Senior Network Security Engineer Palo Alto Focus

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance

Employment Type:

Long-Term Contract (Up to Five Years)

Work Schedule:

Full-Time, 40 Hours per Week

Work Location:

Hybrid (Three Days Onsite in Annapolis, Maryland; Two Days Remote)
Residency Requirement:
Maryland or Northern Virginia or within 4 hours from Maryland

We are seeking a Senior Network Security Engineer with deep expertise in Palo Alto Networks technologies to support a large, highly regulated public sector environment. This role requires hands‑on technical leadership, strong documentation skills, and the ability to operate in a mission‑critical, 24x7 enterprise network.

• Minimum of eight (8) years of experience in network security engineering
• Active Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Administrator (PCNSA) certification
• Active Cisco CCNA Enterprise or CCNA Security certification
• Associate degree or higher in Information Technology or a related field
• Hands‑on experience with Palo Alto Next‑Generation Firewalls
• Experience with SSL/TLS inspection, VPN technologies, and intrusion prevention systems
• Ability to report onsite in Annapolis, Maryland within four (4) hours when required
• Authorized to work in the United States (no sponsorship available)

• Ten (10) or more years of total enterprise networking and security experience
• Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer (PCNSE) certification
• Cisco CCNP Security or CCNP Enterprise certification
  
  Experience supporting state or federal government environments
• Experience working in highly regulated or security-sensitive environments
• Knowledge of Cisco routing and switching, Network Access Control (ISE/RADIUS), and vulnerability management tools

• Design, implement, and support secure enterprise network architectures
• Configure, optimize, and maintain Palo Alto firewall environments
• Lead or support migrations from legacy security platforms to next‑generation solutions
• Troubleshoot complex network and security issues
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, diagrams, and procedures
• Collaborate with infrastructure, security, and operations teams
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior engineers
• Prepare weekly status reports and participate in stakeholder meetings

• Standard business hours:
  Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Eastern Time
• Flexibility to support after‑hours work as required
• No remote work outside of the United States
• Strict adherence to security, confidentiality, and data‑handling policies

This role offers long‑term stability, a mature Palo Alto security environment, a hybrid work schedule after onboarding, and the opportunity to serve as a trusted senior engineer within a mission‑critical public sector organization.