Network Security Engineer- Candidate MUST be a SC resident-W2 Only

Role: Network Security Engineer- Candidate MUST be a SC resident-W2 Only

Location: Columbia, SC

Duration: One Year Contract with possibility of extensions

Interview Process: 2 rounds - 1st interview will be virtual, 2nd round will be onsite in Columbia, SC

Job Summary:

The Office of Cybersecurity ensures the confidentiality, integrity and availability of agency’s systems and services. Strong candidate must have hands-on experience with:

• Data network design best practices
• Routing and switching protocols
• Network security best practices
• On-premise and/or cloud networking environments
• This role requires someone who can contribute independently on technical tasks and support more senior analysts on complex initiatives.

Technical Experience:

Candidates should have hands-on experience with:

1.            Secure network design principles

2.            Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems

3.            Switching and Routing

4.            Enterprise Firewalls

5.            Network auditing

6.            IDS/IPS platforms

7.            Network security monitoring

8.            SIEM platforms such as QRadar, Splunk (Preferred)

9.            Vulnerability scanning tools (Nessus, Qualys, etc.)

10.          Cloud Infrastructure Security (Preferred)

Essential Responsibilities:

• Assist in maturing network security and compliance solutions
• Investigate and respond to daily network alerts
• Perform network security assessments for proposed firewall and infrastructure changes
• Conduct technical analysis for network security planning and engineering
• Review and assessment of connectivity, website block and firewall rule requests to ensure they do not present an elevated risk to the agency
• Analyze on-premise and cloud networks for potential threats
• Develop, review, and analyze network traffic reports that violate the agency’s approved standards governing Ports, Protocols and Services.
• Monitor emerging threat vectors and recommend countermeasures
• Collaborate with other areas of the agency to implement security controls
• Support cloud and on-premise network changes and enhancement projects
• Ensure compliance with ARC-AMPE, HIPAA and  SCDIS-200
• Assist with KPI creation and trend report monitoring
• Participate in firewall configuration reviews and ruleset recertification
• Provide guidance on best practices to technical teams
• Perform additional SOC duties as assigned

Required Skills:

• BS degree in Computer Science, information systems, Cybersecurity, or related field; or 5+ years equivalent experience
• A network security centric certification such as PCNSE or CCNA
• 3-5 years of hands-on experience in network design, implementation, or support
• Experience in IT security or system administration
• Working knowledge of secure network design, security architecture, compliance tools, data protection, and access models
• Ability to analyze logs, alerts, and network telemetry.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools

Preferred Skills:

• CISSP or Security+
• Experience working in regulatory environments
• Experience supporting health IT or state government.
• Familiarity with FISMA, NIST, CMS ARC-AMPE, and HIPAA security and privacy standards
• Cloud network security controls (Azure or AWS).