Security Architect III

Description:
We are looking for an experienced Security Architect to join our team.

We are looking for someone with prior experience working in law enforcement, government, or public safety IT environments and familiarity with CJIS, NIST, FedRAMP, or state compliance frameworks.

Location: 100% onsite in California

Pay: $75 - $85 an hour W2

This is a contract-to-hire opportunity. Applicants must be willing and able to work on a W2 basis and convert to FTE following contract duration. For our W2 consultants, we offer a great benefits package that includes Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits, 401k with company matching, and life insurance.

Responsibilities:
Key Responsibilities

1. Implementation, Operations & Support

a. Serve as the hands-on lead engineer for network deployment, upgrades, and incident response.

b. Configure and manage Cisco switches, routers, firewalls, WLCs, and wireless endpoints.

c. Design and manage VPNs, QoS, ACLs, network monitoring, and logging systems (SolarWinds, NetFlow, SNMP).

d. Act as the Level 4 escalation point for complex network issues and performance tuning.

2. Security, Compliance & Audit Readiness

a. Enforce network security controls aligned with CJIS, NIST, and department policy.

b. Implement and maintain firewall rulesets, NAC solutions (e.g., Cisco ISE), and endpoint access policies.

c. Support the cybersecurity team in incident detection, forensic analysis, and mitigation strategies.

d. Provide documentation and evidence for security audits and compliance reviews.

3. SME Leadership & Staff Development

a. Serve as the department's Subject Matter Expert (SME) on enterprise networking, guiding decisions across IT, public safety systems, and operations.

b. Train, coach, and mentor internal IT staff, including junior and mid-level network technicians.

c. Lead structured knowledge transfer sessions, hands-on training, and real-time coaching during support and implementation activities.

d. Create SOPs, how-to guides, and step-by-step documentation tailored for ongoing use by internal staff.

e. Support staff in preparation for certification paths (e.g., CCNA/CCNP) if desired.

Experience Requirements:
a. 10+ years of enterprise network security and engineering experience.

b. Extensive experience designing and managing Cisco-based network environments, including:

i. Palo Alto Panorama, Palo Alto Cortex EDR Palo Alto Cortex XSOAR Palo Alto Prisma Cloud Service Palo Alto NGFW

ii. Cisco ASA, Firepower/FTD firewalls

iii. Cisco Catalyst, Nexus, ISR/ASR

iv. Cisco ISE, AnyConnect, VPN solutions

v. Routing protocols: OSPF, BGP, EIGRP

vi. Wireless networks: WLCs, Aironet/Meraki

c. Deep understanding of public safety network requirements, including QoS for voice/video systems.

d. Hands-on experience integrating with Public Safety Applications and Systems.

e. Experience training or mentoring technical teams in enterprise environments.

f. Strong documentation and communication skills.

Education Requirements:
Bachelor's degree is a nice to have.

i. Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) - Required

ii. Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) - Security Preferred

iii. Cisco Certified Specialist - Security or Wireless - Bonus

iv. CISSP, Fortinet NSE, Aruba, or other relevant credentials - Bonus

Skills, experience, and other compensable factors will be considered when determining pay rate. The pay range provided in this posting reflects a W2 hourly rate; other employment options may be available that may result in pay outside of the provided range.

W2 employees of Eliassen Group who are regularly scheduled to work 30 or more hours per week are eligible for the following benefits: medical (choice of 3 plans), dental, vision, pre-tax accounts, other voluntary benefits including life and disability insurance, 401(k) with match, and sick time if required by law in the worked-in state/locality.
Please be advised- If anyone reaches out to you about an open position connected with Eliassen Group, please confirm that they have an Eliassen.com email address and never provide personal or financial information to anyone who is not clearly associated with Eliassen Group. If you have any indication of fraudulent activity, please contact

About Eliassen Group:

Eliassen Group is a leading strategic consulting company for human-powered solutions. For over 30 years, Eliassen has helped thousands of companies reach further and achieve more with their technology solutions, financial, risk & compliance, and advisory solutions, and clinical solutions. With offices from coast to coast and throughout Europe, Eliassen provides a local community presence, balanced with international reach. Eliassen Group strives to positively impact the lives of their employees, clients, consultants, and the communities in which they operate.

Eliassen Group is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.

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