Jr. Firewall Analyst (Hybrid in Charlotte, NC)

Optomi, in partnership with a leading energy and utilities organization, is seeking a Jr. Firewall Analyst to support network security operations in the Charlotte, NC region. This is a 12-month contract, renewed annually, with a hybrid schedule of about 3 days per week on site. It’s a strong entry point for a hands-on network professional who wants to grow into firewall administration and cybersecurity.Core Responsibilities:Receive, review, process, and implement firewall change requests in line with established change management proceduresPlan and schedule maintenance windows, then perform annual firewall code upgrades across network security devicesTroubleshoot firewall and connectivity issues and escalate to senior engineers when neededDocument changes, configurations, and procedures accuratelyWork with network, security, and application teams to keep changes on schedule with minimal disruptionLearn the environment during onboarding and take on more firewall administration over timeMust-Have Technical:Hands-on network experience (required)Working knowledge of networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, routing, switching, VLANs, NAT)Experience with Cisco networking equipmentAssociate degree or higher in a technical field, or equivalent certifications such as CompTIA Network+ or Cisco CCNAStrong communication skills and attention to detailEagerness to learn firewall technologies and build a career in cybersecurityNice-to-Have:Palo Alto firewall experienceCisco certification beyond CCNATelecommunications backgroundExperience with change management or ticketing systems (e.g., ServiceNow)Prior experience performing device upgrades or patching in a maintenance window