Applied Methods
~The MetaSecurityPhysical Security

Physical Security

Physical Security professionals in AI companies monitor and protect critical infrastructure including data centers, corporate facilities, and supply chains that power AI compute and development. They operate security operations centers tracking access control, video surveillance, and intrusion detection systems; manage facility clearances and personnel security programs for regulated government contracts; design and oversee construction of secure facilities; and lead incident response and business continuity planning when threats materialize. These roles differ from IT security by focusing on threats to physical assets and personnel rather than information systems, and from facilities management by prioritizing security governance over operational efficiency. Physical Security teams typically sit within dedicated security organizations and work cross-functionally with real estate, operations, legal, and emergency response partners to ensure that the infrastructure underpinning AI development remains protected from theft, sabotage, unauthorized access, and disruption.

$ titles --canonical
Director, Global Physical SecurityData Center Security SpecialistSite Security ManagerLead, Data Center Physical Security OperationsRegional Supply Chain Security ManagerSupply Chain Security CoordinatorCrisis Management SpecialistVP, Global Physical & Data Center SecurityRisk Analyst, Corporate SecurityPhysical Security ManagerExecutive Protection Specialist
Open Jobs30
Companies Hiring11
$ expectations --role physical-security

Measured across 30 of 30 open postings.

7%
expect AI in the role's own work
0% state it as a requirement
10%
work directly with customers
23%
manage people
Senior
most common level
33% of open postings
BY LEVEL

This role is advertised at one level, so a single figure for the role would describe none of them. Experience and pay are the midpoints for each level on its own.

LevelShareMedian yearsMedian pay
Senior33%(10)——

A dash means too few postings stated it to report a midpoint at any level. Most companies do not publish a salary band, so pay is indicative rather than a market rate. 4 levels with fewer than 10 open postings are not shown.

WHAT THEY ASK FOR, VERBATIM

“Strong skills in AI tools and adapt quickly to the use of those tools to enhance efficiency and speed to delivery.”

Gong · Global Safety and Security Lead, Workplace and Facilities

“using automations and AI-assisted workflows to accelerate the pace of documentation updates”

Anthropic · Physical Security Design Lead and Contract Document Specialist
$ barriers
0%
advertised as remote
of postings that state a work mode
7%
state a degree requirement
27%
need a security clearance
75%
still advertised a month later
10 points faster than the board

Requirements are a share of every open posting, so a role missing from this list is one where almost nobody asks. Work mode is different: many postings never say, so that figure counts only the ones that do. A posting stops being advertised when it is filled, cancelled or reorganised, so read the last figure as how long these stay on the market, not as time to hire.

$02

Skills

What companies are looking for in this role.

$ skills --core

Physical security programs

80%

Compliance program management

37%

Incident response and forensics

37%

Security policy and standards

27%

Insider threat and personnel security

23%

Incident response and reliability

20%

Escalation and incident response

20%

Supplier and vendor management

20%

Security program strategy

20%

Technical issue diagnosis

13%

Security operations management

13%

Security risk management

13%

Process design and improvement

13%

Third-party risk management

10%

Program and project management

10%

Software supply chain security

10%
$ skills --soft

Technical communication

20%

Change management

17%

Technical documentation

17%

Technical team leadership and mentoring

17%
$03

Technology

The tools and technologies that define this role.

$ tech --platform
Linuxlow
PagerDutylow
$ tech --concept
NISPOMlow
$04

Open Jobs

30 open Physical Security jobs across 11 companies.

OpenAI2w
Corporate Security GSOC Operator
San Francisco·Security
Helsing2w
Mitarbeiter/in im internen Werk-und Objektschutz
Munich·Security
Helsing2w
Security Guard
Munich·Security
Palantir2w
Security Systems Engineer
Seattle, WA·Security
Nscale2w
Corporate Security Manager (Seattle)
Seattle·Security
Nebius2w
India Supply Chain Security Manager
India·Security
Nebius2w
APAC Supply Chain Security Manager
Singapore·Security
Anthropic3w
Security Technology Deployment Specialist
Remote-Friendly (Travel-Required) | San Francisco, CA | Seattle, WA | New York City, NY·Security
Anthropic3w
Lead, Data Center Security Delivery (Construction to Operations)
Remote-Friendly (Travel Required) | San Francisco, CA·Security
OpenAI1mo
Senior Special Programs Security Manager (CSSO/CPSO)
Washington, DC·Security
OpenAI1mo
Personnel Security Specialist
San Francisco·Security
CoreWeave1mo
GSOC Operator (WIDS)
Livingston, NJ·Security
Nebius1mo
Regional Supply Chain Security Manager (Taiwan)
Taiwan·Security
Cognition1mo
Facility Security Officer
Washington DC·Security
Nebius1mo
USA Regional Transportation Security Manager
United States·Security
CoreWeave1mo
Global Security Operations Center (GSOC) Operator
Livingston, NJ·Security
Waymo1mo
Lead, Resilience Governance
Mountain View, CA, USA; San Francisco, CA, USA; Tempe, AZ, USA·Security
Waymo1mo
Specialist, Incident Readiness
Mountain View, CA, USA; San Francisco, CA, USA; Tempe, AZ, USA·Security
Nscale1mo
Construction Security Senior Program Manager
Point Pleasant, WV·Security
Gong1mo
Global Safety and Security Lead, Workplace and Facilities
Austin | Chicago | New York City | Salt Lake City | San Francisco·Security