We are looking for an experienced Checkpoint Firewall Administrator with 4 to 5 years of hands-on experience in managing and securing enterprise network infrastructures using Checkpoint firewall technologies. The ideal candidate will have strong knowledge of firewall policies, threat prevention, and troubleshooting in a high-availability environment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Install, configure, and manage Checkpoint Firewalls (including SmartConsole, Security Management Server, and Gateways)
- Design and implement firewall policies, NAT rules, and VPN configurations
- Perform firewall rulebase audits, policy optimization, and regular cleanup
- Monitor firewall performance and identify and mitigate threats, using Checkpoint threat prevention tools (IPS, Anti-Bot, Anti-Virus, URL Filtering)
- Troubleshoot and resolve connectivity issues, VPN failures, and policy conflicts
- Perform software upgrades, patches, and hotfixes on Checkpoint devices
- Integrate Checkpoint with SIEM, logging, and monitoring tools for security event analysis
- Participate in incident response, root cause analysis, and post-incident reviews
- Maintain detailed documentation of firewall configurations, change management, and standard operating procedures
- Work closely with network, security, and infrastructure teams to ensure seamless operations
- Ensure compliance with security policies, industry standards, and regulatory requirements
Required Skills:
- 4 to 5 years of hands-on experience in Checkpoint firewall administration
- Strong understanding of Checkpoint Gaia OS, SmartDashboard, SmartEvent, SmartView Tracker, and SmartConsole
- Experience in managing VPNs (site-to-site and remote access) and SSL/TLS protocols
- Proficient in troubleshooting network and firewall issues (packet capture, log analysis)
- Familiarity with routing, switching, NAT, VLANs, TCP/IP, and DNS/DHCP
- Experience with high availability (HA) and cluster configurations
- Knowledge of threat prevention features such as IPS, Application Control, URL filtering, Anti-Bot, etc.
- Experience working in an ITIL-based service environment
Preferred Qualifications:
- Checkpoint CCSA/CCSE certification
- Experience with other firewall platforms (e.g., Palo Alto, Fortinet, Cisco ASA) is a plus
- Familiarity with SIEM tools like Splunk, QRadar, or ArcSight
- Knowledge of cloud firewalls and cloud security integrations (e.g., Azure/AWS with Checkpoint)
- Scripting knowledge (e.g., Python, Shell) for automation and reporting
Soft Skills:
- Excellent troubleshooting and analytical skills
- Strong verbal and written communication
- Ability to work independently and handle critical situations under pressure
- Attention to detail and adherence to change management processes
- Collaborative mindset and willingness to work with cross-functional teams
