Palo Alto Firewall SME (Project-Based | Azure Gov Environment)

Location: Remote (U.S.-Based Only)
Citizenship Requirement: U.S. Citizen (must currently reside in the United States)
Duration: Project-Based (Estimated 60–80 hours; potential for expansion based on assessment findings)
Schedule: Flexible; 2nd Shift Availability Preferred
Clearance: Not required to start; ability to support secure environments preferred

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced Palo Alto Firewall Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support a short-term, project-based engagement focused on transitioning to the next-generation Palo Alto firewall platform within a production Azure Government environment.

This engagement will begin with a comprehensive assessment of the current network and security infrastructure, followed by the design and implementation of an optimized solution. The scope of work may range from incremental upgrades/patching of existing systems to a full-scale replacement and modernization effort, depending on assessment findings.

This role requires a senior-level engineer with deep Palo Alto expertise, strong networking fundamentals, and hands-on experience operating in secure cloud environments.

Key Responsibilities

Assessment & Discovery

• Conduct a detailed assessment of the current firewall and network environment
• Identify gaps, risks, and modernization opportunities
• Evaluate whether existing infrastructure can be upgraded or requires replacement
• Provide clear recommendations and implementation roadmap

Solution Design

• Architect a scalable and secure next-generation Palo Alto firewall solution
• Design for Azure Government cloud integration and compliance requirements
• Define network segmentation, security policies, and access controls
• Align design with best practices for performance, security, and maintainability

Implementation & Migration

• Execute firewall upgrades, reconfigurations, or full replacement as required
• Configure and deploy Palo Alto firewalls (physical and/or virtual)
• Implement security policies, NAT rules, VPNs, and routing configurations
• Ensure minimal disruption to production systems during transition

Validation & Optimization

• Perform testing and validation of the implemented solution
• Optimize performance, security posture, and reliability
• Provide documentation and knowledge transfer to internal stakeholders

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of hands-on experience with Palo Alto Networks firewalls (SME-level expertise)
• Strong background in network engineering (routing, switching, security architecture)
• Proven experience designing and implementing firewall solutions in production environments
• Hands-on experience working in Microsoft Azure (Azure Government preferred)
• Ability to independently assess, design, and implement solutions with minimal oversight
• U.S. Citizenship and current residence in the United States

Preferred Qualifications

• CompTIA Security+ certification (or equivalent security certification)
• Azure certifications (e.g., AZ-104, AZ-500)
• Experience with cloud network security and hybrid environments
• Prior experience supporting federal or DoD environments

Additional Details

• This is a short-duration, high-impact engagement estimated at 60–80 hours, though scope may expand based on initial assessment findings
• Ideal for a senior consultant or independent SME capable of quickly evaluating and executing complex network/security transformations
• Flexible scheduling available, with preference for candidates open to 2nd shift work

Summary

This role is ideal for a senior Palo Alto expert who can step in, quickly assess an environment, and determine the most effective path forward—whether that's targeted upgrades or a full infrastructure overhaul—and execute with precision in a secure Azure Government environment.