Palo Alto Firewall Engineer

Network Security Specialist Job Description

Palo Alto Firewall Engineers manage and configure Palo Alto firewalls to ensure the security needs of an organization are met.

• Palo Alto Firewall Configuration & Management: Palo Alto Firewalls installation, configuration, and management for centralized security appliances.
• Network Security Monitoring: Analyze network traffic using Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW), Threat Prevention, IPS/IDS, and URL Filtering for threat detection and response.
• Access Control & VPN Management: Configure and manage Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections, including SSL VPN and IPsec VPN solutions, for secure remote access.
• Policy Creation and Tuning: Develop and maintain security policies based on business requirements and best practices, fine-tuning existing policies for optimal balance between security and performance.
• Incident Response & Troubleshooting: Investigate security incidents, analyze logs, and conduct forensic analysis to identify vulnerabilities or security breaches. Collaborate with teams to resolve incidents and implement corrective actions.
• Network Traffic Analysis: Utilize monitoring tools such as Panorama, WildFire, to analyze traffic flows, identify patterns, and proactively prevent attacks.
• Security Vulnerability Management: Identify and patch vulnerabilities in network devices and infrastructure through regular updates and system patches.
• Performance Optimization: Optimize security appliances for maximum performance and efficiency, minimizing impact on network speed and service availability.
• Compliance and Documentation: Ensure compliance with security policies, industry standards, and regulatory requirements (e.g., PCI-DSS, HIPAA, GDPR). Document network security configurations, policies, and incident resolutions.
• Collaboration & Training: Work closely with IT and security teams to enhance overall security posture. Provide training on security best practices and network security tool usage.
• Threat Intelligence: Stay informed about emerging threats and vulnerabilities related to Palo Alto devices and the broader network security landscape. Apply threat intelligence feeds to bolster defenses.
• Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity: Participate in disaster recovery and business continuity planning and testing related to network security.

• 2-4 years of experience in network security with a strong focus on Palo Alto Networks firewalls.
• In-depth knowledge of Palo Alto NGFW, PAN-OS, and Panorama for centralized management.
• Hands-on experience in security policy management, traffic analysis, log analysis, and incident response.
• Experience with VPNs, IPsec, SSL VPN, and remote access solutions.
• Proficiency with network security protocols, including NAT, ACLs, IDS/IPS, DNS filtering, and URL filtering.
• Experience with network protocols (TCP/IP, HTTP/S, DNS, SSL/TLS) and identifying and mitigating security vulnerabilities.
• Familiarity with security monitoring and logging tools, including SIEM (e.g., Splunk, QRadar, ELK stack).
• Understanding of routing, switching, and network topologies (LAN, WAN, DMZ).
• Hands-on experience with network traffic analysis and tools like Wireshark, NetFlow, or Palo Alto's native tools.
• Familiarity with cloud security solutions (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) and integrating Palo Alto firewalls in cloud environments.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills to troubleshoot complex network security issues.
• Knowledge of security standards and frameworks (e.g., NIST, ISO 27001, CIS).
• Strong communication skills to explain technical security concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, prioritizing and managing multiple tasks.