AT&T

Principal Cybersecurity Engineer – Firewall Platforms: Firewall Policy with Operational Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AT&T$155K — $261K *
Information Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 8+ years managing firewall platforms in large-scale enterprise environments
  • Expertise in firewall policy lifecycle management, especially within Palo Alto
  • Strong technical knowledge of firewall constructs and troubleshooting
  • Ability to resolve network and security issues under pressure
  • Experience with centralized management tools like Panorama/SCM Pro
  • Proficient in analyzing traffic logs and packet captures
  • Experience with automation and AI-assisted workflows

Responsibilities

  • Own the lifecycle of firewall policy management
  • Execute safe changes adhering to change management processes
  • Operate and tune firewall infrastructure for compliance and performance
  • Troubleshoot policy issues with cross-functional teams
  • Progressively take ownership of complex security activities
  • Deliver secure changes effectively within enterprise systems
  • Support a 24x7 operational model, including on-call participation
  • Identify automation opportunities to enhance operational efficiency

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • 401(k) retirement plan
  • Tuition reimbursement program
  • Generous paid time off including vacations and holidays
  • Paid parental and caregiver leave
  • Additional sick leave beyond legal requirements
  • Adoption reimbursement support
  • Short-term and long-term disability benefits
  • Life and accidental death insurance
  • Employee assistance programs and wellness initiatives
  • Significant discounts on AT&T services and products
Full Job Description

This position requires office presence of a minimum of 5 days per week and is only located in the location(s) posted. No relocation is offered.

We are hiring aPrincipal Cybersecurity Engineer (Firewall Platform)to join our high-performing cybersecurity Team. This is ahands-on keyboard, deeply technical, Engineering role for experts withreal-world Firewall Policy operations and management experienceat thelarge-scale enterprise level. You will be responsible forhands-on-keyboards managing, operating, and optimizing Enterprise Firewall Platforms, drivingpolicy quality and consistency, and supporting troubleshooting and operational excellence across a complex, global environment. Over time, you will also help applyOperational Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve efficiency, reliability, and security.

Key Responsibilities & Growth Expectations:

  • Own the end-to-end firewall policy lifecycle, including creation, review, implementation, optimization, monitoring/soak, and decommissioning of policy changes.
  • Execute changes safely within defined change management processes, ensuring proper validation, documentation, and post-change verification to meet intended outcomes.
  • Operate, maintain, and continuously tune firewall infrastructure to ensure compliance, performance, resiliency, and strong security posture.
  • Troubleshoot connectivity and security policy issues in collaboration with architecture, engineering, and operations teams across enterprise environments.
  • Progress from guided execution to full ownership of complex policy and operational activities, demonstrating increasing autonomy in managing enterprise-scale network security challenges.
  • Deliver high-quality, secure changes at scale while effectively navigating enterprise systems, workflows, and operational frameworks.
  • Support a 24x7 operational model, including participation in on-call rotations and coordination with the Global Technology Operations Center (GTOC).
  • Identify and drive opportunities for automation and operational excellence, leveraging tools such as Copilot and ChatGPT to improve efficiency, reduce manual effort, and enhance accuracy.
  • Contribute to continuous improvement by adopting AI-assisted capabilities and automation to increase throughput, reduce risk, and strengthen overall security effectiveness.
  • Maintain high standards for documentation, repeatable processes, and operational readiness to ensure consistency and scalability.

Required Qualifications:

This is a Principal Position requiring direct, recent experience implementing, validating, and troubleshooting Firewall Policies.

  • 8+ years of hands-on experience operating, maintaining, and managing firewall platforms in large-scale enterprise environments.
  • Demonstrated expertise in firewall policy lifecycle management, including rule creation, optimization, cleanup, recertification, and audit-ready documentation 6particularly within Palo Alto environments.
  • Strong technical knowledge of firewall constructs (App-ID, User-ID, Content-ID, NAT, zones, security policies, and service objects) and the ability to troubleshoot complex issues involving rule matching, routing impacts, decryption, and application behavior.
  • Proven ability to troubleshoot network and security issues under time pressure, delivering consistent resolutions and minimizing incident recurrence.
  • Deep operational discipline with enterprise change processes, including risk assessment, validation/testing, rollback planning, and post-change verification.
  • Experience using centralized management tools (e.g., Panorama/SCM Pro), including device groups, templates, commits, and log analysis.
  • Proficiency in analyzing traffic using logs (Traffic, Threat, URL) and packet captures to validate policy behavior and outcomes.
  • Track record of delivering firewall changes safely, accurately, and within SLAs, with minimal rework.
  • Strong collaboration skills with cross-functional teams (network, application, operations) to drive timely outcomes in complex environments.
  • Commitment to high-quality documentation, including development and adherence to repeatable procedures and runbooks.
  • Demonstrated ability to improve operational efficiency and scalability through automation and AI-assisted workflows, contributing to stronger security posture and reduced risk.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) or equivalent cybersecurity certification (CISM, CISA, CRISC, etc.).
  • Any Palo Alto certifications such asPCNSE / PCNSA(or equivalent demonstrated experience).
  • Experience withPalo Alto CLIpolicy automation, orchestration, or "policy as code" approaches andPythonpolicy scripting.
  • Experience with Visual Studio Code, Jupyter Notebook, and Agentic coding using GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, OpenAI Codex (ChatGPT).
  • 8+ years of hands-on cybersecurity/network security engineering experience, including enterprise operations.
  • 5+ years ofPalo Alto Networks (PAN-OS)Firewall platform and policy management in production environments.
  • Exposure to AI/ML-enabled operations, AIOps, or using AI tooling for incident reduction and efficiency.
  • Familiarity with metrics-driven operations (usage, hit counts, error rates, change success, MTTR, policy hygiene)
  • Experience with AlgoSec, URL Filtering,WildFire,Threat Prevention,DNS Security, and security profile tuning.
  • Experience withSSL decryptionstrategy/operations, including break/fix and exception handling.
  • Exposure toAIOps / Operational AIuse cases (e.g., anomaly detection, change risk scoring, incident summarization, knowledge retrieval, workflow automation).
  • Experience integrating Firewall operations with ITSM and CI/CD tooling (e.g., ServiceNow workflows, change gates, automated validation).
  • Familiarity with network fundamentals at scale: BGP/OSPF basics, VRFs, VLANs, IPsec concepts, DNS, and load-balancing impacts on traffic paths.

