Zero Trust Network Access Architect/Engineer

Colonial Group; Virginia, Northern (MN, KY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

ASRC Federal is seeking a Senior Zero Trust Network Architect / Principal Engineer to lead ZTNA and SASE modernization for the DCSA program based out of Quantico, VA. The role demands an industry-leading security expert capable of driving architecture, governance, and long‑term strategy across cloud, hybrid, and on‑prem environments.

The successful candidate will own the technical authority, work with IAM, SOC, and government stakeholders, and ensure secure connectivity through Palo Alto and

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years in network security engineering and enterprise security.
• 3–4 years architecting Zero Trust and SASE in enterprise or federal environments.
• Active Secret clearance required, eligible for TS/SCI upgrade.
• 8140 certifications (CISM, CISSP-ISSAP, CISSP-ISSEP, GCIA, GDSA, GICSP) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define a technical roadmap and reference architectures for DCSA Zero Trust initiatives.
• Lead design and deployment of Palo Alto GlobalProtect and Versa SASE for cloud, hybrid, and mobile endpoints.
• Govern security policy templates in Panorama and enforce micro‑segmentation and threat prevention.
• Collaborate with IAM to integrate ZTNA/SASE with Okta/Azure AD and SOC ecosystems.
• Provide senior technical leadership and produce HLD/LLD/SSP and change management artifacts.

Skills

Zero Trust

SASE

Palo Alto Panorama

GlobalProtect

Versa SASE

Security architecture

Threat prevention

Identity & Access

Education

Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity/CS/ISM

Master's degree optional

Tools

Panorama

GlobalProtect

Versa SASE

Job description

Position Description

ASRC Federal is actively hiring a Senior Zero Trust Network Architect / Principal Engineer in support of our Defense Counterintelligence Security Agency (DCSA) program based out of Quantico, VA.

We are seeking an industry‑leading cybersecurity expert with a deep specialization in Zero Trust Network Architecture (ZTNA) and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE). The successful candidate will serve as the chief technical authority for the design, orchestration, implementation, and long‑term governance of our enterprise security boundaries.

In this role, you will lead the strategic modernization of DCSA's hybrid workforce infrastructure. You will leverage Palo Alto Networks (Panorama, GlobalProtect) and Versa Networks SASE platforms to establish a highly resilient, identity‑aware, and context‑driven security posture.

This is primarily a Telework position with a requirement to be onsite at least two (2) days a week or as needed at Quantico Marine Corps Base VA. Additional onsite time may be required during initial onboarding and program integration.

Minimum Requirements

Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in network security engineering, enterprise architecture, and infrastructure security.
• At least 3–4 years of direct experience architecting and implementing Zero Trust frameworks (NIST SP 800-207) and SASE solutions in enterprise or federal environments.

Technical Mastery

• Advanced architecture‑level knowledge of Palo Alto Networks enterprise solutions, including deep management expertise via Panorama and secure access deployments using GlobalProtect.
• Deep technical proficiency in designing and deploying Versa Networks SASE (SD-WAN, Secure Web Gateway, Cloud Access Security Broker, and Firewall‑as‑a‑Service).

Security Clearance

• Active Secret Clearance REQUIRED, must be eligible to be upgraded to TS/SCI.

Compliance

• Must meet 8140 certification requirements (e.g. CISM, CISSP-ISSAP, CISSP-ISSEP, GCIA, GDSA, GICSP).

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Engineering, Information Systems Management, or a related field. A Master's degree or an equivalent combination of military service and 12+ years of highly relevant experience is accepted.

Desired Vendor Certifications

• Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer (PCNSE)
• Palo Alto Networks Certified Zero Trust Network Security Engineer (PCZTNSE)
• Versa Certified SASE Professional (VCSP) or Versa Certified SASE Specialist (VCSS).

Responsibilities

Strategic Architecture & Engineering

• Serve as the Principal Architect for the DCSA Zero Trust journey, establishing the technical roadmap, reference architectures, and engineering guidelines aligned with NIST SP 800-207 standards.
• Lead the end-to-end design, implementation, and optimization of Palo Alto GlobalProtect and Versa Networks SASE to secure cloud, hybrid on‑premises, and mobile endpoints.
• Define and govern global security policy templates within Palo Alto Panorama to enforce micro‑segmentation, application‑level security, and threat prevention.

Policy, Governance & Optimization

• Architect advanced data loss prevention (DLP), SSL/TLS decryption, and threat prevention strategies across all egress and ingress points.
• Conduct regular architectural reviews of the SASE and ZTNA configurations to identify performance bottlenecks, configuration drifts, or security gaps, providing advanced mitigation strategies.

Identity & Ecosystem Integration

• Collaborate with Identity and Access Management (IAM) teams to integrate ZTNA/SASE policies with identity providers (e.g., Okta, Azure AD), ensuring device posture, user context, and continuous authentication are evaluated in real time.
• Guide the integration of Versa SASE and Palo Alto platforms with existing Security Operations Center (SOC) environments, including SIEM, SOAR, and endpoint detection (EDR/XDR) tools.

Technical Leadership & Mentorship

• Provide technical leadership and guidance to the cybersecurity engineering team, serving as the tier‑4 escalations point for complex architectural, routing, and access control challenges.
• Author enterprise‑level high‑level designs (HLD), low‑level designs (LLD), system security plans (SSP), and change‑management policies for executive‑level and government stakeholders.

Vendor & Capability Evaluation

• Stay abreast of the latest Palo Alto PAN‑OS and Versa Networks feature sets, performing proof‑of‑concepts (PoC) to evaluate and deploy next‑generation capabilities.
• Champion security‑as‑code and automation initiatives, using APIs and orchestration tools to automate secure connectivity and zero‑touch deployments.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

• This is primarily a Telework position with a requirement to be onsite at least two (2) days a week or as needed at Quantico Marine Corps Base VA. Additional onsite time may be required during initial onboarding and program integration.
• If alternate worksite is other than DCSA facilities or corporate office space, must have the reliable ability to communicate over voice (cell phone preferred) and stable, capable internet connection.
• Must be able to communicate complex technical ideas to a diverse customer base both verbally and in written form.