Palo Alto SME

Role: Cisco/ Palo Alto SME

Rate: $80/hr. C2C

Location: Arlington VA (Hybrid)

Visa: Citizen & green card only

Duration: 3 month

Palo Alto subject matter expert with extensive hands-on experience in firewall security, network infrastructure, and automation to lead and support our enterprise network security operations. The ideal candidate will have expertise in Palo Alto Networks security solutions, with additional experience in Cisco Nexus, Catalyst, ASR, ASA, and ISR platforms. The role requires a deep understanding of cloud environments (AWS, Azure), network security, automation (Terraform, Ansible), and Agile/DevOps methodologies.

Key Responsibilities:

· Design, implement, and manage Palo Alto Networks firewalls and security solutions, ensuring optimal security posture and performance.

· Support and troubleshoot Cisco networking infrastructure, including Nexus, Catalyst, ASR, ASA, and ISR platforms.

· Develop and deploy network security policies, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and VPN solutions.

· Enhance automation and orchestration using Terraform, Ansible, and Python to improve efficiency and scalability.

· Collaborate with cloud teams to integrate security solutions within AWS and Azure environments.

· Ensure compliance with security best practices, industry standards, and regulatory requirements.

· Work in Agile and DevOps environments, participating in Scrum meetings, CI/CD processes, and iterative development cycles.

· Monitor, analyze, and respond to security incidents, ensuring robust threat detection and response capabilities.

· Provide mentorship and training to junior engineers and cross-functional teams.

· Stay current on emerging threats, technologies, and best practices to continuously improve security strategies.

Required Qualifications:
Cisco Secure Client product experience is a must have. I updated the attached JD to include
5 years of hands-on experience with Palo Alto Networks firewalls and security solutions.

· Strong understanding of Cisco networking technologies, including Nexus, Catalyst, ASR, ASA, and ISR.

· Expertise in physical network infrastructure and security concepts such as firewalls, IDS/IPS, segmentation, and zero trust architectures.

· Proficiency with cloud security in AWS and/or Azure, including security group policies, IAM, and compliance frameworks.

· Experience with infrastructure automation using Terraform, Ansible, and Python.

· Familiarity with Agile, Scrum, and DevOps methodologies, including CI/CD pipelines.

· Strong troubleshooting skills in complex, high-performance network environments.

Preferred Qualifications:

· Cisco CCNP and/or Palo Alto PCNSA certification or commensurate skills.

· Palo Alto PCNSE or Cisco CCIE certification highly preferred.

· Azure or AWS-related certifications (AWS Certified Security, Azure Security Engineer, etc.).

· Experience in high-security environments such as finance, healthcare, or government sectors.

Knowledge of SIEM tools, threat intelligence platforms, and incident response frameworks