Checkpoint Firewall Administrator

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