Principal Engineer Network Security

Verizon•Boston, MA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Global Network & Technology team seeks a highly motivated Network Security Engineer to secure and harden Verizon's Telemetry networks. This role requires candidates to translate high-level security frameworks into concrete configurations for telemetry devices, focusing on security implementation beyond a standard firewall scope. The role requires deep expertise in network protocols, hands-on experience with routers/switches, SIEM tools (especially SPLUNK and ISE), and a strong focus on automation, threat detection, incident response, and continuous security validation across the organization. The Principal Engineer will specifically set strategic direction and define architectural patterns for long-term resilience. Lead the design, architecture, and implementation of cutting-edge network security solutions to address technology gaps. Act as the security subject matter expert in network design reviews, ensuring that all network assets meet stringent carrier-grade security standards and embed secure design patterns. Drive continuous improvement of network visibility and telemetry collection, conduct proactive threat hunting, and serve as escalation support for network security incidents. Execute root cause analysis for incidents, perform regular security control assessments, and lead strategic security solution implementation in a highly scalable environment. Design, develop, and refine high-fidelity detection logic to identify adversarial behavior across the network. Develop essential technical documentation, including Playbooks, Confluence pages, Network diagrams, and Method of Procedures (MOPs). Drive security architecture, lead policy implementation, manage incident response, and integrate security principles early into the development lifecycle. Leverage tools or custom automation, eg, Python, Ansible playbooks to run automated audits against security benchmarks, ensuring zero configuration drift. Proactively search for signs of lateral movement, exfiltration, and persistence within the environment using the MITRE ATT&CK framework as a guide. Analyze network logs and configurations to identify vulnerabilities, recommend & build proactive mitigations. Develop comprehensive assessment reports and provide prioritized recommendations for remediations. Identifying opportunities to mentor, guide, and delegate technical documentation/tasks to support the team and broader organization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field or four or more years of work experience.
Six or more years of relevant experience required, demonstrated through one or a combination of work and/or military experience, or specialized training.
Expert-level experience in securing/hardening networks in multi-vendor environments (Cisco IOS-XR/XE, Palo Alto, F5, Arista).
Proven ability to leverage TCP/IP internals, DNS security, and flow-based analysis (NetFlow/IPFIX) to baseline network behavior and intercept sophisticated lateral movement.
Strong practical experience with Splunk/SIEM tools is necessary for data analysis, dashboard creation, alerting, automation, risk-based alerting, managing notable events, and defining/tuning correlation searches.
Familiarity with Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions is also beneficial.
Demonstrated leadership skills are required, along with the ability to lead and manage cross-functional projects, build consensus, resolve conflict, negotiate, and possess strong analytical, communication, and programming skills.

Nice To Haves

Possession of a CCIE (Service Provider or Security) or Nokia NRS II/SRA is required.
Additional certifications such as CISSP, CompTIA Security+, OSCP, CCNP, CCIE, or CCNA are beneficial.
Expertise in using Python, Ansible, or Terraform to automate network device configurations and operations.
Competence in using Splunk or Elasticsearch for network data analysis, creating dashboards, setting up alerts, and handling large-scale internet data sources (Netflow, BGP, DNS, IDS logs).
Knowledge of Firewalls, VPNs, IDS/IPS, DDoS mitigation, encryption technologies (IPsec, TLS), identifying vulnerabilities in RAN, and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools like Splunk.
Familiarity with Network Function Virtualization (NFV), Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions, the system development lifecycle, mitigating network/system/application layer attacks, and working with SQL/NoSQL databases and UNIX/Linux operating systems.
Strong organizational, project management, and written/verbal communication abilities, with the capacity to collaborate with various stakeholders and demonstrate leadership and mentoring skills.
Fluency in security frameworks, particularly the application of CIS Benchmarks (Level 1 & 2 hardening) and mitigating MITRE ATT&CK Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) on network devices, along with a solid understanding of network security fundamentals.

Responsibilities

Set strategic direction and define architectural patterns for long-term resilience.
Lead the design, architecture, and implementation of cutting-edge network security solutions to address technology gaps.
Act as the security subject matter expert in network design reviews, ensuring that all network assets meet stringent carrier-grade security standards and embed secure design patterns.
Drive continuous improvement of network visibility and telemetry collection.
Conduct proactive threat hunting.
Serve as escalation support for network security incidents.
Execute root cause analysis for incidents.
Perform regular security control assessments.
Lead strategic security solution implementation in a highly scalable environment.
Design, develop, and refine high-fidelity detection logic to identify adversarial behavior across the network.
Develop essential technical documentation, including Playbooks, Confluence pages, Network diagrams, and Method of Procedures (MOPs).
Drive security architecture, lead policy implementation, manage incident response, and integrate security principles early into the development lifecycle.
Leverage tools or custom automation, eg, Python, Ansible playbooks to run automated audits against security benchmarks, ensuring zero configuration drift.
Proactively search for signs of lateral movement, exfiltration, and persistence within the environment using the MITRE ATT&CK framework as a guide.
Analyze network logs and configurations to identify vulnerabilities, recommend & build proactive mitigations.
Develop comprehensive assessment reports and provide prioritized recommendations for remediations.
Identify opportunities to mentor, guide, and delegate technical documentation/tasks to support the team and broader organization.