Palo Alto Engineer

Location: Harrisburg, PA
Contract Length: 2+ years
Position Overview:

The Engineer will lead the migration of approximately 12 virtual Check Point firewalls from the VSX platform to a pair of Palo Alto 5410 appliances. This role involves managing the migration effort, providing escalation support, and offering guidance to the existing firewall team as they transition to an expanded Palo Alto environment.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the end-to-end migration of virtual Check Point firewalls to Palo Alto 5410 appliances.
• Collaborate with the firewall team to develop and execute a detailed migration plan.
• Configure, test, and deploy Palo Alto firewalls, ensuring seamless integration and optimal performance.
• Provide escalation support for complex firewall-related issues during and after the migration process.
• Share expertise and mentor the internal firewall team to strengthen their knowledge and skills with Palo Alto appliances.
• Conduct thorough testing to validate security policies, rule sets, and network performance post-migration.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues, minimizing downtime and ensuring business continuity.
• Document migration steps, configurations, and any issues encountered, creating a comprehensive knowledge base for future reference.
• Stay current with Palo Alto technologies, best practices, and security trends to ensure the network remains secure and efficient.

Requirements:

• Proven experience with firewall migration projects, particularly involving Check Point and Palo Alto firewalls.
• In-depth knowledge of Palo Alto firewalls, including deployment, configuration, and troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with Check Point VSX platform and virtual firewall environments.
• Strong understanding of network security concepts, protocols, and firewall rule optimization.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently or as part of a team.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills for collaboration and knowledge sharing with team members.
• Palo Alto certifications (e.g., PCNSA, PCNSE) are preferred but not required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with large-scale firewall deployments or migrations in enterprise environments.
• Hands-on experience with other network security tools and platforms.
• Familiarity with scripting or automation for firewall configuration and deployment.