Job Title Firewall Expert (Checkpoint & Fortinet) - Telecom Sector

Location: Two/Three days onsite in London or other locations in the UK
Job Type: 6 months contract with possible extension
Industry: Telecommunications

Job Overview:

We are seeking a highly skilled Firewall Expert with expertise in Checkpoint and Fortinet Firewalls to join our client.

The ideal candidate will have a strong telecommunications background and extensive experience in patching, upgrades, fault finding, and troubleshooting of Firewall infrastructures. You will be responsible for maintaining the security and stability of critical network environments while ensuring compliance with industry best practices.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage, configure, and maintain Checkpoint and Fortinet Firewalls in a telecom environment.

• Perform patching and upgrades to ensure security and compliance with industry standards.

• Conduct troubleshooting and fault-finding for network security issues, ensuring minimal downtime.

• Analyze Firewall logs and alerts to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities.

• Develop and implement Firewall security policies, access controls, and VPN configurations.

• Collaborate with NOC, SOC, and IT teams to resolve security incidents and optimize network performance.

• Document processes, configurations, and troubleshooting steps for knowledge sharing.

• Ensure compliance with security frameworks and industry best practices.

• Provide technical support and recommendations for Firewall infrastructure improvements.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Extensive hands-on experience with Checkpoint (Gaia, R80) and Fortinet (FortiGate, FortiManager, FortiAnalyzer) Firewalls.

• Strong understanding of Firewall security policies, NAT, IPS/IDS, VPNs (IPSec & SSL), and access control lists.

• Experience in patching, upgrades, and maintenance of Firewall environments.

• Proven expertise in troubleshooting and fault diagnosis in a high-availability telecom network.

• Knowledge of network protocols (TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF, VLANs) and security principles.

• Familiarity with SIEM solutions and Firewall log analysis.

• Telecom sector experience with exposure to large-scale service provider networks.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certifications: CCSE (Checkpoint), NSE4/NSE7 (Fortinet) or equivalent.