Mentoring

Written and verbal communication

Client-focused collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in architecture or engineering

Security-related degree or 7+ years experience

High school diploma with 7+ years experience

Tools

AutoCAD LT

Revit

Bluebeam

SketchUp

Visio

MS Project

Microsoft Office

Job description

Control Risks is seeking a Physical Security Designer to grow its North America BE&I practice. You will prepare design drawings, specifications, and technical files for electronic and non-electronic security systems across facilities upgrades and new construction.

Join a US-based Americas BE&I team with responsibilities from concept through as-built reviews, including site surveys, risk assessments, and coordinated design deliverables for multiple markets.