Senior Technical Consultant - CISCO Security

AHEAD builds platforms for digital business. By weaving together advances in cloud infrastructure, automation and analytics, and software delivery, we help enterprises deliver on the promise of digital transformation. At AHEAD, we prioritize creating a culture of belonging, where all perspectives and voices are represented, valued, respected, and heard. We create spaces to empower everyone to speak up, make change, and drive the culture at AHEAD. We are an equal opportunity employer, and do not discriminate based on an individual's race, national origin, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, marital status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law, whether actual or perceived. We embrace all candidates that will contribute to the diversification and enrichment of ideas and perspectives at AHEAD. We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Network Security Engineer with deep expertise in Cisco Secure products and solutions to join our growing professional services team. This role will lead security architecture design, deployment, and optimization engagements for enterprise and service provider clients. The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineer and trusted advisor, capable of driving strategic security initiatives while delivering high-impact solutions based on Cisco’s security portfolio. Key Responsibilities Ability to communicate and execute architecture strategy & approach in clear, concise, and understandable terms to client senior management and other client stakeholders. Ability to implement design architecture objectives that align with client demand & business goals. Design and implementation of Cisco security technologies such as Cisco Secure Firewall (FTD/ASA), SecureX, and ISE. Develop and maintain Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) strategies across hybrid environments. Serve as a trusted technical advisor, providing security assessments, risk mitigation strategies, and architecture recommendations aligned with customer business objectives. Design, configure, and troubleshoot Cisco ISE for 802.1X authentication, TACACS+, and RADIUS. Define and enforce security policies, segmentation strategies, and threat prevention techniques. Provide technical leadership, mentoring and documentation for internal teams. Excellent communication, presentation, and documentation skills Demonstrated ability to deliver multiple IT projects on time and within budget Required Skills 10+ years of experience in network security engineering or a related field. Expertise Cisco ISE deployments and configurations. Strong knowledge of network security protocols, VPNs, firewalls, and identity-based access controls. Hands-on experience with Zero Trust architectures and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE). Proficiency in troubleshooting network security issues using packet capture and log analysis tools. Previous consulting experience required. Preferred Skills Cisco CCNP Security or CCIE Security certifications. Experience with automation and scripting tools such as Python, Ansible, or Terraform. Strong documentation and communication skills for cross-team collaboration. Experience integrating network security solutions with cloud environments and authentication systems. Why AHEAD: Through our daily work and internal groups like Moving Women AHEAD and RISE AHEAD, we value and benefit from diversity of people, ideas, experience, and everything in between. We fuel growth by stacking our office with top-notch technologies in a multi-million-dollar lab, by encouraging cross department training and development, sponsoring certifications and credentials for continued learning. India Employment Benefits include: Comprehensive health insurance coverage for employees, with options to extend coverage to dependents Paid time off and company holidays , along with additional leave benefits as per policy Flexible work arrangements , supporting work-life balance Learning and development opportunities to support continuous growth and upskilling Employee wellness initiatives and programs focused on physical and mental well-being Retirement and statutory benefits in line with India regulations Inclusive and people-first culture , with a strong focus on collaboration and ownership