Job Description

IT Application Engineer – Physical Security Systems

OnGuard / Genetec Specialty

Position Summary

The IT Application Engineer – Physical Security Systems will be responsible for the deployment, upgrade, maintenance, and modernization of enterprise-level Physical Security Applications, with primary responsibility for Lenel OnGuard and increasing technical ownership of Genetec Security Center as the organization transitions toward a hybrid OnGuard / Genetec operating model over the next 3–4 years.

The role will support Access Control, Video Management, Visitor Management, Badge Management, Alarm Monitoring, and related identity and operational workflows while helping rationalize existing security applications into an integrated enterprise security platform.

This role ensures system integrity, scalability, cybersecurity compliance, and operational continuity, while collaborating with security operations, IT infrastructure, vendors, and business stakeholders to deliver secure, reliable, and supportable solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Deploy, upgrade, and sustain Lenel OnGuard and related physical security applications across global facilities while supporting planned transition activities into Genetec Security Center.
• Configure and maintain hybrid security system architecture across OnGuard and Genetec environments, including servers, databases, application services, clients, and third-party integrations.
• Provide hands-on engineering support for:
  • Access control
  • Alarm monitoring
  • Video management
  • Badge management
  • Visitor management
  • Related application components
• Document technical procedures, upgrade paths, hybrid-state architecture diagrams, migration dependencies, and operational runbooks for current OnGuard environments and emerging Genetec deployments.
• Collaborate with Security Operations, IT Infrastructure, Database, Networking, Identity, Cybersecurity, and Vendor teams to align deployments with enterprise standards and global security requirements.
• Perform system health checks, application troubleshooting, service validation, log reviews, and root-cause analysis to maintain high availability across mission-critical security platforms.
• Recommend and implement enhancements, process improvements, integration rationalization, and system optimizations that strengthen OnGuard stability while preparing capabilities for Genetec Security Center adoption.
• Support application rationalization planning by identifying legacy security functions that can be absorbed into Genetec suites such as Synergis, Omnicast, Mission Control, ClearID, Data Exporter, Operations Center, AutoVu, and Sipelia, where applicable.

Technical Skills

1. Lenel OnGuard Expertise

• Deep understanding of OnGuard architecture, including:
  • Communication Server
  • Application Server
  • SQL Database
  • OpenAccess API
  • DataConduIT
  • Alarm monitoring clients
  • System administration
  • Enterprise/multiregion support models
• Experience with OnGuard Version 8.2 or later, including enhanced web modules, OpenAccess RESTful API, cloud-readiness considerations, client packaging, and upgrade dependency planning.
• Ability to define and maintain:
  • Custom alarm priorities
  • Escalation paths
  • Event-to-action rules
  • Graphical maps
  • Operational workflows
• Configure and support:
  • Custom reports
  • Card formats
  • Badge types
  • Permission groups
  • Cardholder options
  • Segments
  • Access panels
  • Access level groups
  • Areas
  • Intrusion panels
  • Enterprise access-control objects
• Troubleshoot complex OnGuard issues across panels, COMM servers, services, databases, network paths, clients, integrations, and field-level security devices.

2. Genetec Security Center Expertise

• Working knowledge of Genetec Security Center architecture and the role of its integrated suites within a unified physical security ecosystem.
• Ability to support or develop hands-on configuration and administration skills in Synergis for access control, including alarms, access monitoring, and access-control hardware management.
• Ability to support Omnicast video management capabilities, including video monitoring, playback, and video analytics integrations.
• Foundational understanding of Mission Control for incident management, response orchestration, event correlation, and automated workflow design.
• Awareness of ClearID capabilities for physical identity, access-rights management, and visitor workflows.
• Familiarity with Data Exporter for data extraction feeds, analytics enablement, and external reporting/database integration.
• Awareness of Operations Center for operational task management, maintenance workflows, investigations, dispatch coordination, and Kanban-style tracking.
• Exposure to:
  • AutoVu license plate recognition
  • Vehicle tracking and alerts
  • Automated gate-control workflows
  • Sipelia SIP-based communications/intercom
  • Audio/video calls
  • Door-control use cases
• Support Genetec client ecosystem planning, including:
  • Security Desk
  • Web Client
  • Mobile Client
  • Mission Control add-ons

