Security Specialist - Akamai Security Suite Administrator

Position Overview At PNC, our people are our greatest differentiator and competitive advantage in the markets we serve. We are all united in delivering the best experience for our customers. We work together each day to foster an inclusive workplace culture where all of our employees feel respected, valued and have an opportunity to contribute to the company’s success. As a Security Specialist within PNC's Technology organization, you will be based in Pittsburgh, PA; Cleveland, OH; Birmingham, AL; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO or Phoenix, AZ. The Akamai Security Suite Administrator is responsible for managing, configuring, and optimizing Akamai’s security solutions to protect web applications, APIs, and digital infrastructure from cyber threats. This role involves deploying and maintaining tools like the Akamai Kona Site Defender, Web Application Firewall (WAF), Bot Manager, and DDoS mitigation services. The administrator collaborates with IT, security, and development teams to ensure robust protection, high performance, and seamless user experiences across enterprise digital assets - Monitor and review security dashboards and logs to identify threats, anomalies, or performance issues, responding promptly to incidents like DDoS attacks or bot-driven abuse. - Fine-tune security policies to balance protection with performance, minimizing false positives and ensuring legitimate traffic flows smoothly. - Analyze traffic patterns and threat intelligence to proactively update security configurations and mitigate emerging risks. - Collaborate with development teams to integrate Akamai security into CI/CD pipelines and ensure secure application delivery. - Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to security configurations, content delivery, or application performance impacted by Akamai settings. - Maintain documentation of security policies, incident reports, and configuration changes for compliance and auditing purposes. - Stay current on cybersecurity trends, Akamai product updates, and best practices to recommend improvements or new features for adoption. - Liaise with Akamai support and account teams to resolve complex issues or escalate critical incidents. Qualifications: - Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or equivalent experience. - 3+ years of experience in network security, cloud security, or web application administration. - Hands-on experience with Akamai security tools (e.g., Kona Site Defender, WAF, Bot Manager) or similar CDN/security platforms is highly preferred. - Strong understanding of web protocols, application security, and cloud infrastructure. - Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and respond to security incidents under pressure. Technical Skills: - Akamai Security Suite Expertise: Proficiency in configuring and managing Akamai Kona Site Defender, WAF, Bot Manager, and DDoS mitigation tools. Familiarity with Akamai’s Edge platform is a plus. - Web Security Knowledge: Deep understanding of OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities (e.g., SQL injection, XSS), protocols, and SSL/TLS encryption. - Network Fundamentals: Solid grasp of TCP/IP, DNS, load balancing, and CDN operations to optimize security and performance. - Threat Detection and Mitigation: Ability to analyze traffic logs, recognize attack patterns (e.g., DDoS, botnets), and implement countermeasures. - Scripting and Automation: Experience with scripting languages like Python, Bash, or JavaScript to automate tasks or integrate Akamai with other systems. - Cloud and DevOps Tools: Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and tools like Terraform or Ansible for infrastructure management. - Monitoring and Analytics: Competence with tools like Splunk, ELK Stack, or Akamai’s own dashboards for real-time monitoring and reporting. Soft Skills: - Problem-Solving: Strong analytical skills to troubleshoot complex security or performance issues and devise effective solutions. - Attention to Detail: Precision in configuring policies to avoid over-blocking legitimate users or missing critical threats. - Collaboration: Ability to work cross-functionally with developers, network engineers, and security analysts to align on goals. - Communication: Clear articulation of technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and documentation of processes for team use. - Adaptability: Quick learning curve to keep up with evolving threats and Akamai product updates. Preferred Certifications: - Akamai Certified Professional (e.g., Akamai Security Specialist) - Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) - CompTIA Security+ - AWS Certified Solutions Architect or similar cloud certifications PNC is an in-office company that fosters a supportive culture where employees can thrive and achieve balance. We encourage candidates to connect with their recruiter and hiring manager to understand workplace expectations and ensure the role aligns with their goals. PNC will not provide sponsorship for employment visas or participate in STEM OPT for this position. Job Description Provides technical evaluation and analysis in a specific Security area. Supports activities, process, and tools needed to improve overall security posture of the organization. Primary responsibilities do not include Architect or Engineering responsibilities. Applies security concepts, reviews information, executes defined tasks, analyzes requirements, reviews logs, and creates documentation. Performs investigation and data loss prevention, data manipulation, and coordination of activities. Performs actions to address or mitigate risks and vulnerabilities. Reviews and defines controls. Advises on more complex security procedures and products for clients, security administrators and network operations. Participates in enforcement of control security risks and threats; potential of one more controls subject to manager discretion. Shares knowledge with staff. Conducts security assessments and other information security routines consistently. Investigates and recommends corrective actions