Palo Alto Firewall Sr. Engineer

About Beacon Systems, Inc

Beacon Systems, Inc, delivers Program Management, Science, Engineering, and Technology Solutions to Federal, Commercial, State, and Local Agencies. We are a subsidiary of Radiant Digital Solutions. Our Technology support to many DoD Agencies, NASA, Voice of America, FDA, and State Agencies such as State of FL, RI, MS, ND, VA, and WV extends our delivery of solutions worldwide.

Position: Palo Alto Firewall Sr. Engineer

Duration: 6 Months plus

Location: Hybrid - St Paul, MN (hybrid position; 1-2 days onsite and 3-4 days remote)

Job Description

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Palo Alto Firewall Engineer to join our team. This role is critical in ensuring the security, reliability, and performance of our enterprise network infrastructure. The ideal candidate will have extensive expertise in configuring, managing, and optimizing Palo Alto Networks technologies, including Strata Cloud Manager, Prisma Access, GlobalProtect, Panorama, and Palo Alto's SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) solutions. This position requires a professional who can work effectively in both on-premises and cloud-based environments, ensuring seamless integration and robust security across all platforms.

What you would do in this job

Firewall Management and Configuration:

• Deploy, configure, and manage Palo Alto firewalls across on-premises and cloud environments.
• Implement and maintain security policies, access controls, and NAT rules to meet organizational requirements.
• Optimize firewall performance and ensure high availability.

Cloud Security and SASE Solutions:

• Administer and manage Palo Alto's Prisma Access for secure remote access solutions.
• Utilize Strata Cloud Manager to monitor and manage distributed firewalls.
• Implement and support Palo Alto's SASE products to ensure secure access for users across hybrid environments.

Network Security Monitoring and Troubleshooting:

• Monitor network traffic for anomalies using Panorama and other tools to ensure proactive threat detection.
• Troubleshoot complex network security issues, including VPNs (GlobalProtect), connectivity problems, and policy conflicts.
• Perform regular audits of firewall configuration to ensure compliance with security standards.

Automation and Optimization:

• Develop scripts or use automation tools to streamline firewall management tasks (e.g. policy updates, log analysis).C
• Identify opportunities for process improvements to enhance operational efficiency.

Collaboration and Documentation:

• Work closely with cross-functional teams to design secure network architectures that align with business goals.
• Maintain detailed technical documentation, including network diagrams, change logs, and SOPs.

What education and experience are required for this job (minimum qualifications)

Any of the following combinations of education (in computer information technology, cyber security, computer forensics, computer science, or closely related field) and experience managing Palo Alto Networks technologies and working with cloud environments and their integration with Palo Alto solutions:

• Experience managing Palo Alto Networks technologies should include Strata Cloud Manager, Prisma Access, Global Protect VPN solutions, Panorama centralized management platform, and Palo Alto SASE products (e.g. Prisma SD-WAN).

Desired Qualifications

• Strong understanding of network security concepts such as firewalls, VPNs, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), and zero-trust architectures.
• Experience configuring advanced features like App-ID, User-ID, Threat Prevention, URL Filtering, WildFire, and SSL decryption.
• Hands-on experience in large-scale enterprise environments with complex network infrastructures.
• Familiarity with scripting languages (e.g., Python) or automation tools for managing firewalls at scale.
• Experience with third-party SIEM tools for log analysis and incident response integration.
• Experience, or knowledge of, compliance frameworks such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, or ISO 27001 as they relate to network security.
• Exposure to SD-WAN technologies or other advanced networking solutions.
• Relevant certifications such as Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Administrator (PCNSA) or Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer (PCNSE).
• Experience working and collaborating in a diverse, multi-cultural, and inclusive environment.

Desired Specifications:

• Firewall Management - Experience managing advanced features of Palo Alto Firewalls, Panorama, and the tools in the AI Security Bundle
• Work knowledge - High attention to detail with a commitment to maintaining accurate documentation and adhering to change management processes
• Productivity Tools - Proficiency with documentation and content development tools, i.e. Visio (or equivalent), and the M365 Office suite of tools such as Word, Excel, etc.
• Communications Requirements - Communicate complex technical information clearly and concisely to diverse audiences through well-structured documentation, ensuring accuracy, usability, and consistency across all formats.

Compensation

Compensation for roles at Beacon Systems Inc depending on a wide array of factors including, but not limited to, the specific office location, role, skill set, and level of experience.