Network Security Architect

Palo Alto Networks; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 220,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Palo Alto Networks is seeking a senior Network Security Architect to own the global security blueprint and governance. You will drive policy development, segmentation, and threat-informed design across hybrid environments, collaborating with multiple teams to ensure resilient, scalable defenses.

The role emphasizes automation-first practices, IaC, and CI/CD, with strong leadership and mentorship responsibilities in a fast-paced security-focused IT org.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 12+ years in large enterprise networking and security.
• Deep expertise in Zero Trust, network segmentation, and global hybrid-cloud designs.
• Automation-first mindset with IaC and CI/CD experience.
• Experience with AI/ML tools to simplify operations and auto-healing.
• Familiarity with AI/LLM architectures, API security and governance.

Responsibilities

• Own the architectural blueprint and governance for global network security footprint.
• Define, develop, and enforce enterprise-wide security policies (segmentation, access control, traffic inspection).
• Drive integration of security into all network layers, collaborating with security, infra and IT teams.
• Lead remediation across on-prem and cloud environments and establish best practices.
• Leverage Palo Alto Networks products and third-party platforms for visibility and protection.
• Champion network automation using scripting, CI/CD, and IaC practices.
• Serve as escalation authority during critical security events; design long-term fixes.
• Mentor senior engineers and contribute to architectural standards.

Skills

Zero Trust

Network segmentation

AI/LLM architectures

Security automation

CI/CD pipelines

Firewall technologies

Routing & switching

On-prem + cloud

Education

Bachelor's degree + 12+ years enterprise networking/security

Tools

Terraform

Ansible

Job description

Our Mission

At Palo Alto Networks®, we're united by a shared mission-to protect our digital way of life. We thrive at the intersection of innovation and impact, solving real-world problems with cutting-edge technology and bold thinking. Here, everyone has a voice, and every idea counts. If you're ready to do the most meaningful work of your career alongside people who are just as passionate as you are, you're in the right place.

Who We Are

In order to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, we must trailblaze the path and shape the future of our industry. This is something our employees work at each day and is defined by our values: Disruption, Collaboration, Execution, Integrity, and Inclusion. We weave AI into the fabric of everything we do and use it to augment the impact every individual can have. If you are passionate about solving real-world problems and ideating beside the best and the brightest, we invite you to join us!

We believe collaboration thrives in person. That's why most of our teams work from the office full time, with flexibility when it's needed. This model supports real-time problem-solving, stronger relationships, and the kind of precision that drives great outcomes.

Job Summary

The Team

Information Technology - Working at a high-tech cybersecurity company within Information Technology is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You'll join the brightest minds in technology, creating, building, and supporting tools and enabling our global teams on the front line of defense against cyberattacks. We're connected by one mission but driven by the impact of that mission and what it means to protect our way of life in the digital age. Join a dynamic and fast-paced team of people who feel excited by the prospect of a challenge and feel a thrill at resolving technical gaps that inhibit productivity.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the architectural blueprint and governance for our global network security footprint, ensuring scalability across hybrid environments.
• Define, develop, and enforce enterprise-wide security policies, including segmentation, access control, and traffic inspection, serving as a subject matter expert.
• Drive the integration of security into all layers of network design, proactively collaborating with security, infrastructure, and IT teams to ensure alignment.
• Proactively identify vulnerabilities and lead complex remediation efforts across on-prem and cloud environments, simplifying complex problems to establish best practices.
• Leverage Palo Alto Networks products and third-party platforms to enhance network visibility, protection, and threat intelligence.
• Champion and implement advanced network security automation using scripting, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure-as-code best practices, setting the technical direction.
• Serve as the ultimate escalation authority during critical security events, designing long-term architectural remediations to ensure the same issue never happens twice.
• Provide technical mentorship to senior engineers, contribute significantly to our architectural standards, and foster a strong security-first culture.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree with 12+ years of progressive experience in large enterprise networking and network security engineering, with a demonstrable track record of leadership in large-scale environments.
• Deep expertise in Zero Trust architecture, advanced network segmentation, and Proven experience designing and securing massive, global hybrid-cloud infrastructures (AWS, Azure, or GCP paired with on-prem).
• Extensive hands-on experience architecting and implementing security automation and infrastructure-as-code frameworks Advanced capability in writing infrastructure-as-code ( Terraform, Ansible) and building CI/CD pipelines. This is an automation-first environment.
• Experience with leveraging AI/ML tools to simplify operational tasks and build auto-healing capabilities.
• Strong understanding of AI and Large Language Model (LLM) architectures, including AI application components, data flows, APIs, and model integration. Ability to design and secure AI-enabled solutions by addressing identity and access management, data privacy, prompt injection, model security, API protection, governance, and regulatory compliance
• Exceptional expertise in firewall technologies, VPN, IDS/IPS, NAC, and advanced micro segmentation strategies.
• Mastery of routing, switching, and TCP/IP protocols; significant experience with Arista, Juniper, or equivalent enterprise-grade network hardware.
• Must be local to SF bay area or willing to relocate on their own

Preferred Qualifications

• A deep and proven background with Palo Alto Networks products and platforms (e.g., NGFW, Panorama, Prisma Access).
• Superior troubleshooting and analytical skills to diagnose and resolve the most complex security issues.
• Exceptional communication and technical leadership skills with a proven ability to drive cross-functional collaboration and influence strate