Senior Network Security Engineer WAAP

Role :- Senior Network Security Engineer WAAP (Web Application & API Protection)

Location :- Houston, TX (Onsite)

Rate :- $50/hr on W2

Note :- WAAP (Web Application & API Protection) experience is must

Client is an innovative, dynamic company with a rich past and a promising future. Client has continuously reinvented itself. Today, Client is one of the world's leading technology companies providing networking, cloud, and security solutions for next-generation IT infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

Translate business and application security requirements into enterprise-grade WAAP and network security architectures .

Develop and support solutions aligned with Client application security and defense-in-depth strategy .

Lead architecture, design, and deployment of Web Application and API Protection (WAAP) solutions across global environments.

Develop and drive multi-year roadmap for application-layer security , including WAF, API security, bot protection, and DDoS mitigation.

WAAP Responsibilities (Primary Focus)

Architect, implement, and manage WAAP platforms , including:

o Web Application Firewall (WAF)

o API Security (discovery, protection, runtime analysis)

o Bot Management

o DDoS Protection (L3 L7)

Design and deploy WAAP solutions using platforms such as:

o Thales Imperva

o Cloud-native WAFs (Azure, AWS WAF) or equivalent

Develop and maintain custom WAF rules, security policies, and signatures to protect critical applications.

Perform false positive tuning, policy optimization, and rule of lifecycle management .

Enable API discovery, schema enforcement, and protection against OWASP API Top 10 threats .

Integrate WAAP with:

o SIEM/SOAR platforms

o Identity providers

o Threat intelligence feeds

Collaborate with application teams to:

o Onboard applications into WAAP platforms

o Perform security assessments and risk reviews

o Ensure minimal performance impact while enforcing strong security controls

Implement protection against OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities (SQLi, XSS, RCE, etc.).

Lead WAAP incident response and root cause analysis for application-layer attacks.

Define and track application security metrics and KPIs (attack trends, mitigation effectiveness).

Ensure compliance with security frameworks (CIS, NIST, Zero Trust, data protection standards).

Core Network Security Responsibilities

Architect and maintain secure network infrastructure across data center, campus, and cloud environments.

Conduct security design reviews ensuring compliance with enterprise security standards.

Provide risk reporting, control effectiveness, and security posture visibility .

Support internal and external security audits .

Manage and optimize Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems.

Develop and maintain network security policies and procedures.

Collaborate with cybersecurity, infrastructure, and application teams globally.

Technical Qualifications

10+ years of experience in network security architecture, engineering, and operations .

WAAP & Application Security Expertise (Mandatory)

Strong experience with WAAP platforms (Akamai preferred; Cloud WAF or equivalent accepted).

Deep understanding of:

o OWASP Top 10 (Web & API)

o Application-layer threats and mitigation techniques

Hands-on experience in:

o WAF policy creation and tuning

o API security controls (schema validation, authentication enforcement)

o Bot mitigation strategies

o DDoS protection architecture (L3 L7)

Experience in:

o Traffic analysis (HTTP/HTTPS, TLS inspection)

o Behavioral-based threat detection

Strong understanding of:

o Secure application architectures (monolith, microservices, APIs)

o DevSecOps integration and CI/CD security controls (nice to have)

Network Security & Infrastructure

Strong hands-on experience in:

o Firewalls (Fortinet, Palo Alto, Juniper)

o IDS/IPS, VPN, SIEM

Expertise in:

o Firewall policy design, NAT, routing, inspection, and threat prevention

Experience in designing secure:

o Hybrid (on-prem + cloud + internet-facing) environments

Experience in:

o Proxy architectures (forward/reverse)

o Secure internet gateways

Networking & Protocol Expertise

Strong knowledge of:

o TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, TLS/SSL

o Routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, MPLS)

Experience with:

o QoS, NetFlow, ACLs, NAT, IP traffic management

o Network monitoring and analysis tools

Cloud & Integration

Experience securing applications in:

o AWS, Azure, GCP

Familiarity with:

o Cloud-native WAF and API security tools

Integration experience with:

o SIEM, EDR/XDR, IAM platforms

Data Center & Enterprise Networking

Experience managing enterprise environments with:

o Aruba, Arista, Juniper switches

o Firewalls, load balancers, WAN optimization tools

Understanding of:

o High availability and performance optimization for application traffic

Operations & Lifecycle Management

Lead onboarding and lifecycle management of applications into WAAP platforms.

Perform security tuning, upgrades, and optimization activities.

Support incident response and threat mitigation at application layer.

Work within ITIL frameworks (incident, problem, change management).

Education & Certifications

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, IT, or related field (or equivalent experience).

10+ years of experience in enterprise network security and application security.

Preferred certifications:

o CCNP / CCIE / JNCIE

o Security certifications (CISSP, CISM)

o Vendor certifications (Akamai, AWS Security, Azure Security)

Key Differentiators (What This JD Targets)

Positions WAAP as a primary security control layer , not an add-on

Strong alignment with:

o Application security + Network security convergence

o Defense-in-depth strategy

Emphasizes:

o API security (modern requirement)

o Bot/DDoS protection (critical for internet-facing apps)

Keeps strong foundation in:

o Firewalls, SIEM, network architecture

Notes:- All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by local law, regulation, or ordinance.

Benefits: Danta offers a compensation package to all W2 employees that are competitive in the industry. It consists of competitive pay, the option to elect healthcare insurance (Dental, Medical, Vision), Major holidays and Paid sick leave as per state law.

The rate/ Salary range is dependent on numerous factors including Qualification, Experience and Location.