Data Center Security Specialist , AMER-SW Data Center Security

AWS is looking for an exceptional Data Center Security Specialist with a strong track record of supporting security programs within data center facilities, demonstrable program/project management experience, comprehensive security operations knowledge, and a deep understanding of physical security standards, processes, and requirements.

As a Data Center Security Specialist (individual contributor) you will be tasked with driving operational security excellence in several separate facilities located within a short driving distance. Your constant vigilance will discover physical security gaps and shortcomings, which you will drive to fix immediately. You will interface and direct vendors involved in new security construction, repairs, daily security operations and patrols, and planning. You will extract metrics and observe improvements by looking at hard data. You will make suggestions on improving electronic surveillance and access controls. You will direct efforts to educate data center occupants on false alarm reductions. You will write and implement security process and procedures. Your position will require you to write reports, create presentations and communicate with management on the status of physical security operations.

Key job responsibilities

The selected individual will be responsible for managing physical security operations, developing post orders, defining security procedures, handling site incidents, working with security equipment, participating in construction projects and to drive day-to-day process improvement activities and managing vendors.

Duties include ensuring consistent deployment of all required security policies and procedures and participate in re-occurring site audits and reviews and testing new security technologies.

Must have and demonstrate resilient leadership skills, flexibility to work in dynamic environment, exceptional knowledge of security practices and strong written and verbal communication.

A day in the life

As a Data Center Security Specialist, your day begins with reviewing overnight security reports and incident logs to ensure continuity of operations. You"ll conduct morning walkthroughs of the data center perimeter and red zones, verifying that all physical security controls are functioning properly and documenting any anomalies.

Throughout the day, you"ll coordinate with onsite security forces, providing guidance on post orders and responding to real-time security events. You"ll participate in construction coordination meetings to ensure security requirements are integrated into ongoing build activities, reviewing access requests and ensuring compliance with AWS security standards.

Mid-day often involves hands-on work-testing security equipment, conducting badge audits, or investigating incidents that occurred during previous shifts. You"ll collaborate with Data Center Operations teams to balance security requirements with operational needs, ensuring customer workloads remain protected without impacting availability.

Your afternoon may include updating security procedures based on lessons learned, conducting training sessions with contract security officers, or participating in site audits to validate compliance with security policies. You"ll also spend time on vendor management, coordinating with security technology providers to resolve equipment issues or implement enhancements.

As the day closes, you"ll prepare shift handover documentation, brief incoming security personnel on any ongoing situations, and update your Multi Cluster Security Manager on key activities and upcoming priorities. You"ll also dedicate time to continuous improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to enhance security operations and drive process efficiencies across the site.

This role requires flexibility-no two days are identical, and you must be prepared to pivot quickly as priorities shift in support of fast-moving data center operations.

About the team

AWS Infrastructure Services (AIS) owns the design, planning, delivery, and operation of all AWS global infrastructure. In other words, we're the people who keep the cloud running. We support all AWS data centers and all of the servers, storage, networking, power, and cooling equipment that ensure our customers have continual access to the innovation they rely on. We work on the most challenging problems, with thousands of variables impacting the supply chain - and we're looking for talented people who want to help.

You'll join a diverse team of software, hardware, and network engineers, supply chain specialists, security experts, operations managers, and other vital roles. You'll collaborate with people across AWS to help us deliver the highest standards for safety and security while providing seemingly infinite capacity at the lowest possible cost for our customers. And you'll experience an inclusive culture that welcomes bold ideas and empowers you to own them to completion.

Diverse Experiences

AWS values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the preferred qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting, hasn't followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, don't let it stop you from applying.

Why AWS?

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world's most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. We pioneered cloud computing and never stopped innovating - that's why customers from the most successful startups to Global 500 companies trust our robust suite of products and services to power their businesses.

Inclusive Team Culture

Here at AWS, it's in our nature to learn and be curious. Our employee-led affinity groups foster a culture of inclusion that empower us to be proud of our differences. Ongoing events and learning experiences, including our Conversations on Race and Ethnicity (CORE) and AmazeCon (gender diversity) conferences, inspire us to never stop embracing our uniqueness.

Mentorship & Career Growth

We're continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth's Best Employer. That's why you'll find endless knowledge-sharing, mentorship and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.

Work/Life Balance

We value work-life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home, which is why we strive for flexibility as part of our working culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, there's nothing we can't achieve.