for data security related to established guidelines. Develops policies and procedures to standardize security functions and eliminate potential vulnerabilities and threats. Oversees that business needs are being met during development. PNC Employees take pride in our reputation and to continue building upon that we expect our employees to be: Customer Focused - Knowledgeable of the values and practices that align customer needs and satisfaction as primary considerations in all business decisions and able to leverage that information in creating customized customer solutions. Managing Risk - Assessing and effectively managing all of the risks associated with their business objectives and activities to ensure they adhere to and support PNC's Enterprise Risk Management Framework. Qualifications Successful candidates must demonstrate appropriate knowledge, skills, and abilities for a role. Listed below are skills, competencies, work experience, education, and required certifications/licensures needed to be successful in this position. Preferred Skills Access Control (AC), Akamai CDN, Building Architecture, Customer Solutions, Disaster Recovery Planning, Firewall Security, Information Security, Network Security, Physical Security, Risk Assessments, Security Technologies, Web Applications Competencies Analytical Thinking, Effective Communications, Information Assurance, Information Security Management, Information Security Technologies, IT Environment, IT Standards, Procedures & Policies, IT Systems Management, Problem Solving, Software Security Assurance Work Experience Roles at this level typically require a university / college degree, with 5+ years of industry-relevant experience. Specific certifications are often required. In lieu of a degree, a comparable combination of education, job specific certification(s), and experience (including military service) may be considered. Education Bachelors Certifications No Required Certification(s) Licenses No Required License(s) Pay Transparency Base Salary: $65,000.00 – $158,700.00 Salaries may vary based on geographic location, market data and on individual skills, experience, and education. This role is incentive eligible with the payment based upon company, business and/or individual performance. Application Window Generally, this opening is expected to be posted for two business days from 05/28/2026, although it may be longer with business discretion. Benefits PNC offers a comprehensive range of benefits to help meet your needs now and in the future. Depending on your eligibility, options for full-time employees include: medical/prescription drug coverage (with a Health Savings Account feature), dental and vision options; employee and spouse/child life insurance; short and long-term disability protection; 401(k) with PNC match, pension and stock purchase plans; dependent care reimbursement account; back-up child/elder care; adoption, surrogacy, and doula reimbursement; educational assistance, including select programs fully paid; a robust wellness program with financial incentives. In addition, PNC generally provides the following paid time off, depending on your eligibility: maternity and/or parental leave; up to 11 paid holidays each year; 9 occasional absence days each year, unless otherwise required by law; between 15 to 25 vacation days each year, depending on career level; and years of service. To learn more about these and other programs, including benefits for full time and part-time employees, visit pncthrive.com. Disability Accommodations Statement If an accommodation is required to participate in the application process, please contact us via email at View email address on click.appcast.io. Please include “accommodation request” in the subject line title and be sure to include your name, the job ID, and your preferred method of contact in the body of the email. Emails not related to accommodation requests will not receive responses. Applicants may also call View phone number on click.appcast.io and say "Workday" for accommodation assistance. All information provided will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations. At PNC we foster an inclusive and accessible workplace. We provide reasonable accommodations to employment applicants and qualified individuals with a disability who need an accommodation to perform the essential functions of their positions. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) PNC provides equal employment opportunity to qualified persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or other categories protected by law. This position is subject to the requirements of Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA) and, for any registered role, the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (SAFE Act) and/or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), which prohibit the hiring of individuals with certain criminal history. California Residents Refer to the California Consumer Privacy Act Privacy Notice to gain understanding of how PNC may use or disclose your personal information in our hiring practices. For nearly 160 years, PNC has strived to make a meaningful impact for our employees, customers, communities, and shareholders. We believe our success and positive reputation are built on open and honest dialogue, an unwavering focus on smart risk management, relationship-based customer service and community investments. Our inclusive workplace allows our employees to be heard, valued, and developed to do their best work. Being a great place to work means we are making a lasting difference for everyone we serve. Check out the top reasons to join PNC. PNC’s total rewards package includes things like time off, benefits, learning and career development, wellness programs, recognition and much more. The benefits and programs highlighted below are just a sampling of what PNC offers its employees. To learn more, visit our Total Rewards page. If you're not ready to apply yet, or you'd like to learn more about PNC, join the Talent Community to receive regular updates on what's happening at PNC and available career opportunities. Click to join!