Zero Trust Network Access Architect/Engineer

ASRC Federal; Virginia, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care

Dental

Vision

Life insurance

401(k)

Education assistance

Paid time off

Job summary

ASRC Federal is seeking a Senior Zero Trust Network Architect / Principal Engineer to lead ZTNA and SASE efforts for the DCSA program based at Quantico, VA. Telework with onsite two days a week.

You will guide architecture, governance, and security policy across hybrid cloud environments, leveraging Palo Alto and Versa platforms, with a focus on secure access and threat prevention.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years in network security engineering and infrastructure security.
• 3–4 years architecting Zero Trust and SASE in enterprise or federal environments.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Engineering, Information Systems Management, or related field; Master’s degree accepted.
• Active Secret Clearance required; eligible for TS/SCI.
• Vendor certifications: PCNSE, PCZTNSE, VCSP/VCSS.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Principal Architect for the DCSA Zero Trust journey, defining roadmaps and reference architectures.
• Lead end-to-end design and deployment of Palo Alto GlobalProtect and Versa SASE for cloud, hybrid on-premises, and mobile endpoints.
• Define and govern security policy templates within Palo Alto Panorama to enforce micro-segmentation and threat prevention.
• Architect DLP, SSL/TLS decryption, and threat prevention across egress/ingress.
• Collaborate with IAM to integrate ZTNA/SASE with Okta/Azure AD and real-time context.
• Provide technical leadership; produce HLD/LLD/SSP and change-management policies.

Skills

Zero Trust Architecture

SASE

Palo Alto Networks

Panorama

GlobalProtect

Versa Networks SASE

NIST SP 800-207

Active Secret Clearance

Security Architecture

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity/related field

Master’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Panorama

GlobalProtect

Versa Networks SASE

SIEM

SOAR

EDR/XDR

Job description

Zero Trust Network Access Architect/Engineer

Job Description

Posted Monday, August 31, 2026 at 4:00 AM

ASRC Federal is a leading government contractor furthering missions in space, public health and defense. As an Alaska Native owned corporation, our work helps secure an enduring future for our shareholders. Join our team and discover why we are atop veteran employer and Certified Great Place to Work™

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.

• 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

We invest in the lives of our employees, both in and out of the workplace, by providing competitive pay and benefits packages. Benefits offered may include health care, dental, vision, life insurance; 401(k); education assistance; paid time off including PTO, holidays, and any other paid leave required by law. The salary offered will depend on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, skills, education, geographic location, internal equity, business needs, and other factors permitted by law. Posted pay ranges are a general guideline only and are not a guarantee of compensation or salary.

EEO Statement

ASRC Federal and its Subsidiaries are Equal Opportunity employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, gender, color, age, sexual orientation, gender identification, national origin, religion, marital status, ancestry, citizenship, disability, protected veteran status, or any other factor prohibited by applicable law.