Firewall Strategy Lead

Louisville-based (and surrounding area) candidates are preferred, but will consider remote candidates on a case-by-case basis.

We are looking for a forward-thinking Firewall Strategy Lead to define, drive, and elevate our global firewall strategy. This is your chance to influence enterprise-scale security decisions, modernize platforms across hybrid environments, and help shape how a global brand protects its digital assets.

If you’re passionate about translating technical excellence into business impact — and want a seat at the table where those decisions are made — this role is for you!

• Define and continuously evolve the enterprise firewall strategy in alignment with organizational goals, emerging threats, and architectural principles.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive firewall lifecycle roadmap, including refresh cycles, decommissioning timelines, and technology modernization initiatives.
• Influence platform selection, service models, and architectural direction based on technical merit, risk impact, and business value.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all firewall-related third-party vendors and managed service providers (MSPs).
• Drive vendor selection processes, capability evaluations, and contract negotiations to ensure delivery of high-performing, cost-effective solutions.
• Oversee vendor execution against SLAs, strategic initiatives, and compliance requirements.

• Lead initiatives to modernize firewall policy models, automation frameworks, and management tools to support scalable, dynamic, and context-aware access controls.
• Ensure alignment between cloud-native and on-premise firewall strategies in hybrid environments.

• Develop governance models that ensure auditability, documentation consistency, and alignment with regulatory frameworks (e.g., PCI-DSS, SOX, NIST, ISO 27001).
• Review audit findings, control gaps, and incident trends to drive systemic improvements in firewall design and operational maturity.
• Collaborate with security, compliance, and legal teams to ensure firewall strategy supports regulatory obligations and internal standards.

• Partner with Cybersecurity, Enterprise Architecture, Infrastructure Engineering, and Restaurant Engineering teams to drive alignment, prioritize initiatives, and support project delivery.
• Create and present business cases to executive stakeholders for new investments, platform transitions, and lifecycle planning.

• A clearly defined and well-executed firewall lifecycle strategy with measurable outcomes.
• Elimination of legacy risks through modernization of platforms, policies, and practices.
• Strong vendor relationships delivering performance, compliance, and cost optimization.
• Enterprise-wide governance model with consistent documentation and metrics.
• Cost-effective investments with demonstrable ROI and risk reduction.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Security, or a related technical discipline (or equivalent work experience).
• Advanced certifications is a plus

• 7–10 years of experience in network or security roles
• In-depth experience with enterprise firewall platforms including Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, Cisco ASA/Firepower, or equivalent.
• Solid understanding of hybrid cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and the role of firewalls within them.
• Familiarity with security frameworks and regulatory mandates (e.g., NIST, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, SOX).

• Strategic and architectural thinking with the ability to connect technology decisions to business outcomes.
• Strong documentation and communication skills; able to translate complex topics to executive and technical audiences.
• Risk-aware mindset with a strong drive for innovation, scalability, and process improvement.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and align diverse stakeholders to common goals.
• Deep understanding of firewall technologies, perimeter defense, and access control models.

• This role may support hybrid or remote work, depending on location and team structure.
• Participation in executive briefings or leadership forums may be expected.

Salary Range: $127,900 to $160,200 annually + bonus eligibility.
This is the expected salary range for this position. Ultimately, in determining pay, we'll consider the successful candidate’s location, experience, and other job-related factors.