(W2 ROLE) -- Network Engineer

Job Role: Network Engineer

Location: Lake Zurich , IL (Onsite)

Job type: Contract

Key Responsibilities

1. Firewall & Security Operations

• Configure, manage, and support Fortinet FortiGate and Palo Alto NGFW platforms
• Implement and manage firewall policies, NAT rules, VPNs (IPSec/SSL)
• Perform rule optimization, cleanup, and policy governance aligned with security standards
• Monitor network traffic, identify anomalies, and mitigate security threats

2. Design & Implementation

• Design and deploy secure network architectures and firewall solutions
• Configure HA setups, SD-WAN, routing, and logging integrations
• Support firewall migrations (Fortinet Palo Alto) and technology upgrades

3. Incident Management & Troubleshooting

• Perform L2/L3 troubleshooting of network and security incidents
• Conduct root cause analysis (RCA) and implement corrective actions
• Respond to security alerts and coordinate incident remediation

4. Network & Security Monitoring

• Monitor and maintain network performance, availability, and security posture
• Support vulnerability assessments and remediation activities
• Ensure compliance with security policies, audits, and governance frameworks

5. Change Management & Documentation

• Handle change requests, upgrades, and patch management
• Maintain updated network diagrams, SOPs, and configuration documentation
• Participate in CAB meetings and provide technical inputs

6. Collaboration & Stakeholder Management

• Work with cross-functional teams (network, cloud, SOC, infra)
• Provide technical guidance and act as SME for firewall/security technologies
• Support audits and compliance requirements

Technical Skills Required

Firewall & Security

• Fortinet FortiGate (Policies, VPN, SD-WAN, HA, FortiManager/FortiAnalyzer)
• Palo Alto Networks (NGFW, Panorama, App-ID, User-ID, NAT policies)
• IDS/IPS, VPN, SIEM, security monitoring tools

Networking

• Strong understanding of TCP/IP, VLANs, DNS, NAT, SSL/TLS
• Routing protocols: BGP, OSPF, EIGRP
• Switching concepts (VLAN, STP, trunking)

Tools & Platforms

• Experience with Panorama, FortiManager, FortiAnalyzer
• Knowledge of cloud security (Azure/AWS) preferred
• Familiarity with load balancers, WAF, SD-WAN

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science / IT / related field
• 6 10+ years of experience in network security and firewall management
• Strong hands-on experience with Fortinet & Palo Alto platforms

Preferred Certifications

• Fortinet NSE (NSE4 / NSE7)
• Palo Alto PCNSE / PCNSA
• CCNA/CCNP Security, CISSP (good to have)