We are seeking a detail-oriented and collaborative Firewall Operations Engineer to oversee day-to-day firewall operations, ensure secure and efficient rule implementations, and coordinate closely with both internal teams and third-party service providers. This role plays a critical part in maintaining our enterprise perimeter security posture while supporting operational agility and compliance.

The Firewall Operations Engineer will serve as the primary point of contact between internal stakeholders and vendor-managed services, ensuring timely execution of firewall changes, consistent adherence to security standards, and continuous alignment with strategic business and technology goals.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Oversight

Oversee firewall-related tasks performed by third-party Managed Service Providers (MSPs), ensuring quality, timeliness, and compliance. Monitor and review firewall access control changes to ensure they align with enterprise policies and risk posture. Track and analyze firewall performance metrics, audit logs, and change requests. Ensure regular updates and patching of firewall operating systems and configurations in accordance with security best practices and vulnerability management processes.

Process & Compliance

Maintain and continuously improve operational documentation, including playbooks, runbooks, and escalation procedures. Ensure all firewall activities are audit-ready and aligned with internal standards and regulatory requirements (e.g., PCI-DSS, SOX, GDPR). Participate in change advisory board (CAB) meetings and project planning sessions to represent firewall operational requirements. Drive documentation and automation of processes to reduce manual effort and operational risk.

Incident & Change Management

Coordinate firewall incident response efforts with MSPs and internal teams. Lead or participate in root cause analysis (RCA) for firewall-related incidents or breaches. Evaluate the impact of proposed firewall changes and assess risk before implementation.

Collaboration & Leadership

Act as the primary liaison between infrastructure, cybersecurity, enterprise architecture, and vendor teams. Provide mentorship and support to junior engineers and technical analysts. Represent firewall operations in IT governance forums and cross-functional initiatives.

What Does Success Look Like?:

Accurate firewall rule implementations with minimal rework or backlogs. Timely incident resolution and effective collaboration with third-party service providers. Continuous compliance with enterprise security standards and external regulatory mandates. Improved operational efficiency through automation and process enhancement. Audit-readiness maintained across all firewall operations.

Required Qualifications:

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Computer Science, or a related field. Equivalent work experience may be considered. Industry certifications such as CompTIA Security+, Cisco CCNA Security, or Palo Alto PCNSA are preferred.

Experience

5–7 years of experience in firewall administration, network security, or security operations. Strong knowledge of TCP/IP networking, routing principles, and firewall ruleset design. Hands-on experience with enterprise firewall platforms such as Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, Cisco ASA/Firepower, or similar. Experience working with or managing third-party vendors or Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs). Familiarity with ITSM/ticketing systems, change management workflows, and SLA tracking. Proficiency in Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and automation tools such as Ansible, Terraform, OpenTofu, Chef, or Puppet.

Preferred Qualifications:

High attention to detail and strong adherence to process. Analytical and methodical in evaluating logs, events, and configuration changes. Effective in incident response and risk assessment. Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to coordinate across technical and non-technical teams.

Work Environment & Conditions:

This role may require participation in an on-call rotation or after-hours change windows. Remote or hybrid work arrangements may be available depending on location and team structure. Occasional travel may be required for team meetings or vendor coordination.

 

Salary Range: $114,900 - $144,000 annually + bonus eligibility. This is the expected salary range for this position. Ultimately, in determining pay, we'll consider the successful candidate’s location, experience, and other job-related factors.