ACL Firewall Engineer

Location: Remote (VA Support)
Salary Range: $110,000 -$120,000 Annually
Level: Senior Application Analyst 

Position Overview

MKS2 is seeking an experienced ACL Firewall Engineer to support the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The ideal candidate will be responsible for designing, implementing, and managing firewall Access Control Lists (ACLs) to secure enterprise networks and protect sensitive VA data, including PHI, PII, and other mission-critical information. This role will collaborate with network, systems, and cybersecurity teams to ensure secure, compliant, and efficient network operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain firewall ACLs across enterprise environments.
• Review and optimize firewall policies to prevent unauthorized access and mitigate cyber threats.
• Develop and document firewall security policies and procedures aligned with VA and federal security requirements.
• Collaborate with network engineers, system administrators, and security teams to support new and existing network segments.
• Conduct firewall and ACL audits to ensure compliance with organizational security standards.
• Support incident response activities involving firewall-related security events.
• Develop technical documentation, workflows, and operational procedures for firewall management.
• Provide guidance and best practices related to network segmentation and security architecture.
• Assist stakeholders in defining and implementing network security requirements.
• Stay current on emerging firewall technologies, industry trends, and evolving cyber threats.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electronics Engineering, or a related field with 10+ years of IT experience; OR 18+ years of IT experience in lieu of a degree.
• Extensive experience designing, implementing, and managing firewall ACLs.
• Experience evaluating and maintaining firewall security policies.
• Strong understanding of network security architecture, segmentation, and threat mitigation.
• Experience conducting compliance reviews and security audits.
• Ability to create technical diagrams, documentation, and security design artifacts.
• Knowledge of identity and access integrations including Active Directory, LDAP, and SAML.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) environments.
• Experience integrating open-source or emerging security tools into firewall infrastructures.
• Experience supporting firewalls within DevOps or automated deployment environments.
• Security certifications such as Security+, CISSP, CCNP Security, or equivalent are a plus.

Why Join MKS2?

• Support critical VA cybersecurity initiatives.
• Work alongside highly skilled cloud, network, and security professionals.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package.
• Opportunity to contribute to the protection of Veteran and federal information systems.

Employment Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain any required federal background investigation or clearance.