Firewall Architect - SkyePoint Decisions

SkyePoint Decisions is a leading Cybersecurity Architecture and Engineering, Critical Infrastructure and Operations, and Applications Development and Maintenance IT service provider headquartered in Dulles, Virginia with operations across the U.S. We provide innovative enterprise-wide solutions as well as targeted services addressing the complex challenges faced by our federal government clients. Our focus is on enabling our clients to deliver their mission most efficiently and effectively – anytime, anywhere, securely. We combine technical expertise, mission awareness, and an empowered workforce to produce meaningful results.

As a SkyePoint employee you will be given the opportunity to support some of our nation’s most critical information systems by utilizing not only your existing cybersecurity skills and talents, but those that you will learn in your new role. In your new role as a cyber security professional, you will protect our customer’s most sensitive data and complex systems from all forms of threats including cyber-attacks, insider threats, rogue network devices, and malicious software and applications. You will work with a team of like-minded professionals to share and collaborate upon your ideas to improve the cybersecurity infrastructure, architecture, and configuration deployments. Your ideas and contributions will matter.

This is a contingent position based upon customer approval.

Skyepoint Decisions is seeking a Firewall Architect to support the security engineering team on the Vanguard 2.2.1 Cybersecurity Integrity Center (CIC) office within the DOS.  This person will be providing security architecture and design leadership over multiple firewall and security systems and devices. The candidate will possess and apply comprehensive expertise knowledge regarding security solutions. The candidate must be capable of designing and developing large scale, complex security solutions. The solutions shall meet or exceed the security compliance guideline requirements. The candidate must be capable of evaluating performance results, performing risk assessments, and recommending changes affecting security configuration/implementations. The position directly supports DoS on-site to provide security protection to over 100,000 customers globally.

This role can be located in Beltsville, MD or Washington, DC.  It is hybrid and requires at least 2-3 days per week onsite.

Responsibilities:

• Plans and designs security architecture and solutions for a global environment by evaluating network and security technologies, on premise and cloud.
• Determine security requirements by evaluating business strategies and requirements; researching information security standards; conducting system security and vulnerability analyses and risk assessments; studying architecture/platform; identifying integration issues; when needed preparing cost estimates.
• Develop and deploy perimeter security solutions utilizing multi-vendor firewalls, email security, IPS/IDS, SSL decryption, DMZs, and virtualization/zones for on premise and cloud based services.
• Define and implement enterprise perimeter (on premise and cloud based) security policies and procedures.
• Lead security-related architecture projects.
• Design robust and resilient solutions for PSD infrastructure services, and for new services.
• Lead and oversee PSD certification and accreditation efforts, NIST Cybersecurity Framework/DoD Risk Management Framework/DIACAP.
• Evaluate and recommend new and emerging security products and technologies.
• Develop and interpret security policies and procedures.
• Create policies and ongoing processes in support of the security engineering team. Verify ongoing compliance with policies and best practice.
• Identify security issues and risks, lead development and implementation of mitigation.
• Advise and consult with other teams to identify risks and implement remediation.
• Provides leadership and/or direction to engineering teams.
• Oversee and guide the completion of major programs and projects.
• Participates as a Subject Matter Expert in technical and business discussions with clients, teammates, vendors, partners and /or upper level managers.
• Ability to manage and/or lead cross-functional teams for customer engagements.
• Participate in incident response; create incident response procedures and documentation; assist with post-event analysis.
• Wide breadth of knowledge across security products, tools, and industry trends; ability to create solutions using a pragmatic, risk-based approach.

Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology/Computer Science or Bachelor’s Degree and relevant experience. May accept additional experience in lieu of degree.
• 20+ years’ experience in Information Technology.
• 15+ years of relevant Network/Perimeter Security engineering experience.
• 5+ years’ experience as Security Architect/Network Architect in a large scale, global environment.
• Experience providing secure connectivity from on premise services to/from Cloud services.
• Hands on experience with a diverse variety of firewalls and networking devices.
• One or more of the following certifications: CCIE Security, JNCIE Security, Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer, CISSP.
• Expert knowledge of networking concepts and architecture, including security considerations associated with networking hardware like Routers, Switches, Firewalls, Gateways, SSL Encryption/Decryption, PKI, TCP/IP, IPv4 and IPv6, etc.
• Expert experience in one or more of the following security devices: Palo Alto firewalls, Panorama management console, McAfee/Forcepoint StoneGate firewalls, A10 Encrypted Traffic Inspection/Application Delivery, and Cisco ESA & ASA.
• Experience developing and configuring SSL encryption/decryption solutions for traffic inspection.
• Strong understanding of routing/switching technologies, IP addressing/subnetting, and network traffic analysis/troubleshooting.
• Experience with network monitoring devices such as HP Openview, Nagios, Zenoss, NeuralStar or other similar monitoring tools.
• Experience working directly with Government customer.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; must be able to prepare solution papers and present solutions to senior management.
• US Citizenship.
• Active Secret clearance with the ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance.

Preferred:

• Firsthand experience in developing and providing quality assurance review of engineering change orders relating to the replacement or enhancement of perimeter security hardware and software.
• Experienced with performing root cause analysis, risk identification, and risk mitigation.
• ITIL ® Foundation certification.
• Familiarity with DoS environment (data and voice networks, IT security systems, policies and procedures), Foreign Affairs Handbooks (FAHs), Foreign Affairs Manuals (FAMs).
• Experience with Red Hat Linux/CentOS and Ubuntu including administration scripting is a plus.

What We Can Offer You - 

• At SkyePoint, we go B.I.G. (beginning in GRATITUDE) by recognizing all we have and giving back to our employees, families, and communities. It instills a positive mindset that permeates all we do. By beginning in gratitude, SkyePoint can continue to spread living in gratitude each day.
• Great Benefits: Several insurance options including HMO and High Deductible plans with Health Savings Accounts [HSAs], Flex Spending Accounts [FSAs], Full Dental Plans, ST/LT Disability, Life Insurance, floating federal holiday options, and 401k matched
• Certificate Incentive Program: To promote professional development, we recognize and reward employees who obtain new certifications aligned with business needs.
• SkyePoint DoD SkillBridge Industry Partner Fellowship Program

• Flexible Work Environment

Compensation:

Salary Range: $170K - $180K

The SkyePoint Decisions salary range for this position is a general guideline only. It represents an estimated range for this position and is just one piece of our total compensation package. 

Salary at SkyePoint is determined by various factors, including but not limited to location, work schedule, the candidate’s combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability, market data and business considerations.

In addition to a competitive salary, SkyePoint offers benefits including a certification incentive program, PTO, floating federal holiday options, several insurance options including HMO and High Deductible plans with Health Savings Accounts [HSAs], Flex Spending Accounts [FSAs], Full Dental Plans, Vision, ST/LT Disability, Life Insurance, and 401k matched.

SkyePoint Decisions is an established ISO 9001:2015 and ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certified small business and appraised at CMMI Level 3 for Services and Development. We possess a common vision of excellence and foster a collaborative team culture built upon individual performance and accountability. We invest in our people and systems to create value for our clients. It is the SkyePoint Way. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with exceptional people and give back to the communities we serve. Our employees value the flexibility at SkyePoint that allows them to balance quality work and their personal lives.

Please be aware of recruiting scams and people claiming to be from SkyePoint Decisions. For more information, please see the Welcome Page of our Careers site.

Skyepoint Decisions is a participating E-Verify Employer. 

U.S. Citizenship is required for most positions.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.