Network Security Engineer (Palo Alto) - Atlanta, GA/ Chicago, IL

We are seeking a hands-on Network Security Engineer to design, implement, and support enterprise network security infrastructure. The ideal candidate will have strong experience with Palo Alto firewalls, Cisco routing & switching, VPN technologies, and SD-WAN in multi-site environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and manage network security solutions using Palo Alto Firewalls (PAN-OS)
• Configure and support GlobalProtect VPN for secure remote connectivity
• Manage and troubleshoot Cisco LAN switching and routing (VLANs, STP, OSPF, BGP, EIGRP)
• Monitor, analyze, and respond to network security incidents
• Implement and maintain firewall policies, NAT rules, and security profiles
• Support SD-WAN deployments, monitoring, and troubleshooting
• Implement network segmentation and support EOL switch replacements
• Perform network performance tuning, capacity planning, and optimization
• Ensure compliance with security standards and best practices
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on network upgrades and migrations
• Maintain accurate network documentation and diagrams

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor s degree (any discipline)
• Strong hands-on experience with Palo Alto Firewalls
• Expertise in GlobalProtect VPN configuration and support
• Solid knowledge of Cisco switching and routing
• Experience with LAN technologies (VLANs, trunking, STP)
• Understanding of routing protocols (OSPF, BGP, EIGRP)
• Familiarity with SD-WAN technologies
• Experience with network monitoring and troubleshooting tools
• Strong understanding of network security principles and best practices

Preferred Qualifications

• Palo Alto certifications (PCNSA / PCNSE)
• Cisco certifications (CCNA / CCNP)
• Experience supporting enterprise or multi-site environments
• Exposure to cloud networking (AWS or Azure) is a plus