Security Engineer Jobs in Tennessee
Security Engineer jobs in Tennessee concentrate in defense contracting, financial services, and healthcare IT, with demand running from entry-level analysts stepping into security roles to senior architects leading enterprise programs. Nashville, Knoxville, and the greater Memphis corridor are the state's primary hiring centers, where employers like HCA Healthcare, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and FedEx maintain large, ongoing security operations. The most in-demand specialties are cloud security, identity and access management, and compliance-focused security engineering tied to HIPAA and federal frameworks. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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INTRODUCTION
In this role, you will design, integrate, and support enterprise physical security systems protecting people, facilities, data centers, and critical assets. Technologies include access control, video management, biometric authentication, cabinet security, and electronic key and asset management.
This senior individual-contributor role requires expertise across physical security applications, databases, servers, and networks. You will work with Lenel Access Control, Alcatraz AI, Digitus, Traka, Milestone, and related technologies throughout their design, deployment, operation, and lifecycle.
You will partner with Physical Security, IT, Cybersecurity, Facilities, Data Center Operations, project teams, and vendors to deliver secure, scalable, and reliable solutions.
Responsibilities
- Design and engineer enterprise access control, video surveillance, biometric authentication, cabinet security, and key-management solutions.
- Administer and integrate Lenel Access Control, Alcatraz AI, Digitus, Traka, Milestone, and associated infrastructure.
- Develop architecture, technical standards, specifications, and implementation plans for installations, upgrades, and system modernization.
- Lead technical work from requirements and design through testing, commissioning, and production support.
- Integrate physical security platforms with identity systems, directories, databases, networks, APIs, and monitoring tools.
- Use SQL queries to analyze data, validate system behavior, support integrations, and troubleshoot issues.
- Apply knowledge of TCP/IP, VLANs, DNS, DHCP, routing, switching, firewalls, ports, protocols, and network segmentation.
- Use approved AI tools, including ChatGPT and Codex, for research, analysis, documentation, scripting, automation, and troubleshooting.
- Verify AI-generated work for accuracy, security, privacy, and compliance before use.
- Troubleshoot complex issues across applications, servers, databases, networks, integrations, controllers, cameras, readers, and biometric devices.
- Partner with IT and Cybersecurity teams on network segmentation, system hardening, patching, monitoring, and vulnerability management.
- Evaluate new technologies through technical assessments, proof-of-concept testing, and risk analysis.
- Produce and maintain architecture diagrams, configurations, operating procedures, deployment guides, and support documentation.
- Provide technical oversight to vendors and integrators and review designs, proposals, and completed work.
- Lead technical incident response, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions.
- Serve as a senior escalation point and mentor engineers, analysts, and operational teams.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Five or more years of experience designing, implementing, or supporting enterprise physical security systems or comparable integrated technologies.
- Hands-on experience with access control, video management, biometric security, cabinet security, or electronic key management.
- Experience with Lenel Access Control and one or more of the following: Alcatraz AI, Digitus, Traka, or Milestone.
- Ability to use SQL queries for data analysis, integrations, and troubleshooting.
- Strong understanding of enterprise IP networking, including TCP/IP, VLANs, DNS, DHCP, routing, switching, firewalls, and network segmentation.
- Working knowledge of Windows servers, databases, virtualization, APIs, authentication, certificates, and enterprise integrations.
- Ability to use ChatGPT, Codex, or similar AI tools productively while protecting confidential information and validating outputs.
- Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex issues spanning applications, databases, servers, networks, integrations, and field devices.
- Experience developing technical designs, standards, implementation plans, and operational documentation.
- Ability to independently lead complex technical initiatives and influence decisions across teams.
- Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- LenelS2 OnGuard certification or equivalent access-control platform training.
- Milestone Certified Integration Technician, Milestone Certified Integration Engineer, or comparable certification.
- Manufacturer-authorized training for Alcatraz AI, Digitus, Traka, or other relevant platforms.
- ASIS Physical Security Professional or another recognized physical security credential.
- Cisco CCNA or equivalent networking knowledge.
- Experience integrating physical security systems with identity, HR, directory, visitor-management, or monitoring platforms.
- Experience with APIs, scripting, automation, SQL, and AI-assisted engineering tools.
- Knowledge of cybersecurity and lifecycle-management practices for physical security systems.
- Experience supporting geographically distributed, datacenter, high-availability, or mission-critical environments.
See All 16 Security Engineer Jobs in Tennessee
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Find Security Engineer JobsSecurity Engineer Jobs by City in Tennessee
Where Tennessee roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Security Engineer Job Market in Tennessee
A snapshot from current Tennessee openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Media & Entertainment
- Electronics & Hardware
- Construction & Real Estate
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Tennessee Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in security engineer jobs across Tennessee.
- Security certifications such as CISSP, CompTIA Security+, or CEH are consistently required
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, information security, or a closely related field
- Hands-on experience with SIEM platforms, firewalls, and endpoint detection tools
- Familiarity with NIST, HIPAA, or FedRAMP compliance frameworks common in Tennessee industries
- Experience securing cloud environments on AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud
- Active or obtainable DoD security clearance required for defense and federal contractor roles
Security Engineer Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a security engineer in Tennessee?
Start with a bachelor's degree in computer science, cybersecurity, or information technology, then pursue widely recognized certifications such as CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or Certified Ethical Hacker. Tennessee has no state-issued license specific to security engineering, so credentials and hands-on experience carry the most weight. Many Tennessee employers, particularly in healthcare IT and defense contracting, value candidates who can demonstrate familiarity with HIPAA compliance frameworks or federal security standards from the outset.
How much do security engineers make in Tennessee?
Security engineers in Tennessee earn a median of about $76,470 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $45,870 for the lowest 10% to over $129,430 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire security engineers in Tennessee?
Companies currently hiring security engineers in Tennessee include CVS Health, Boston Government Services, and Oracle, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Tennessee's mix of major healthcare systems, federal research institutions, and financial services firms creates consistent demand for security engineers across a range of specialties and seniority levels.
Which Tennessee cities have the most security engineer jobs?
Nashville, Oak Ridge, and Bartlett lead Tennessee for security engineer openings. Nashville drives the largest share of listings through its concentration of healthcare headquarters, financial services firms, and technology companies, while Knoxville and Oak Ridge benefit from proximity to federal research institutions and defense contractors that require specialized security expertise.
Are there remote security engineer jobs in Tennessee?
Yes, and more than most technical fields. About 50% of security engineer openings tied to Tennessee are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting how much of the work involves monitoring dashboards, configuring cloud-based tools, and reviewing policies rather than physical presence. Roles tied to federal clearances or on-site infrastructure management are the most likely to require in-person work.
How can I get hired as a security engineer in Tennessee with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is starting as a security analyst or IT support technician and building toward a security engineer title through certification and project exposure. Large Tennessee healthcare employers like HCA Healthcare and Vanderbilt University Medical Center hire junior security and IT compliance associates, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory offers research associate programs for candidates with relevant academic backgrounds. Earning CompTIA Security+ and contributing to a personal or open-source security project gives early-career candidates a concrete edge in Tennessee interviews.
Where can I find and apply to security engineer jobs in Tennessee?
You can find and apply to security engineer jobs in Tennessee on Migrate Mate, which lists current Tennessee openings across industries including healthcare, defense, and financial services. Find roles that fit your experience and location and apply directly from each listing.
See All 16 Security Engineer Jobs in Tennessee
Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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