Senior Network Security Engineer WAAP (Web Application & API Protection)

Role Description

Key Responsibilities

Translate business and application security requirements into enterprise-grade WAAP and network security architectures. Lead architecture, design, and deployment of Web Application and API Protection (WAAP) solutions across global environments. Develop and drive multi-year roadmap for application-layer security, including WAF, API security, bot protection, and DDoS mitigation.

WAAP Responsibilities (Primary Focus)

Architect, implement, and manage WAAP platforms, including:

Web Application Firewall (WAF)

API Security (discovery, protection, runtime analysis)

Bot Management o DDoS Protection (L3L7)

Design and deploy WAAP solutions using platforms such as:

Thales Imperva o Cloud-native WAFs (Azure, AWS WAF) or equivalent

Develop and maintain custom WAF rules, security policies, and signatures to protect critical applications. Perform false positive tuning, policy optimization, and rule lifecycle management. Enable API discovery, schema enforcement, and protection against OWASP API Top 10 threats. Integrate WAAP with:

SIEM/SOAR platforms Identity providers Threat intelligence feeds

Collaborate with application teams to:

Onboard applications into WAAP platforms Perform security assessments and risk reviews Ensure minimal performance impact while enforcing strong security controls

Implement protection against OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities (SQLi, XSS, RCE, etc.). Lead WAAP incident response and root cause analysis for application-layer attacks. Define and track application security metrics and KPIs (attack trends, mitigation effectiveness). Ensure compliance with security frameworks (CIS, NIST, Zero Trust, data protection standards).

Core Network Security Responsibilities

Architect and maintain secure network infrastructure across data center, campus, and cloud environments. Conduct security design reviews ensuring compliance with enterprise security standards. Provide risk reporting, control effectiveness, and security posture visibility. Support internal and external security audits. Manage and optimize Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems. Develop and maintain network security policies and procedures. Collaborate with cybersecurity, infrastructure, and application teams globally.

Technical Qualifications

10+ years of experience in network security architecture, engineering, and operations.

WAAP &

Application Security Expertise (Mandatory)

Strong experience with WAAP platforms (Akamai preferred

Cloud WAF or equivalent accepted). Deep understanding of:

OWASP Top 10 (Web &API)

Application-layer threats and mitigation techniques

Hands-on experience in:

WAF policy creation and tuning API security controls (schema validation, authentication enforcement)

Bot mitigation strategies o DDoS protection architecture (L3L7)

Experience in:

Traffic analysis (HTTP/HTTPS, TLS inspection)

Behavioral-based threat detection

Strong understanding of:

Secure application architectures (monolith, microservices, APIs)

DevSecOps integration and CI/CD security controls (nice to have)

Network Security &

Infrastructure

Strong hands-on experience in:

Firewalls (Fortinet, Palo Alto, Juniper)

IDS/IPS, VPN, SIEM

Expertise in:

Firewall policy design, NAT, routing, inspection, and threat prevention

Experience in designing secure:

Hybrid (on-prem + cloud + internet-facing) environments

Experience in:

Proxy architectures (forward/reverse)

Secure internet gateways

Networking &

Protocol Expertise

Strong knowledge of

TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, TLS/SSL Routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, MPLS)

Experience with:

QoS, NetFlow, ACLs, NAT, IP traffic management Network monitoring and analysis tools

Cloud &

Integration

Experience securing applications in

AWS, Azure, GCP

Familiarity with:

Cloud-native WAF and API security tools

Integration experience with:

SIEM, EDR/XDR, IAM platforms

Data Center &

Enterprise Networking

Experience managing enterprise environments with:

Aruba, Arista, Juniper switches Firewalls, load balancers, WAN optimization tools

Understanding of:

High availability and performance optimization for application traffic

Operations &

Lifecycle Management

Lead onboarding and lifecycle management of applications into WAAP platforms. Perform security tuning, upgrades, and optimization activities. Support incident response and threat mitigation at application layer. Work within ITIL frameworks (incident, problem, change management).

Education &

Certifications

Bachelors degree in computer science, IT, or related field (or equivalent experience). 10+ years of experience in enterprise network security and application security. Preferred certifications:

CCNP / CCIE / JNCIE Security certifications (CISSP, CISM)

Vendor certifications (Akamai, AWS Security, Azure Security)

Key Differentiators (What This JD Targets)

Positions WAAP as a primary security control layer, not an add-on Strong alignment .