Job brief
We are seeking a highly skilled Security Systems Technician to join our infrastructure and public safety team and oversee our comprehensive physical security ecosystem. In this role, you will lead the implementation and maintenance of advanced surveillance and access control platforms, ensuring 99.9% system uptime across all critical sites. You will partner with our cybersecurity and operations teams to harden our physical footprint against evolving threats. If you possess a sharp technical mind and a commitment to safeguarding organizational assets, we invite you to help us build a more secure future.
Key highlights
- Configure and maintain enterprise-grade access control systems, including badge readers, biometric scanners, and electrified locking hardware for multi-site operations.
- Perform preventative maintenance and complex repairs on IP-based CCTV cameras, NVRs, and digital video management software to ensure 24/7 monitoring capabilities.
- Design and execute system-wide risk assessments to identify hardware vulnerabilities and optimize camera coverage for maximum threat detection and situational awareness.
- Audit system access logs and physical audit trails to investigate potential security breaches, fraud, or internal policy violations, providing detailed reports to leadership.
What is a Security Systems Technician?
A Security Systems Technician is a specialized technical professional responsible for the installation, maintenance, and optimization of integrated security systems. By leveraging expertise in IP-based video surveillance (CCTV), biometric access control, and intrusion detection software, a Security Systems Technician ensures the physical integrity of facilities. Their work acts as the backbone of organizational safety, directly influencing the efficacy of emergency response and the protection of high-value physical and digital assets.
What does a Security Systems Technician do?
A Security Systems Technician manages the daily operational health of security hardware by performing system diagnostics, troubleshooting network connectivity issues, and executing firmware updates across integrated platforms like LenelS2, Genetec, or Avigilon. They interact daily with facility managers and IT departments to align security hardware deployments with safety policies, while documenting incident reports and system performance metrics. Their deliverables include secure system configurations, comprehensive physical risk audit reports, and fully optimized security architecture that prevents unauthorized entry.
Key responsibilities
- Configure and maintain enterprise-grade access control systems, including badge readers, biometric scanners, and electrified locking hardware for multi-site operations.
- Perform preventative maintenance and complex repairs on IP-based CCTV cameras, NVRs, and digital video management software to ensure 24/7 monitoring capabilities.
- Design and execute system-wide risk assessments to identify hardware vulnerabilities and optimize camera coverage for maximum threat detection and situational awareness.
- Collaborate with network engineers to secure system communication pathways, ensuring firewalls and VLANs strictly isolate security traffic from operational networks.
- Develop and manage standard operating procedures for rapid incident response, system recovery, and failover testing to maintain continuous site security integrity.
- Train facility staff and regional security personnel on the proper operation of hardware interfaces, emergency lockdown procedures, and security awareness protocols.
- Audit system access logs and physical audit trails to investigate potential security breaches, fraud, or internal policy violations, providing detailed reports to leadership.
- Coordinate with third-party vendors and contractors to oversee large-scale security hardware installation projects, ensuring strict adherence to project timelines and safety codes.
Requirements and skills
- 3+ years of professional experience as a Security Systems Technician, specifically managing enterprise-grade VMS and PACS platforms like Genetec, Milestone, or LenelS2.
- Advanced technical proficiency in low-voltage electrical systems, including cabling, circuitry troubleshooting, and the use of digital multimeters and network testers.
- In-depth knowledge of TCP/IP networking, subnetting, and switch configuration to support complex, high-definition camera arrays and secure server communications.
- Possession of industry-recognized certifications such as ASIS Physical Security Professional (PSP) or manufacturer-specific certifications (e.g., Genetec Certified Specialist).
- Expertise in interpreting blueprints, technical schematics, and floor plans to facilitate precise hardware placement and system design optimization.
- Deep understanding of safety compliance standards such as NFPA 101 Life Safety Code and local fire department egress requirements for electronic security locks.
- Proven ability to translate complex technical system alerts into clear, actionable briefings for non-technical stakeholders and law enforcement agencies during emergencies.
- Strong analytical capability to identify patterns in system failures or security anomalies, utilizing data-driven insights to recommend system upgrades or process changes.
FAQs
What does a Security Systems Technician do on a daily basis?
A Security Systems Technician is responsible for the technical health of a facility's security infrastructure. Daily tasks include troubleshooting connectivity issues between cameras and servers, patching software vulnerabilities in access control databases, and testing peripheral hardware like motion sensors and electronic strikes. They also conduct routine health checks on NVRs and video storage arrays to ensure data continuity for investigations.
What skills are required to become a Security Systems Technician?
To excel in this role, you need a blend of low-voltage electrical knowledge and IT networking skills. Core competencies include expertise in IP networking, proficiency with software like Milestone or Genetec, and the ability to interpret technical wiring diagrams. Soft skills such as analytical problem-solving and the ability to remain composed while coordinating system restorations during high-pressure security incidents are also essential.
How does a Security Systems Technician support law enforcement?
A Security Systems Technician supports law enforcement by providing reliable, high-quality forensic evidence through properly maintained surveillance and access logs. By ensuring that cameras are positioned correctly and video data is stored in a retrievable format, they allow law enforcement to conduct investigations more effectively. During critical incidents, they may also provide real-time remote access to designated law enforcement liaisons to assist in site navigation.
Why is the role of a Security Systems Technician important?
This role is critical because it bridges the gap between physical safety and technological execution. Without a skilled Security Systems Technician, organizations risk system failures that leave facilities blind to intrusions or prevent emergency egress during fire events. By maintaining reliable infrastructure, they protect not only physical assets and data but also ensure the safety of everyone entering the building.