3. Database Management

• Proficiency in Microsoft SQL Server for:
  • Backup and restore
  • Query review
  • Performance analysis
  • Disaster recovery planning
• Ability to optimize SQL Server for performance and resiliency using enterprise patterns such as:
  • Mirroring
  • Always On Availability Groups
  • Maintenance jobs
  • Backup validation
• Support data-retention, reporting, and data-feed requirements across OnGuard and Genetec.
• Understand that source schemas and integration patterns may differ between platforms.

4. Operating Systems

• Strong knowledge of Windows Server environments, including:
  • IIS configuration
  • Service accounts
  • Certificate management
  • Scheduled tasks
  • Active Directory integration
• Experience supporting application clients, administrative tools, and server-side services in enterprise-managed environments.
• Experience with:
  • Application packaging
  • Patching
  • Controlled deployments
  • Enterprise application administration

5. Networking

• Familiarity with:
  • TCP/IP
  • VLANs
  • Routing
  • DNS
  • Load balancing
  • Firewall rules
  • Network segmentation
• Ability to troubleshoot connectivity across:
  • Application servers
  • Panels/controllers
  • Readers
  • Cameras
  • Intercoms
  • Clients
  • Cloud-hosted components
  • Vendor-managed systems
• Enforce TLS 1.2 or higher and partner with cybersecurity/infrastructure teams to maintain secure communication standards.

6. Integration Skills

• Implement and support DataConduIT and/or OpenAccess API integrations for real-time data exchange with HR, identity, reporting, and operational systems.
• Experience integrating:
  • Badge printers
  • Biometric devices
  • Handheld devices
  • Alarm panels
  • Access-control hardware
  • Related field devices
• Support integration planning for systems such as:
  • AlertEnterprise
  • Telaeris
  • Future Fibre Technologies
  • HID pivCLASS for TWIC
  • HID Fargo Connect
  • Other identity and access-control ecosystem components
• Partner with data engineering and reporting teams to support:
  • Normalized data feeds
  • Analytics
  • Power BI/reporting requirements
  • Dual-system data strategies during migration from OnGuard to Genetec

Leadership & Soft Skills

• Ability to plan and lead global deployment, upgrade, stabilization, and migration activities while managing timelines, dependencies, risks, and stakeholder expectations.
• Ability to translate complex technical information into business-friendly language for leadership, security operations, and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills for diagnosing complex system issues under pressure, leading root-cause analysis, and driving sustainable corrective actions.
• Ability to work effectively with Security, IT Infrastructure, Database, Networking, Cybersecurity, Vendors, and Business stakeholders across multiple regions and time zones.
• Demonstrated ability to operate as a hands-on technical SME while contributing to:
  • Solution architecture
  • Roadmap planning
  • Solution design
  • Modernization strategy
• Drive innovation by recommending system enhancements, simplification opportunities, process optimizations, and application rationalization paths that reduce operational risk and improve supportability.

Other Qualifications

• Lenel Certified Professional (LCP) or Lenel Certified Expert (LCE) preferred.
• Genetec Security Center certification or demonstrated hands-on Genetec experience preferred, particularly across:
  • Synergis
  • Omnicast
  • Mission Control
  • ClearID
  • Security Desk
• Experience hosting security solutions in cloud or hybrid environments, including Azure or comparable enterprise platforms, while maintaining performance, latency, cybersecurity, and availability requirements.
• Experience supporting enterprise physical security environments involving:
  • Access control
  • Video management
  • Alarm monitoring
  • Visitor/access workflows
  • Integrations
  • Reporting
  • Vendor coordination
• Ability to support a hybrid OnGuard and Genetec environment throughout the transition, including:
  • Knowledge transfer
  • Technical documentation
  • Stabilization
  • Migration planning
  • Operational readiness