Lead Firewall Engineer / Cybersecurity Engineer

Artifintech; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 96,000 - 131,000; Full time

Job summary

Artifintech is seeking an experienced Lead Firewall Engineer / Cybersecurity Engineer in Washington, DC. The role focuses on enterprise firewall administration with strong hands-on Palo Alto expertise, leading perimeter security and broader cybersecurity initiatives.

The ideal candidate will have 11+ years in cybersecurity engineering, in-depth firewall management, and hands-on experience across AWS/Azure. Expect collaboration with infrastructure, network, and cloud teams, and ongoing

Qualifications

• 11+ years of cybersecurity engineering experience focusing on network and firewall security.
• Extensive hands-on experience with Palo Alto Networks firewalls in large enterprises.
• Strong knowledge of firewall policies, rule reviews, configurations, and security architecture.
• Understanding of TCP/IP, routing, switching, VPNs, WAN/LAN and network security architecture.
• Experience with IDS/IPS, WAF, SIEM, EDR, DLP, CASB; cloud security in AWS/Azure.
• Scripting using Python, PowerShell, or Bash; automation experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead security projects and coordinate with infrastructure/network/cloud teams.
• Manage and secure enterprise firewall infrastructure and perimeter controls.
• Support cloud and on-premise cybersecurity initiatives and runbooks.

Skills

Cybersecurity engineering

Palo Alto firewalls

Network security

Firewall policies

TCP/IP & routing

IDS/IPS & WAF

Cloud security (AWS/Azure)

Scripting (Python/PowerShell/Bash)

Security standards (NIST/CIS/PCI/HIPAA

Runbooks & documentation

Project leadership

Tools

Palo Alto Networks

Job description

Lead Firewall Engineer / Cybersecurity Engineer

Location:

Washington, DC

Duration:

12Months+ Extension

Domain Exposure:

Government

Client:

To Be Discussed Later

Employment Type:

W-2, 1099, C2C

Work Authorization:

US Citizen, Green Card, H-1B, OPT-EAD, CPT, Other

Job Title: Lead Firewall Engineer / Cybersecurity Engineer

Location: Washington, DC

Duration: 12 Months + Extension

Bill Rate: $73/hour (C2C)

Job Type: W-2, 1099, C2C

Client: To Be Discussed Later

Work Authorization:US Citizen, Green Card, OPT-EAD, CPT, H-1B, H4-EAD, Other

Position Overview:

Seeking an experienced Lead Firewall Engineer / Cybersecurity Engineer with extensive hands‑on experience in enterprise firewall administration, particularly Palo Alto Networks. The candidate will lead network and perimeter security engineering, manage enterprise firewall infrastructure, strengthen security controls, and support cloud and enterprise cybersecurity initiatives.

Key Required Skills:

• 11+ years of cybersecurity engineering experience, with strong focus on network and firewall security.
• Extensive hands‑on experience administering and managing Palo Alto Networks firewalls in large enterprise environments.
• Strong knowledge of firewall policies, rule reviews, configuration changes, security architecture, and troubleshooting.
• Strong understanding of TCP/IP, routing, switching, VPNs, WAN/LAN, and network security architecture.
• Experience with IDS/IPS, Web Application Firewalls (WAF), SIEM, EDR, DLP, and CASB.
• Experience supporting security operations across AWS and Microsoft Azure environments.
• Knowledge of vulnerability management, security risk assessments, threat analysis, and incident response.
• Scripting and automation experience using Python, PowerShell, or Bash.
• Strong knowledge of NIST, CIS Controls, PCI-DSS, HIPAA, and ISO 27001 security standards.
• Experience preparing security architecture diagrams, technical documentation, operational procedures, and runbooks.
• Ability to lead security projects, collaborate with infrastructure/network/cloud teams, and provide technical guidance.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certifications such as CISSP, PCNSE, CCNP Security, GIAC, CEH, or Security+.
• Experience supporting SOC operations, threat hunting, root cause analysis, and forensic investigations.
• Knowledge of Zero Trust architecture and cloud‑native security tools.
• Experience with security automation and orchestration.
• Master's degree in Cybersecurity, IT, or a related discipline.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, citizenship/ immigration status, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.