Network Security SME - Onsite - NYC - Must be local - W2 / Own corporation

Network Security SME

Location: New York City - Onsite

Shape the future of enterprise network security through innovative SASE and Zero Trust solutions at a leading global financial institution.

The Role

We're looking for an experienced Network Security Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support the evaluation, design, and implementation of enterprise network security solutions within a complex financial services environment.

You'll provide specialist advisory and hands-on implementation support across network security initiatives, with a particular focus on Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA).

Working collaboratively with technical, risk, and business stakeholders, you'll help evaluate technology solutions, develop practical recommendations, and support implementation readiness. You'll play a key role in translating complex technical requirements into clear decisions, identifying delivery dependencies, and ensuring security solutions align with business and operational objectives.

What You'll Do

• Advise on network security solutions: Provide technical advisory and implementation support across enterprise network security initiatives, including SASE and ZTNA technologies.
• Evaluate technologies and vendors: Support vendor assessments, product evaluations, technical and executive presentations, and product-readiness activities to inform technology decisions.
• Design and support implementation: Contribute to solution designs, implementation planning, and delivery activities, ensuring solutions meet security, operational, and business requirements.
• Develop recommendations and engage stakeholders: Produce clear technical recommendations, document assumptions and trade-offs, and collaborate with technical, risk, and business teams to build alignment.
• Manage dependencies and risks: Identify technical dependencies, delivery risks, and outstanding decisions, escalating issues through established governance processes to support successful implementation.

What We're Looking For

• Extensive experience in enterprise network security, including architecture, technical advisory, solution design, and implementation within complex technology environments.
• Strong understanding of SASE and ZTNA principles, architectures, security controls, and their application within enterprise networks.
• Experience supporting technology and vendor evaluations, solution assessments, product-readiness reviews, and implementation planning.
• Ability to translate complex technical information into clear recommendations, communicate trade-offs, and present effectively to technical and executive stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience identifying technical dependencies, managing delivery risks, and working collaboratively across security, infrastructure, risk, and business functions.

Bonus Points For

• Experience implementing or evaluating SASE and ZTNA solutions within large financial services organizations.
• Familiarity with enterprise network security platforms and technologies from vendors such as Palo Alto Networks, Zscaler, Cisco, Netskope, or Fortinet.
• Understanding of Zero Trust security architecture, identity-based access controls, and cloud-delivered security services.
• Experience supporting proof-of-concept activities, vendor selection processes, and enterprise security transformation programs.
• Knowledge of security governance, regulatory expectations, and technology risk management within highly regulated environments.