Sr. Cybersecurity Engineer (Contractor)

Senior Cybersecurity Engineer Location: Columbus, OH (Hybrid - Onsite Tues/Wed; shifting to Tues-Thurs starting Sept) Contract Type: W-2 Only (No C2C, No 1099) Duration: until 12/31/2025 with extensions into 2026 Rate: $70 - $80/hr Work Authorization: Must be authorized to work in the U.S. - No visa sponsorships, OPT, F1, C2C, or 1099 arrangements Position Overview We are seeking a Sr. Cybersecurity Engineer (Contractor) to support enterprise-level security initiatives. This role focuses on securing web applications, automating firewall workflows, and implementing zero-trust network architecture using F5 Distributed Cloud WAF , Palo Alto Networks firewalls , and Python scripting . Key Responsibilities Configure and manage F5 Distributed Cloud WAF for enterprise and customer-facing applications Administer Palo Alto Networks firewalls , including Panorama Automate operations using Python for log parsing, config checks, and API integrations Collaborate cross-functionally to secure cloud and on-premise infrastructure Support incident response activities involving WAF and firewall telemetry Contribute to architecture reviews and zero-trust implementations Maintain documentation for security standards and automation tools Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree required 5+ years of experience in cybersecurity or network security engineering Hands-on experience with F5 Distributed Cloud WAF Deep knowledge of Palo Alto firewalls and Panorama Proficiency in Python scripting for automation Strong understanding of network protocols , SSL decryption , and inspection Experience with SIEM/log aggregation tools (e.g., Splunk , Cortex ) Excellent communication and documentation skills Preferred Qualifications Cloud security experience (Azure, AWS, GCP) Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools: Terraform , Ansible , etc. DevSecOps / CI-CD security integration Security certifications: PCNSE , F5 CA , GSEC , or equivalent