Network Security Engineer Job Description, Duties, and Responsibilities

This post presents exhaustive information on the network security engineer job description, including the main duties, tasks, and responsibilities they typically carry out.

It also provides the major requirements that candidates for the network security engineer role are usually asked to satisfy to be qualified for hiring.

What Does a Network Security Engineer Do?

The network security engineer is responsible for the design and implementation of network security solutions in an organization, not excluding network security testing and implementation of new products or improvements to existing and current products.

His/her job description entails providing support to the production environment and ensuring that the right security policies and practices are implemented and enforced, including conducting client penetration and vulnerability test and reports.

His/her other roles might involve working with other teams in the organization as a technical resource in all technical matters, such as educating and replying clients on issues ranging from features, functionality to integration, specifications, and installation.

The network security engineer’s work description may also entail Installation and configuration of Cisco LAN, WAN and wireless infrastructure, assisting in maintaining the operating system and security software used on the network, and executing maintenance to enhance network availability.

Network Security Engineer Job Description Example/Sample/Template

Network security engineers perform various different functions with different clients or employers, depending on the prevailing requirements that have to work with.

However, the job description example shown below provides typical tasks, duties, and responsibilities commonly assigned to network security engineers:

• Project, configure, implement, and maintain all security platforms and any other related software, such as anti-virus, routers, Anti-SPAM, switches, intrusion detection or intrusion prevention, firewalls, cryptography systems, SIEM, and MDM
• Plan and appraise ongoing assessment of antivirus, application control, firewall, SIEM, VPN, SSL, intrusion detection or intrusion prevention and other network component policies
• Guarantee network security best practices are executed through auditing: router, change control, switch, firewall configurations, and monitoring
• Responsible for periodic vulnerability testing, and lead remediation projects
• Articulate systems and methodologies as well as reply to security-related events and support in remediation efforts
• Coordinate and oversee log analysis for company managed services offerings to ensure customer policy and security requirements are met
• Maintain network security devices to enable pro-active defense of networks within a managed service SOC environment, providing protective monitoring to multiple commercial customers
• Work under the direction of the Team Leader to maintain security devices and show practical experience in managing SIEM environments, firewalls, content filters, NIDS, proxy servers, HIPS, and packet capture devices
• Work with customers to form and fix appropriate policy and signature rules. This comprises tuning and development of the creation of custom intrusion detection and SIEM signatures and rules, including the efficient on-boarding and understanding of varying customer log sources into SIEM environments
• Work in collaboration with appropriate stakeholders to ensure customers have devices that are fully operational and secure
• Act under authorization from engineering to maintain the configuration and have a comprehensive understanding and technical know-how in server administration, including GPO deployment, patching, and network device configuration, and hardware management (including cable management)
• Work under strict change control processes to ensure only authorized changes are made to devices
• Collaborate with sales, product management, engineering, and other departments on security-related items and any other duties as assigned by the firm.

Requirements – Skills, Abilities, and Knowledge – for Network Security Engineer Role

If you are seeking the role of a network security engineer, most employers will expect you to meet the following requirements and qualifications to be eligible to access the job:

• Extensive technical know-how of security network devices (switches, antivirus, firewalls, cryptography, SIEM) and any other security networking hardware or software tools
• Minimum, two years experience identifying threats and developing appropriate protection measures
• Knowledge of Cisco ASA Firewall and strong routing & switching experience is an added advantage
• Reviewing system changes for security implications and recommending improvements
• Excellent hands-on experience and knowledge implementing, configuring, integrating and supporting the network security with Checkpoint, F5 Load balancers, BigIP LTM, GTM, IPAM, Cisco ISE, Palo Alto, Juniper, BlueCoast security solutions, or Fortinet. (Not all are needed but the more you have, the more advantages you accrue in securing a job)
• CISCO, CCNP, CCNA, CCIE, CCSA, FCNSP, CISSP, SSCP, CEH, GIAC, Security +, OSCP, CompTIA Server+, MCSE, LPIC, CompTIA Cloud+, VCP, or CCSE qualified
• Knowledge of networking concepts such as WAN connectivity, transport types and protocols, and experience with wireless technology and Wireless deployment for a user base over 500 users per site
• Cisco orientated IOS understanding, working with Routers and Switch Platforms and Experience working with stakeholders at an Operational Level
• Good team player, Self-confident, motivated, and independent
• Excellent communication skills
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in information systems or Computer engineering/science
• Ability to remain calm while multi-tasking and working under pressure in a fast-paced environment
• Attention to details and good problem-solving skills.

Conclusion

The role of a network security engineer is important in an organization due to their help in securing, resolving, and improving the network systems security of their organization.

If you are an employer needing to hire for this position, the sample job description provided in this post will assist you in making a detailed description of the role in your organization to attract the best qualified candidates.

This post also helps individuals interested in the network security engineering career to learn about the job; the duties and responsibilities they may be assigned if hired for the role. With this information, they can decide if that is the career they want to get into.