Lead Network Security Engineer

M&T Bank; Buffalo (NY); Hybrid; USD 116,000 - 194,000; Full time

Job summary

M&T Bank is seeking an experienced cybersecurity engineer to implement and support enterprise Cisco ISE solutions. The role spans wired, wireless, VPN, and cloud-connected environments, emphasizing secure access controls and Zero Trust alignment.

You will mentor junior engineers, manage ISE deployments, and collaborate with Identity, Network Engineering, and Cybersecurity teams on day-to-day operations and strategic initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience.
• Strong knowledge of Cisco ISE and NAC technologies.
• Experience with Zero Trust architectures and policy enforcement.

Responsibilities

• Implement Cisco ISE-based NAC solutions across enterprise environments.
• Configure 802.1X, RADIUS, TACACS+, and device profiling in ISE.
• Develop RBAC and dynamic authorization policies using TrustSec/SGTs.
• Maintain Cisco ISE integrations with AD, LDAP, PKI, SIEM, and SOAR tools.
• Mentor junior engineers and support day-to-day operations and projects.

Skills

Cisco ISE

NAC

Zero Trust

AAA services

Policy management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Active Directory

LDAP

PKI

SIEM

Security orchestration tools

Job description

This role is four days onsite at our Seneca One Buffalo, NY location, with the flexibility to work from home one day per week

Overview: ** **

Responsible for implementing and supporting enterprise-scale Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) solutions and related network access control technologies. Enhances secure access controls, authentication services, device visibility, and network segmentation capabilities across wired, wireless, VPN, and cloud-connected environments. Assists the technical subject matter expert for Cisco ISE, authentication infrastructure, and Zero Trust initiatives, while mentoring less experienced engineers and supporting day-to-day operations and strategic cybersecurity projects. Responsible for designing and implementing large scale-scale security systems and solutions to develop or enhance new or existing security solutions, solving advanced complex problems or enhancements. Acts as knowledge resource for and trains less experienced engineers. Completes day-to-day support activities and special projects.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Implement Cisco ISE-based Network Access Control (NAC) solutions supporting enterprise-wide authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) services.
• Configure and maintain Cisco ISE policies, including 802.1X authentication, RADIUS, TACACS+, device profiling, posture assessment, guest access, and BYOD onboarding.
• Assist in developing and maintaining role-based access controls, dynamic authorization policies, and network segmentation strategies using technologies such as Cisco TrustSec and Security Group Tags (SGTs).
• Support testing and validation activities for Cisco ISE deployments, upgrades, patches, integrations, and policy changes across wired, wireless, and VPN environments.
• Manage deployment and lifecycle management of Cisco ISE infrastructure, including distributed nodes, high-availability configurations, certificates, and identity source integrations.
• Maintain the integration of Cisco ISE with Active Directory, LDAP, PKI, certificate services, endpoint management platforms, SIEM solutions, and security orchestration tools.
• Develop automation and orchestration capabilities to streamline user provisioning, policy management, endpoint onboarding, compliance validation, and operational support activities.
• Analyze authentication, authorization, and network access events to identify security risks, optimize policies, and improve overall user experience.
• Troubleshoot complex authentication, authorization, certificate, device posture, and network access issues across enterprise environments.
• Partner with Network Engineering, Cybersecurity, Infrastructure, and Identity teams to implement secure access solutions aligned with Zero Trust architecture principles.
• Serve as a technical liaison with Cisco and other vendors to resolve advanced support issues, evaluate product enhancements, and optimize solution performance.
• Assist leadership with product lifecycle management, including licensing, hardware refresh planning, software upgrades, certificate management, and technology roadmap development.
• Develop standards, procedures, and best practices for identity-driven network access control and secure network segmentation.
• Act as a technical mentor and knowledge resource for junior engineers and operations teams.
• Understand and adhere to the Company’s risk and regulatory standards, policies, and controls in accordance with the Company’s Risk Appetite. Design, implement, maintain, and enhance internal controls to mitigate risk on an ongoing basis. Identify risk-related issues requiring escalation to management.
• Promote an environment that supports belonging and reflects the Company’s values.
• Maintain internal control standards, including timely implementation of audit findings and remediation activities.
• Complete other related duties as assigned.

Scope of Responsibilities:

• This role primarily supports the following cybersecurity functions:
  • Identity & Access Engineering
    • Maintains enterprise authentication and authorization solutions.
    • Assist in the Development and maintenance identity-driven access controls for users, devices, applications, and network resources.
    • Supports Zero Trust initiatives through least-privilege access controls and policy enforcement.
  • Security & Network Infrastructure
    • Maintains secure network access architecture across wired, wireless, VPN, and remote access environments.
    • Implements network segmentation, device visibility, posture validation, and access control technologies to reduce organizational risk.
    • Maintains and optimizes Cisco ISE and related security infrastructure platforms.
• Additional Responsibilities:
  • Partners primarily with Cybersecurity, Network Engineering, Enterprise Infrastructure, Identity Management, and Technology teams.
  • Exercises judgment in selecting methods, techniques, and criteria to achieve objectives with limited supervision.
  • Serves as a subject matter expert for Cisco ISE, AAA services, NAC technologies, and identity-based network security.
  • Demonstrates advanced proficiency in cybersecurity and network infrastructure technologies.

Education and Experience Required:

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 5 years’ relevant work experience, or in lieu of a degree, a combined minimum of 9 years’ higher education and/or work experience

Education and Experience Preferred:

• Advanced understanding of the security system development and infrastructure lifecycle and architecture, and systems design
• Proven experience with the development and customization of tools utilized in assigned Cybersecurity function
• Demonstrated ability to translate architecture into technical requirements
• Proficient level of critical thinking and problem solving ability
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Experience partnering with leaders to design solutions to business needs.
• Proficient persuasive communication skills to gain buy-in of others
• Strong ability to analyze and draw reliable conclusions based on large volumes of quantitative data from diverse sources
• Ability effectively serves in indirect leadership role

M&T Bank is committed to fair, competitive, and market-informed pay for our employees. The pay range for this position is $116,400.00 - $194,000.00 Annual (USD). The successful candidate’s particular combination of knowledge, skills, and experience will inform their specific compensation.

Location

Buffalo, New York, United States of America