Staff Engineer (Infrastructure Networking)

Job Description
We are seeking a Staff Palo Alto Network Engineer to help mature and optimize our global network security environment with a focus on Zero Trust architecture, alignment to NIST cybersecurity frameworks, and proactive risk reduction. This role is critical to ensuring that our firewall infrastructure and security posture evolve in step with business priorities, regulatory compliance, and industry best practices.
The ideal candidate brings deep experience in managing and refining Palo Alto Networks solutions across complex, hybrid enterprise environments. Beyond deployment, this position requires a strategic mindset-someone who can evaluate current controls, identify gaps, drive standardization, and lead continuous improvement efforts.
Primary Responsibilities and Duties - This role will be focused on these key functions :

• Serve as the subject matter expert for Palo Alto Networks firewalls, Panorama, and Prisma Access, ensuring ongoing performance, scalability, and consistency
• Drive maturity of network security architecture, focusing on Zero Trust Network Architecture (ZTNA) and alignment to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) and 800-207 guidelines
• Lead ongoing optimization of firewall policies, rulebase hygiene, and configuration standards across environments
• Define and enforce enterprise-wide security policy frameworks, including tagging standards, object naming conventions, and access control methodologies
• Refine and maintain authentication profile integrations (e.g., LDAP, SAML, RADIUS, MFA) to support granular, identity-based security models
• Collaborate with stakeholders to align firewall controls and network segmentation to business risks and priorities
• Conduct periodic assessments and gap analyses to measure posture against best practices, compliance requirements, and internal audit standards
• Participate in cross-functional projects to ensure network security is embedded in infrastructure lifecycle processes (e.g., change management, architecture reviews)
• Maintain documentation, reference architectures, and runbooks to support knowledge transfer, audit readiness, and operational excellence
• Provide mentorship and guidance to junior team members and collaborate with broader InfoSec, cloud, and infrastructure teams
• Support security incident response by providing firewall data, analysis, and rule adjustments as needed

Qualifications
What you'll bring:

• 5-8+ years of experience managing enterprise firewall environments, ideally in regulated or highly available environment
• Expertise with Palo Alto Networks solutions (PA Series firewalls, Panorama, Prisma Access)
• Deep understanding of Zero Trust principles and ability to apply them in real-world enterprise environments
• Strong grasp of NIST CSF, 800-207, and other industry-aligned security architecture and control frameworks
• Experience developing and managing firewall policy baselines, segmentation strategies, and governance documentation
• Proficiency in managing authentication profiles and integrating identity platforms (e.g., Okta, Azure AD) with network controls
• Experience in hybrid cloud and IaaS environments (e.g., AWS, Azure) and their impact on network security architecture

Certifications:

• PCNSE (Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer) - Required
• CCNP Security, CCNP Enterprise, or CCIE - Preferred
• Security certifications such as CISSP, Security+, or GIAC - Strongly Preferred

Preferred:

• Familiarity with Cisco networking technologies (routing/switching, ISE) is preferred
• Leading security hardening or firewall optimization initiatives
• Developing internal standards aligned to Zero Trust maturity models
• Automation and scripting experience (e.g., Ansible, Python, Terraform) is a plus
• Exposure to SD-WAN or SASE frameworks
• Education: Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or related field.

Additional Information
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
Achieve well-being with:

• Hybrid and remote work opportunities for certain roles
• 401 (k) with employer match
• Medical, dental, and vision with HSA and FSA options
• Competitive vacation and sick time off, as well as dedicated volunteer days
• Access to wellness support through Employee Assistance Program, physical and mental health wellness programs
• Up to $5,250 paid back to you on eligible education expenses
• Pet care discounts for your furry family members
• Financial support in times of hardship with our Achieve Care Fund
• A safe place to connect and a commitment to diversity and inclusion through our six employee resource groups

Join Achieve, change the future.
At Achieve, we're changing millions of lives. From the single parent trying to catch up on bills to the entrepreneur needing a loan for the next phase of growth, you'll get to be a part of their journey to a better financial future. We're proud to have over 3,000 employees in mostly hybrid and 100% remote roles across the United States with hubs in Arizona, California, and Texas. We are strategically growing our teams with more remote, work-from-home opportunities every day to better serve our members. A career at Achieve is more than a job-it's a place where you can make a true impact, have a sense of belonging, establish a fulfilling career, and put your well-being first.
Attention Agencies & Search Firms: We do not accept unsolicited candidate resumes or profiles. Please do not reach out to anyone within Achieve to market your services or candidates. All inquiries should be directed to Talent Acquisition only. We reserve the right to hire any candidates sent unsolicited and will not pay any fees without a contract signed by Achieve's Talent Acquisition leader.
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Company Description
Achieve is a leading digital personal finance company. We help everyday people move from struggling to thriving by providing innovative, personalized financial solutions. By leveraging proprietary data and analytics, our solutions are tailored for each step of our member's financial journey to include personal loans, home equity loans, debt consolidation, financial tools and education. Every day, we get to help our members move their finances forward with care, compassion, and empathetic touch. We put people first and treat them like humans, not account numbers.