Network Security Lead Specialist Engineer

Job Title: Network Security Lead Specialist Engineer Location: Boise, ID Experience: 12+ Years Employment Type: Contract Interview Type: In-Person or Webcam Job Description The Network Security Lead Specialist Engineer will be responsible for designing, implementing, and managing enterprise-level network security solutions to safeguard critical business infrastructure and data. This role requires extensive experience with network security architecture, threat detection and response, and compliance management. The engineer will serve as a technical leader, guiding security strategy, evaluating new technologies, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure robust security posture and operational excellence. Key Responsibilities Lead the design, deployment, and administration of secure network architectures across on-premises and cloud environments. Manage firewall platforms, intrusion prevention systems, VPN technologies, secure routing, segmentation, and network access control solutions. Oversee security monitoring, incident response, threat analysis, and vulnerability management activities. Conduct security risk assessments, penetration testing coordination, remediation planning, and compliance audits. Develop and maintain network security policies, documentation, runbooks, and standard operating procedures. Collaborate with cybersecurity, infrastructure, DevOps, and cloud architecture teams to align security with business initiatives. Evaluate and recommend new security technologies, tools, and best practices. Lead and mentor a team of security engineers and analysts, providing technical direction and performance guidance. Support governance, regulatory compliance, and certification efforts including SOC2, NIST, PCI, and ISO. Coordinate and manage major security projects, escalations, and service delivery improvements. Ensure high availability and performance of security solutions within complex enterprise environments. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Security, Engineering, or related technical field. 12+ years of experience in network engineering and network security leadership roles. Strong hands-on experience with enterprise firewalls, IDS/IPS, WAF, NAC, VPN, and advanced threat protection platforms. Expert knowledge of routing and switching technologies including BGP, OSPF, MPLS, VLANs, SD-WAN, and network segmentation. Proficiency in cloud security solutions for AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. Strong experience with SIEM/SOAR tools and security log analysis. Proven experience leading security incident response and forensic investigations. Strong understanding of security frameworks and compliance standards such as NIST, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, and Zero Trust. Certifications such as CISSP, CCNP Security, CCIE Security, CEH, or equivalent. Preferred Skills Experience with automation and scripting using Python, PowerShell, or Ansible. Experience with container security and Kubernetes networking. Knowledge of identity security and MFA/SSO solutions. Experience managing third-party vendors and security contracts. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving capability, and communication skills.