Network Engineer - Expert - KDA Consulting Inc

KDA Consulting is a Disabled Veteran, Woman-Owned, Certified Disadvantaged Small Business, comprised of a diverse team of professionals driven to tackle the demanding National Defense and Intelligence challenges through IT solutions.  We emphasize teamwork and focus on achieving goals to complete deliverables efficiently, on-time, and under budget. 

We are currently seeking a talented and experienced Network Engineer - Expert to join our team, with a specialized focus on Firewalls, particularly with expertise in CISCO, Palo Alto, and Juniper network devices and associated management software to join our technology-based program supporting a key Government customer.

The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of network security principles, excellent problem-solving skills, and a proactive approach to maintaining and optimizing firewall infrastructure.

Primary Job Duties

·        Design, implement, and manage firewall solutions utilizing CISCO, Palo Alto, and Juniper network devices

·        Perform configuration, maintenance, and troubleshooting of firewall policies and rules

·        Monitor network traffic for potential security threats and proactively address vulnerabilities

·        Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure network security standards align with business objectives

·        Stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and best practices in network security and firewall technologies

·        Provide technical support and guidance to internal teams and clients on firewall-related issues

·        Participate in the evaluation and selection of new firewall technologies and vendors

Required Education, Experience & Skills: 

·        Ability to translate customer requirements into enterprise network solutions

·        Proven experience as a Network Engineer with a focus on firewall technologies

·        Strong proficiency with CISCO firewall platforms

·        In-depth knowledge of network protocols, TCP/IP stack, and OSI model

·        Experience with firewall management software such as Cisco FTD and Palo Alto Panorama

·        Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

·        Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Education, Experience & Skills:

·        Experience with a wide variety of network technologies and solutions architectures is a plus

·        Broad understanding of technical principles, theories and concepts in the networking field

·        Knowledge of state-of-the-art systems engineering principles and network design concepts

·        Cloud Service Provider and hybrid cloud experience (extending on-premise networks to cloud providers such as AWS, Azure, Oracle and Google)

·        Strong proficiency with Palo Alto and Juniper firewall platforms is a plus

Preferred Certifications

·        Industry certifications such as CCNA Security, CCNP Security, Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer (PCNSE), or similar industry certifications are preferred

Job Requirements

·        Active TS/SCI + Full Scope Poly U.S. Government Security is required.

·        Education and Years of Experience Requirement: candidate must possess a minimum of 11 years' relevant work experience plus a bachelor’s degree -OR- 9 years’ relevant work experience and a master’s degree. 

·        Ability to maintain discretion and confidentiality.

·        Strong interpersonal skills, especially the ability to network and establish professional relationships.

·        Ability to prioritize, demonstrated strong organizational skills, and ability to meet or exceed deadlines.

Physical Demands: Position will require frequent sitting, standing, and/or mobility within an office setting.  Employee must be able to use hands to complete work at a workstation/computer, be able to reach, type and manipulate with hands, fingers, and arms; lift and/or move up to 20 pounds; talk, see and hear.

Work Environment: Work is performed on client site in a professional office environment with moderate stress and noise levels.  Position requires employee to effectively use a computer, potentially for long periods of time, and to accommodate potentially frequent interruptions.  Candidate should be both customer-focused and present a team approach to overall work.

Schedule:  Business core hours are Monday through Friday, 0930AM -1430PM. Standard work hours may vary for this position based upon contract requirements. Position will be located onsite in Herndon, VA at a customer facility. 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): KDA is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, KDA will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations in the hiring process. We encourage qualified individuals with disabilities to apply. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process or to perform essential job functions, please contact our HR team at  hr@kda-consulting.com. For persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or deaf-disabled, KDA will provide an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter where needed as a reasonable accommodation for the hiring processes.

EEOC: KDA is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.