Network And Security Engineer - Healthcare It (Acrn) - Harare Or Johannesburg

Ellison Institute Of Technology Oxford; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 75 000 - 95 000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare technology institute in Johannesburg is seeking a Network and Security Engineer to design and maintain secure network infrastructures. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in healthcare IT security and compliance with healthcare regulations. Responsibilities include managing HL7 data interoperability and ensuring the security of health information systems while collaborating with various teams. Competitive salary and full-time role.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in network security and IT infrastructure, preferably in healthcare.
• Experience securing EHRs and cloud health platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
• Certifications like CCNA Security or CISSP preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain secure network architectures for healthcare IT.
• Manage HL7 interfaces and ensure compliance with regulations.
• Conduct risk assessments and monitor security incidents.

Skills

Network security expertise

Knowledge of HL7, FHIR, DICOM

Problem-solving skills

Excellent communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Cisco security devices

Palo Alto devices

Fortinet devices

Juniper devices

Job description

Overview

Network and Security Engineer - Healthcare IT (ACRN) - Harare or Johannesburg Location : Harare or Johannesburg, South Africa – On site at one of these locations Hours : Full Time Reports to : Chief Technology Officer - Africa Clinical Research Network Work Environment : This position can be based in Zimbabwe or South Africa, with occasional travel to other office locations as necessary. The role may require flexible working hours to support remote teams and ensure systems are running smoothly across time zones.

Job Summary

We are seeking a Network and Security Engineer with expertise in healthcare IT security, HL7 data exchange, and regulatory compliance. This role is responsible for designing, implementing, and securing network infrastructure in a healthcare environment, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of Health Information Systems (HIS) while supporting interoperability standards such as HL7, FHIR, and DICOM.

The ideal candidate will have strong experience in network security, healthcare data standards, and regulatory compliance (HIPAA, HITECH, POPIA, GDPR) and will play a key role in securing electronic health records (EHRs) and clinical data exchanges both on premise and across multiple clouds.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain secure network architectures for healthcare IT environments, including hospitals, clinics, IoT and telemedicine platforms.
• Manage and secure HL7 interfaces, FHIR APIs, and data interoperability between healthcare systems (EHRs, PACS, LIS, HIS, RIS, etc.).
• Configure, maintain, and optimize firewalls, VPNs, IDS/IPS, NAC, Cloud Security and secure VLAN segmentation to ensure network security.
• Design and manage the organization SD‑WAN and its policies; Implement a ZERO Trust environment.
• Establish secure data channels allowing for health data sharing and interoperability; Create secure trusts between ACRN and partner sites.
• Troubleshoot network connectivity and integration issues related to HL7 data exchange and interoperability.
• Implement encryption, access control, and data loss prevention (DLP) strategies to protect HIS/EHR and sensitive patient records.
• Ensure compliance with healthcare data protection regulations (HIPAA, HITECH, POPIA, GDPR, GCP, GLP, ISO).
• Conduct risk assessments, vulnerability scans, and penetration testing; Develop and enforce security policies and procedures for healthcare IT infrastructure.
• Monitor SIEM solutions for suspicious activity; Respond to cyber threats, malware, ransomware, and phishing; Lead incident response and forensic investigations; Develop disaster recovery (DR) and business continuity (BC) plans.
• Manage Microsoft environment security (Intune, MDM, Active Directory Online).
• Secure messaging protocols (HL7 v2.x, HL7 v3, FHIR, DICOM, X12, CDA, IHE); Collaborate with EHR vendors, medical device manufacturers, and HIEs; Monitor API security for FHIR-based applications.
• Work with healthcare IT teams, compliance officers, and clinicians; Stay updated on emerging threats in healthcare cybersecurity; Provide security awareness training.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Healthcare Informatics, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in network security and IT infrastructure, preferably in a healthcare environment.
• Strong knowledge of healthcare standards and data security (HL7, FHIR, DICOM, HIPAA, HITECH, ISO, POPIA).
• Hands‑on experience with firewalls, VPNs, IDS/IPS, SIEM, and endpoint security solutions.
• Proficiency in Cisco, Palo Alto, Fortinet, Juniper networking and security devices.
• Experience securing EHRs, health information exchanges (HIEs), and cloud‑based health platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud for Healthcare).
• Strong understanding of medical device security, IoT security, and cloud security best practices.
• Knowledge of scripting and automation (Python, PowerShell, Bash) is an advantage.
• Certifications (Preferred): CCNA Security / CCNP Security, CISSP, CEH, HCISPP, CompTIA Security+, HL7 Specialist.
• Strong problem‑solving and analytical skills in network security and healthcare IT environments.
• Excellent communication skills to work effectively with technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Ability to work under pressure in fast‑paced healthcare environments with high data sensitivity.

Application

Please apply online providing a covering letter specifically highlighting how your existing skills and experiences support fulfilling the responsibilities of this role.