Education/Experience:

Bachelor6s degree (BS/BA) desired in Computer Science or Cybersecurity. 7+ years of related experience. Certification is required in some areas.

Supervisor:

No

Our Principal Cybersecurity jobs earn between $155,400.00 - $261,100.00 USD Annual. Not to mention all the other amazing rewards that working at ATT offers. Individual starting salary within this range may depend on geography, experience, expertise, and education/training.

Joining our team comes with amazing perks and benefits:

  • Medical/Dental/Vision coverage
  • 401(k) plan
  • Tuition reimbursement program
  • Paid Time Off and Holidays (based on date of hire, at least 23 days of vacation each year and 9 company-designated holidays)
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Paid Caregiver Leave
  • Additional sick leave beyond what state and local law require may be available but is unprotected
  • Adoption Reimbursement
  • Disability Benefits (short term and long term)
  • Life and Accidental Death Insurance
  • Supplemental benefit programs: critical illness/accident hospital indemnity/group legal
  • Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
  • Extensive employee wellness programs
  • Employee discounts up to 50% off on eligible ATT mobility plans and accessories, ATT internet (and fiber where available) and ATT phone

Weekly Hours:

40

Time Type:

Regular

Location:

Alpharetta, Georgia, Bothell, Washington, Dallas, Texas, Middletown, New Jersey, USA:NC:Charlotte / Ibm Dr - Adm:8505 Ibm Dr

Salary Range:

$155,400.00 - $261,100.00

About AT&T

Cricket Wireless is a U.S.-based company that offers prepaid wireless voice, text, and data services. Cricket Wireless was founded in 1999 by Leap Wireless International, Inc. Currently, it operates as a subsidiary of AT&T Inc.

AT&T Careers

Joining AT&T means becoming part of a global team known for driving innovation and leading the telecommunications industry. It's an opportunity to grow your career at one of the most diverse and resource-rich companies in the world. Work You'll Do At AT&T, we're not just about phone lines and data plans. We're about connecting people and fostering relationships. As a member of our team, you'll help deliver cutting-edge solutions across various sectors, ensuring that our services are not only available but also transformative. Lead with Innovation Embrace a role at AT&T where technology meets creativity. Our professionals lead the market in developing and deploying technology solutions that transform how people communicate and do business. We are pioneers in creating new paths for technology, with a focus on sustainable and responsible innovation. Join a Diverse and Inclusive Team AT&T is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring that all employees can thrive. We are proud to offer diversity training and leadership programs that empower our team members to grow professionally and personally. Our culture is one of inclusivity, where every voice is heard and valued. Explore Job Opportunities Whether you're looking for an entry-level position or a more senior role, AT&T offers a range of job opportunities across various fields. From engineering to marketing, our team is composed of skilled professionals who are leaders in their respective areas. Internship Programs Kickstart your career with an AT&T internship. Gain hands-on experience, work on real projects, and learn from leaders in the industry. Our internships provide a robust platform for learning and growth, helping you build skills that are crucial for future success. Benefits and Growth AT&T is dedicated to the growth and development of its employees. We offer comprehensive benefits, including health care, retirement plans, and continuous professional development opportunities. With resources like career coaching and resume workshops, we support your journey every step of the way. Networking and Professional Development Expand your professional network within AT&T through various networking events, mentorship opportunities, and collaborative projects. Our focus on career development is designed to help you reach your professional goals, enhancing your skills and preparing you for leadership roles. Stay Connected Join Our Team Discover the career you've always wanted by exploring the open positions at AT&T. We are constantly on the lookout for passionate, innovative, and driven individuals to join our team. Check out our current job listings and find where your skills and interests align with our needs. Keep Up to Date Stay informed with the latest career tips, company news, and industry insights—all from the professionals who are part of our team. AT&T is a place where you can make an impact, leading the way in the telecommunications industry. Job Alert Emails Customize your experience by signing up for job alerts that match your career preferences. Stay ahead of the curve and be the first to know about exciting and rewarding opportunities at AT&T. At AT&T, your career is poised for success, equipped with the right tools, culture, and team to make it happen. Join us and be part of a company that values innovation, leadership, and a diverse workforce.
Learn more about AT&T
Size
203,000 employees
Market Cap
$131.2 billion
Industry
Net Income
-$5.1 billion
Founded
1983
5 Year Trend
+0.6%
Revenue
$171.7 billion
NASDAQ

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