IT Specialist-Senior/Network Engineer – Firewall 

PlanIT Group is seeking an IT Specialist-Senior/Network Engineer – Firewall to support our Federal customer in the Washington, DC area. The ideal candidate will be responsible for designing, configuring, implementing, and troubleshooting firewalls to protect IT systems from unauthorized access, attacks, and other security threats. Knowledge of networking protocols and security policies, as well as experience with firewalls such as Check Point, Juniper, Fortigate, and Cisco ASA. Our client is seeking a Senior resource who is experienced with firewall operations, management processes and leading practices.

Job Title: IT Specialist-Senior/Network Engineer – Firewall
Location: Raleigh, NC
Start Date: 03/10/25
Duration: One year plus annual extensions

IT Specialist-Senior/Network Engineer – Firewall
Location: Raleigh, NC

Description:
The Firewall Engineer will be responsible for designing, configuring, implementing, and troubleshooting firewalls to protect IT systems from unauthorized access, attacks, and other security threats. Knowledge of networking protocols and security policies, as well as experience with firewalls such as Check Point, Juniper, Fortigate, and Cisco ASA. Our client is seeking a Senior resource who are experienced with firewall operations, management processes and leading practices.

Note: Resource must be available to work onsite, willing to work on-call and weekends (will get called) at client facility in Raleigh, NC. With up to 2 days telecommute

Required Skills:
Design and configure firewalls to protect IT systems and networks from external and internal threats
Implement and enforce security policies and procedures to ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations
Monitor network traffic and security logs to identify potential security threats and vulnerabilities
Collaborate with other IT teams to ensure the secure integration and operation of all IT systems and applications
Participate in incident management and response activities to contain and address security incidents
Conduct periodic security assessments to identify and address security gaps and risks
Provide technical guidance and support to other IT teams as needed

Desired Skills:
Expertise in configuring, managing, and troubleshooting firewalls and related security technologies such as VPNs, IDS/IPS, web application firewalls, etc. Experience and knowledge of firewall platforms such as Check Point, Juniper, and Cisco ASA would be an added advantage.
Knowledge in TUFIN Firewall management tool.
Solid understanding of networking protocols such as TCP/IP, VPN, VLAN, ACL, and DNS, with the ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues related to network connectivity.
Deep understanding of security threats, vulnerabilities, and attacks, and should be familiar with security concepts such as risk management, access control, network segmentation, and security policy enforcement.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills that will enable them to quickly identify and resolve complex security issues, such as DDoS attacks, malware infections, or network breaches.
Certifications such as CISSP, CCNA, and CCNP in networking or security disciplines would be an added advantage.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams comprising of network engineers, security analysts, system administrators, and business stakeholders.
Experience with network firewalls and rule configuration for Cisco devices and Tufin/BlueCat
Good communication skills in dealing with Telecommunications engineers and business owners
Consult with other members of the project team and develop requirements documentation
Review firewall rule sets and log analysis for inefficient, unneeded, and unapproved rules Research problems and recommend solutions to improve firewall security
Support a nationwide implementation of firewalls (Validate, test, and manage firewall rules)\
Familiarity with network discovery tools (e.g. RedSeal)
Experience with ServiceNow Change/Incident/Problem management (Work incident tickets and bridges)
Experience in IPAM
Experience with NetScaler
Knowledge of NCRB requests/submissions
Excellent Network skills

Requirements:
3-5 years of experience in firewall engineering and network security
Extensive knowledge of networking protocols and security policies
Experience with firewall platforms such as Palo Alto Networks, Check Point, and Cisco ASA
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Excellent communication and collaboration skills

Certifications:
Professional certifications such as CISSP, CCNA, and CCNP are a plus

Education:
8+ years of professional experience and a Bachelor of Arts/Science or equivalent degree in computer science or related area of study.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Demonstrate strong knowledge in at least three major technology areas.
• Technical expertise is sought after and provided to several projects/accounts.
• Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of assigned technology and discipline area.
• Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of corporate organization and policies.
• Advanced level business, technical, or functional knowledge.

Additional Provisions:
• Must be able to obtain a Public Trust Clearance
• Pass both a client mandated clearance process to include drug screening, criminal history check and credit check.
• All candidates must be a US Citizen or US Permanent Resident.
• Candidate must have lived in the United States for the past 5 years.
• Cannot have more than 6 months travel outside the United States within the last five years. Military Service excluded. (Exception does not include military family members.)
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