Firewall Specialist

Optimal Growth Technologies; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 850,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Optimal Growth Technologies is seeking an experienced WAN, Check Point Firewall and Azure Networking Engineer for a 6-month contract. You will design, implement, monitor and optimise enterprise networks, firewalls and Azure connectivity to ensure high availability and security across hybrid environments.

The candidate should have hands-on experience with WAN technologies, Check Point administration, Azure networking and strong knowledge of routing, security principles and ITIL-change management

Qualifications

• We require strong hands-on experience with enterprise WAN and Check Point firewall administration.
• Azure networking experience and certifications are advantageous.
• Solid understanding of TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VPN, routing protocols and security practices.

Responsibilities

• Design, configure and support enterprise WAN and LAN network environments.
• Manage WAN connectivity, routing and network performance; troubleshoot complex issues.
• Install, configure and maintain Check Point firewalls and manage policies.
• Design, implement and support Microsoft Azure networking environments.
• Ensure security, availability and resilience across hybrid cloud networks.

Skills

WAN technologies

Check Point Firewall

Azure Networking

TCP/IP DNS DHCP VPN

BGP OSPF

Network monitoring

ITIL Change management

Hybrid cloud

Security principles

Troubleshooting

Education

Relevant degree, diploma or technical qualification in IT, Networking

Job description

Check Point Firewall Engineer

Contract Duration: 6 month contract

Role Overview

We are looking for an experienced WAN, Check Point Firewall & Azure Networking Engineer to join our technology team. The successful candidate will be responsible for the design, implementation, administration, monitoring, troubleshooting and optimisation of enterprise network and security environments.

The role requires strong hands‑on experience across WAN technologies, Check Point firewalls and Microsoft Azure networking, with a focus on network availability, performance, security and resilience.

Key Responsibilities

WAN & Network Infrastructure

• Design, configure and support enterprise WAN and LAN network environments.
• Manage WAN connectivity, routing and network performance.
• Troubleshoot complex network connectivity and performance issues.
• Configure and manage routing protocols such as BGP and OSPF.
• Monitor network availability, capacity and performance.
• Work with service providers to resolve connectivity and circuit‑related incidents.
• Support network changes, upgrades and migrations.
• Ensure network infrastructure meets availability, performance and security requirements.

Check Point Firewall

• Install, configure, administer and maintain Check Point firewalls.
• Manage firewall policies, NAT, VPNs, access rules and security configurations.
• Perform firewall rule reviews and optimisation.
• Troubleshoot firewall and network security incidents.
• Monitor firewall performance, logs and security events.
• Implement security changes in accordance with change management processes.
• Support high‑availability firewall environments.
• Ensure firewall configurations comply with organisational security standards.

Azure Networking

• Design, implement and support Microsoft Azure networking environments.
• Configure and manage:
• Azure Virtual Networks (VNet)
• Subnets
• Network Security Groups (NSGs)
• Azure Firewall
• Route Tables / UDRs
• VPN Gateway
• ExpressRoute
• Load Balancers
• Private Endpoints
• VNet Peering
• Support hybrid connectivity between on-premises infrastructure and Azure.
• Troubleshoot Azure network connectivity and routing issues.
• Assist with Azure network migrations and cloud transformation initiatives.
• Implement secure and scalable Azure network architectures.

Technical Requirements

• Strong hands‑on experience with WAN technologies and enterprise networking.
• Strong Check Point Firewall administration and troubleshooting experience.
• Strong Microsoft Azure Networking experience.
• Good understanding of TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VPN and network security.
• Experience with BGP, OSPF and routing protocols.
• Experience with network monitoring and troubleshooting tools.
• Understanding of high availability and disaster recovery principles.
• Experience supporting hybrid cloud environments.
• Strong knowledge of network security principles and best practices.

Qualifications & Certifications

• Relevant degree, diploma or technical qualification in IT, Networking or a related field.
• Check Point certification such as CCSA/CCSE would be advantageous.
• Microsoft Azure networking certification such as AZ-700 would be advantageous.
• Cisco certification such as CCNA/CCNP would be beneficial.

Key Competencies

• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Excellent problem‑solving ability.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work under pressure in a production environment.
• Strong documentation and reporting skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a technical team.
• Strong understanding of ITIL and change management processes.
• Excellent attention to detail and security awareness.

Experience

• 8+ years' experience in enterprise networking and infrastructure.
• Proven experience supporting WAN environments.Strong hands‑on Check Point Firewall experience.
• Strong experience with Azure Networking and hybrid cloud environments.
• Experience working in large, complex enterprise environments is advantageous.