Senior Network Security Engineer - WAAP (Web Application & API Protection)

Role: Senior Network Security Engineer – WAAP (Web Application & API Protection)
Location: Houston, TX (Onsite)
 

Note: WAAP (Web Application & API Protection) experience is a must.

Key Responsibilities

• Translate business and application security requirements into enterprise-grade WAAP and network security architectures.
• Develop and support solutions aligned with the application security and defense-in-depth strategy.
• Lead architecture, design, and deployment of Web Application and API Protection (WAAP) solutions across global environments.
• Develop and drive a multi-year roadmap for application-layer security, including WAF, API security, bot protection, and DDoS mitigation.

WAAP Responsibilities (Primary Focus)

• Architect, implement, and manage WAAP platforms, including:
  • Web Application Firewall (WAF)
  • API Security (discovery, protection, runtime analysis)
  • Bot Management
  • DDoS Protection (L3–L7)
• Design and deploy WAAP solutions using platforms such as:
  • Thales Imperva
  • Cloud-native WAFs (Azure, AWS WAF) or equivalent
• Develop and maintain custom WAF rules, security policies, and signatures to protect critical applications.
• Perform false positive tuning, policy optimization, and rule of lifecycle management.
• Enable API discovery, schema enforcement, and protection against OWASP API Top 10 threats.
• Integrate WAAP with:
  • SIEM/SOAR platforms
  • Identity providers
  • Threat intelligence feeds
• Collaborate with application teams to:
  • Onboard applications into WAAP platforms
  • Perform security assessments and risk reviews
  • Ensure minimal performance impact while enforcing strong security controls
• Implement protection against OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities (SQLi, XSS, RCE, etc.).
• Lead WAAP incident response and root cause analysis for application-layer attacks.
• Define and track application security metrics and KPIs (attack trends, mitigation effectiveness).
• Ensure compliance with security frameworks (CIS, NIST, Zero Trust, data protection standards).

Core Network Security Responsibilities

• Architect and maintain secure network infrastructure across data center, campus, and cloud environments.
• Conduct security design reviews ensuring compliance with enterprise security standards.
• Provide risk reporting, control effectiveness, and security posture visibility.
• Support internal and external security audits.
• Manage and optimize Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems.
• Develop and maintain network security policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity, infrastructure, and application teams globally.

Technical Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in network security architecture, engineering, and operations.

WAAP & Application Security Expertise (Mandatory)

• Strong experience with WAAP platforms (Akamai preferred; Cloud WAF or equivalent accepted).
• Deep understanding of:
  • OWASP Top 10 (Web & API)
  • Application-layer threats and mitigation techniques
• Hands-on experience in:
  • WAF policy creation and tuning
  • API security controls (schema validation, authentication enforcement)
  • Bot mitigation strategies
  • DDoS protection architecture (L3–L7)
• Experience in:
  • Traffic analysis (HTTP/HTTPS, TLS inspection)
  • Behavioral-based threat detection
• Strong understanding of:
  • Secure application architectures (monolith, microservices, APIs)
  • DevSecOps integration and CI/CD security controls (nice to have)

Network Security & Infrastructure

• Strong hands-on experience in:
  • Firewalls (Fortinet, Palo Alto, Juniper)
  • IDS/IPS, VPN, SIEM
• Expertise in:
  • Firewall policy design, NAT, routing, inspection, and threat prevention
• Experience in designing secure:
  • Hybrid (on-prem + cloud + internet-facing) environments
• Experience in:
  • Proxy architectures (forward/reverse)
  • Secure internet gateways

Networking & Protocol Expertise

• Strong knowledge of:
  • TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, TLS/SSL
  • Routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, MPLS)
• Experience with:
  • QoS, NetFlow, ACLs, NAT, IP traffic management
  • Network monitoring and analysis tools

Cloud & Integration

• Experience securing applications in:
  • AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform
• Familiarity with:
  • Cloud-native WAF and API security tools
• Integration experience with:
  • SIEM, EDR/XDR, IAM platforms

Data Center & Enterprise Networking

• Experience managing enterprise environments with:
  • Aruba, Arista, Juniper switches
  • Firewalls, load balancers, WAN optimization tools
• Understanding of:
  • High availability and performance optimization for application traffic

Operations & Lifecycle Management

• Lead onboarding and lifecycle management of applications into WAAP platforms.
• Perform security tuning, upgrades, and optimization activities.
• Support incident response and threat mitigation at application layer.
• Work within ITIL frameworks (incident, problem, change management).

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, IT, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 10+ years of experience in enterprise network security and application security.
• Preferred certifications:
  • CCNP / CCIE / JNCIE
  • Security certifications (CISSP, CISM)
  • Vendor certifications (Akamai, AWS Security, Azure Security)