Job#: 3029249 Job Description: We are hiring a Cyber Security Engineer!Role: Zero Trust Security Engineer
Supporting: Large Financial Services Client
Location: Pensacola, FL or McLean, VA (Hybrid)
Assignment Type: Contract Only
Duration: Approximately 18 months
Role OverviewThe Zero Trust CyberSecurity Engineer is an execution-focused security professional responsible for turning Zero Trust designs into fully enforced, auditable security controls. This role serves as the single point of accountability for implementing firewall and security rules across enterprise environments, ensuring access is granted correctly, unauthorized traffic is blocked, and every change is verifiable.
This is an ideal opportunity for engineers who enjoy hands-on firewall work, cross-team coordination, and delivering clean, right-the-first-time security implementations.
Key Responsibilities- Translate Zero Trust analysis and requirements into formal firewall and security rule requests
- Submit detailed, production-ready requests defining:
- Source users, groups, roles, or identities
- Destination applications, services, and addresses
- Required ports, protocols, and application IDs
- Ensure all requests meet firewall engineering standards and contain complete technical details
- Act as the primary liaison between Zero Trust, IAM, firewall engineering, and application teams
- Track firewall requests from submission through implementation and closure
- Validate that implemented rules exactly match approved Zero Trust requirements
- Perform post-implementation testing to confirm:
- Authorized access works as expected
- Unauthorized access is fully blocked
- Identify and remediate misconfigurations, partial implementations, or policy drift
- Ensure rules are properly documented, tagged, and traceable for audit and compliance
- Maintain implementation records and support ongoing rule lifecycle refinement
Qualifications- Hands-on experience with enterprise firewalls (Palo Alto strongly preferred)
- Strong understanding of user-based and application-aware firewall policies
- Experience submitting, managing, and validating firewall rule requests in enterprise environments
- Ability to troubleshoot access issues and confirm enforcement accuracy
- Strong communication and coordination skills across technical teams
Preferred
- Experience implementing Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) solutions
- Familiarity with IAM concepts, Entra ID / AD groups, and RBAC models
- Experience integrating firewall rules with application onboarding frameworks
- Knowledge of audit, compliance, and security reporting requirements
Compensation and Benefits: The pay rate for this position is between $60.00 and $73.00 per hour. Please note that the final rate may be contingent on experience and other factors.
This employer is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
Apex uses a virtual recruiter as part of the application process. Click for more details.
If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation in using our website for a search or application, please contact our Benefits Department at or .
Apex Systems is a world-class IT services company that serves thousands of clients across the globe. When you join Apex, you become part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. We offer quality career resources, training, certifications, development opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in many awards, including ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing in Talent Satisfaction in the United States and Great Place to Work in the United Kingdom and Mexico. Apex uses a virtual recruiter as part of the application process. Click for more details.
Apex Benefits Overview: Apex offers a range of supplemental benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance plans that offer an optional layer of financial protection. We offer an ESPP (employee stock purchase program) and a 401K program which allows you to contribute typically within 30 days of starting, with a company match after 12 months of tenure. Apex also offers a HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan), a SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions, a corporate discount savings program and other discounts. In terms of professional development, Apex hosts an on-demand training program, provides access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure, and certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA. Apex has a dedicated customer service team for our Consultants that can address questions around benefits and other resources, as well as a certified Career Coach. You can access a full list of our benefits, programs, support teams and resources within our 'Welcome Packet' as well, which an Apex team member can provide.
Never miss an opportunity! Create an alert based on the job you applied for.
