Network Security Consultant

Role: Network Security Engineer – Contractor
Type: Contract, 6-12 months, with potential for hire
Location: Hybrid in Euclid, Ohio
Eligibility: US Permanent Residency is required for this role

Summary
We are seeking a hands-on Network Security Consultant to help strengthen and secure a large enterprise network environment. This role will focus on hardening network infrastructure, managing firmware and security updates, remediating vulnerabilities, and partnering closely with both Network and Security teams to reduce overall cybersecurity risk. Strong Cisco and Palo Alto firewall experience is required. The ideal candidate is technically strong, takes ownership of projects, communicates effectively with technical stakeholders, and is confident making recommendations—even when they require difficult conversations.

Qualifications and Required Skills

• 5+ years of experience in Network Engineering or Network Security within a large enterprise environment.
• Strong experience with Cisco networking technologies, including Catalyst Center (DNA Center), Catalyst switches, ISR routers, and Cisco Nexus.
• Hands-on experience administering and securing Palo Alto firewalls.
• Experience performing network device hardening, firmware upgrades, and vulnerability remediation.
• Knowledge of secure network design principles, including segmentation, access control, logging, and VPN security.
• Experience conducting network security or risk assessments.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate across technical teams and confidently present recommendations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting both IT and OT (Operational Technology) environments.
• Exposure to industrial networking or PLC-based manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with network architecture design and traffic flow analysis.
• Experience supporting enterprise vulnerability management or security improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform security hardening of network infrastructure, including switches, routers, firewalls, VPNs, and edge devices.
• Plan and implement firmware and software updates for Cisco networking equipment and Palo Alto firewalls.
• Identify, assess, and remediate vulnerabilities across the enterprise network environment.
• Conduct network risk assessments and recommend security improvements based on industry best practices.
• Partner with Network Engineering and Cybersecurity teams to support security initiatives ranging from routine maintenance to large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Assist with firewall policy reviews, network segmentation, secure management plane configuration, and access controls.
• Utilize Cisco Catalyst Center (DNA Center) to monitor device health, compliance, software advisories, and patch posture.
• Validate network architecture and security requirements for new projects and infrastructure changes.
• Document network flows, security recommendations, and implementation plans.
• Serve as the primary network resource for security-related initiatives and take ownership of driving