Sr Cybersecurity Engineer-PAF & Fortinet

Job Title

Sr Cybersecurity Engineer - PAF & Fortinet

Duration

6+ Months

Location

San Fransisco, CA (Hybrid)

Exp.

Level

10+ Years

Job Description

We are looking for an experienced Senior Cybersecurity Engineer specializing in Palo Alto Networks (PA) Firewalls and Fortinet Security Solutions to join our team on a contract basis. This role involves designing, deploying, managing, and optimizing advanced security infrastructure to ensure a resilient and secure network environment.

You will collaborate with IT, security, and operations teams to safeguard critical infrastructure and mitigate emerging threats while ensuring compliance with industry standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and manage Palo Alto (PA) firewalls, including Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) features like App-ID, User-ID, URL Filtering, and Threat Prevention.
• Configure and maintain Fortinet FortiGate firewalls, including advanced security features such as UTM, SD-WAN, and FortiAnalyzer.
• Document configurations, policies, and procedures for operational consistency.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams to deploy security best practices across the organization.
• Generate and review reports on security events, firewall performance, and policy compliance.
• Ensure security configurations comply with industry standards such as NIST, ISO 27001, and PCI-DSS.
• Leverage threat intelligence to enhance proactive defense mechanisms.
• Conduct security assessments, identify vulnerabilities, and implement remediation strategies.
• Configure and optimize remote access and site-to-site VPNs using Palo Alto and Fortinet solutions.
• Design secure network architectures, including segmentation, Zero Trust implementations, and VPN solutions.
• Perform periodic upgrades, patches, and maintenance of firewall devices.
• Optimize firewall rules, policies, and configurations for performance and security.
• Monitor and respond to network security alerts and incidents.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Technology, or equivalent work experience.
• Experience:
• 7+ years in network or cybersecurity engineering.
• Hands-on expertise with Palo Alto Networks firewalls (Panorama management, NGFW features, GlobalProtect VPN, etc.).
• Strong experience with Fortinet FortiGate firewalls and associated tools (FortiManager, FortiAnalyzer).
• Technical Expertise:
• Proficiency in configuring and optimizing security policies with PAF & Fortinet, VPNs, and IPS/IDS solutions.
• Strong knowledge of networking protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF, VLANs) and security standards.
• Experience with SIEM integration and log analysis.
• Certifications (Preferred):
• Palo Alto Networks certifications (e.g., PCNSA, PCNSE).
• Fortinet certifications (e.g., NSE4, NSE5, or higher).
• Additional certifications such as CISSP, CISM, or CEH are a plus.
• Other Skills:
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with cloud security in hybrid environments (e.g., AWS, Azure, or GCP).
• Automation and scripting knowledge (e.g., Python, Ansible) for managing and optimizing security tools.
• Familiarity with Zero Trust Network Architecture principles.