Network Security Engineer

Network Security Engineer Location: Annapolis, MD (Hybrid - 3 days onsite, 2 days remote) Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM EST Engagement Type: Direct W2 hourly or salaried applicants only (no corp-to-corp subcontractors, third parties, or agencies) Position Summary The Client is seeking an experienced Network Security Engineer to support the design, implementation, and operation of secure, scalable, and highly available enterprise network environments. This role will actively participate in planning, engineering, and maintaining 24x7 network security operations, with a strong focus on next-generation firewall technologies and secure networking best practices. SCOPE OF WORK Proactively identifying organization requirements, and helping to design, and engineer implementations that best serve the needs. Performing project-based engineering, design, installation and troubleshooting of data security networks. Providing assessment, design and implementation services of data and secure networking environments. Developing comprehensive graphical and text-based design documentation and effectively managing the implementation process from design to acceptance. Assisting internal groups through capacity planning, maintaining, monitoring and review of secure data communications networks. Leading migrations or assisting a team of engineers who will migrate traditional/legacy network security platforms to current/next generation technologies and expose customers to the full life cycle of defense in depth solutions. Assisting network engineers in troubleshooting critical problems or threat remediation relating to network security products. Working with the engineering team to successfully implement configuration guidelines, change management, and standard operating procedures for secure network solutions. Leading, scheduling, providing guidance and coordinating the activities with other team members to resolve end user problems in a timely and accurate fashion. Generating weekly status reports including project progress, key milestones, and tasks accomplished. Hosting weekly status meetings/calls with team or on as needed basis REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Associate degree (Information Technology related field preferred) Active certifications (required and must be required to provide copies): Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Administrator (PCNSA) or Palo Alto Networks Network Security Professional AND Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Enterprise or CCNA Security PREFERRED SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, & CAPABILITIES Ten (10) years of CONUS-based experience in IT networking and network security Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer (PCNSE), Next-Generation Firewall Engineer, or Network Security Analyst (must be required to provide copies) Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Enterprise or CCNP Security (must be required to provide copies) Security & Networking Experience 5 years of experience with Palo Alto Networks, including: Next-generation firewall services Intrusion Detection and Prevention Content filtering VPN solutions Data Loss Prevention TLS/SSL inspection 4 years of experience with complex Cisco switching, routing, and wireless environments 3 years of experience with reverse proxies and load balancing (A10 Networks) 2 years of experience with Network Access Control solutions, including: Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) FreeRADIUS Access Control Lists (ACLs) Additional Technical Experience Microsoft-based multi-factor authentication Cloud-based virtual networking and security services 802.1x authentication for wired and wireless networks Routing protocols: EIGRP, OSPF, and BGP Data center micro-segmentation Certificate management and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Vulnerability management tools (Nessus, NMAP) Windows, Unix, and Linux operating systems Packet and protocol analysis (Wireshark, Riverbed, Opnet, network taps) Centralized management tools (Panorama, SolarWinds) Professional Skills Ability to work independently and mentor junior engineers Strong verbal and written communication skills Experience creating technical diagrams, design documents, project plans, and user documentation Comfortable delivering presentations to technical and non-technical audiences INTERVIEW PROCESS Multi-part interview process including in-person and MS Teams