ACL Firewall Engineer

MKS2 Technologies, LLC, an award-winning high growth small business, creates innovative and customer-centric technology solutions in the areas of Cyber Security, Instructional Design and Training, Software Engineering and IT Support Services to improve the security and well-being of our clients. Our commitment to excellence and our “Mission First” orientation has resulted in steady growth and an expanding client base across government agencies. We have employees nationwide and for the past three consecutive years were named one of the fastest growing Veteran-owned companies in the nation. Please take a moment to browse through our website and learn more about what it means to serve with MKS2.

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.

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: MKS2 Technologies is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.