Senior Security Systems Design Engineer

Title: Senior Security Systems Design Engineer Location: Blackburn Job Type: Contract Length: 12 months + Rate: £600-£650 per day INSIDE IR35Security Clearance required - can start on BPSS then moving to SCQualifications and training (typical) - HNC/HND/Degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering (or demonstrable equivalent experience). - Recognised electrical/safety training aligned to site requirements (varies by operator). - Vendor training/certification (beneficial): major VMS/ACS/IDS platforms used in the sector. - Security vetting/clearance: Enhanced BPSS & SC clearances required.Role purpose Design, engineer and assure integrated electronic security systems (ESS) for Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) sites (e.g., energy, water, transport, telecoms, defence-related estates). The role ensures electronic & physical security solutions are safe, compliant, resilient, maintainable, and proportionate to assessed risk-often within high-assurance environments and under strict governance.Scope and typical systems - Access Control Systems (ACS): door controllers, credential technologies, biometrics, turnstiles, vehicle access. - Intruder Detection Systems (IDS): perimeter and internal detection, alarm routing, graded signalling. - Video Surveillance (CCTV/VSS): fixed/PTZ, analytics, storage, evidential export. - Perimeter security electronics: fence detection, radar, thermal, gates/barriers interfacing. - Intercom/help points, duress/panic alarms, lockdown/alerting functions. - Security management and integration platforms: PSIM, VMS, access control management, event correlation. - Alarm monitoring integration: SOC/ARC interfaces, incident response workflows. - Power and resilience: UPS, battery autonomy, dual feeds, segregation, surge protection, earthing/bonding. - Networked security infrastructure: structured cabling, fibre, PoE, network segmentation, time sync, secure remote access patterns (as governed).Key responsibilities 1) Concept and requirements engineering - Translate security risk assessments, threat models and operational requirements into clear engineering requirements and performance specs. - Develop security design concepts (architecture options, resilience models, failure modes, coverage principles) aligned to the site's criticality. - Define interface requirements with OT/IT, building systems, fire systems and operational processes. 2) Detailed design and engineering delivery - Produce design packs: single line diagrams, schematics, panel designs, cable schedules, device layouts, containment requirements, integration interface documents, network topologies (as required). - Select appropriate technologies and grades of equipment aligned with environment, threat, maintainability and lifecycle cost. - Engineer power budgets, UPS autonomy, segregation, EMC considerations, and environmental suitability (IP ratings, temperature, corrosion). - Ensure designs support safe installation and maintainability (access for servicing, spares strategy, configuration control). 3) Compliance, assurance and governance - Design in accordance with relevant standards, client governance and site rules (including safety, electrical, security and information assurance requirements). - Participate in design reviews, HAZID/HAZOP or equivalent safety/security assurance activities where applicable. - Maintain traceability: requirements ? design ? test ? as-built manage design change control. 4) Cyber-physical security alignment - Work with cybersecurity/architecture teams to ensure secure-by-design principles for networked security systems (segmentation, hardening assumptions, credential management, logging, patching constraints). - Produce documentation to support risk acceptance and operational security processes (account management, secure maintenance, audit trails). 5) Testing, commissioning and handover - Define test strategies: FAT/SAT, integrated testing, performance validation, resilience/failover tests, alarm response verification. - Support commissioning, resolve defects, verify as-built compliance, and produce handover documentation and training inputs. - Ensure operational readiness: SOPs input, maintenance regimes, spares, and configuration backups. 6) Stakeholder and supplier management - Specify and evaluate supplier solutions review technical submissions, RFIs, deviations and value engineering proposals. - Provide technical support to procurement and contract teams (scope clarity, acceptance criteria, warranties, support arrangements).Deliverables - User/Operational Requirements (input or authored sections) and System Requirements Specification - Security System Architecture and integration/interface control documents (ICDs) - Drawings: GA/device layouts, wiring diagrams, schematics, cabinet layouts, network diagrams - Schedules: equipment lists, I/O schedules, cable schedules, power/UPS calculations - Test documentation: FAT/SAT scripts, test evidence requirements, commissioning plans - As-built pack, O&M manuals review, training materials input, configuration baselinesSkills and competencies Technical - Strong electrical engineering fundamentals: power distribution, protection, earthing/bonding, cable design, fault finding principles. - Solid understanding of physical security technologies (ACS, IDS, VSS, perimeter detection) and integration patterns. - Knowledge of resilience engineering (redundancy, autonomy, graceful degradation, fail secure/fail-safe behaviour). - Competence in drawings and engineering documentation control (CAD and document management practices). - Familiarity with networking concepts relevant to ESS (IP addressing, VLANs, PoE budgets, bandwidth/storage sizing, time synchronisation).Experience (typical) - 3-8+ years in security systems engineering/design or related building services/controls with significant ESS exposure. - Experience delivering projects through full lifecycle: concept to handover. - Experience working under strict governance (design gates, audits, regulated change control) and within live operational sites.