Senior Network Security Engineer

About the role

The American University in the Emirates is looking for a highly experienced Senior Network Security Engineer to lead the design, implementation, administration, and continuous improvement of its network and cybersecurity infrastructure.

Key responsibilities

• Design, deploy and manage enterprise‑grade firewalls, IDS/IPS, VPN and SIEM solutions.
• Define and enforce security architecture, policies and Zero Trust principles across the university.
• Lead proactive threat management, vulnerability remediation and incident response activities.
• Provide technical guidance, mentorship and security governance to junior engineers and other stakeholders.
• Collaborate with IT teams to integrate security controls into cloud, virtualization and endpoint environments.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, IT, Cybersecurity or related field (Master’s preferred).
• CCNP Security certification required; CCIE Security a plus.
• Professional certifications such as CISSP, CISM, CEH or CompTIA Security+ highly desirable.
• 7‑10 years of progressive network security experience, including 5+ years designing and managing enterprise security solutions.
• Proven experience in large, multi‑site or higher‑education environments and leading security projects.

Required skills

• Enterprise firewalls (Fortinet, SonicWall, Cisco, Palo Alto).
• IDS/IPS, SIEM platforms, endpoint protection and VPN technologies.
• Microsoft 365 Security Suite, Azure Security, Identity & Access Management and Zero Trust.
• Vulnerability management, penetration testing, threat intelligence and incident response.
• Knowledge of ISO 27001, NIST, CIS Controls, GDPR compliance frameworks.
• Linux, Windows Server, VMware, Hyper‑V and cloud infrastructure security.
• Disaster recovery planning, business continuity and digital forensics.
• Deep understanding of networking protocols, routing, switching, TCP/IP, VLANs and WAN technologies.