Senior Systems Engineer

About the Team

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) is a Fortune 500 multi-channel specialty retailer of high-quality products for the home. Today, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is one of the United States' largest e-commerce retailers with some of the best known and most beloved brands in home furnishings. As part of the Technology Solutions organization, the Voice and Telecom team is accountable for the voice and connectivity infrastructure that supports all our corporate sites as well as our outstanding customer service delivery.

About the Role

You have a passion for data networking with a specific focus on large, global security engineering for Palo Alto firewall architecture and operations. You thrive in team-oriented environments and possess the technical depth and experience to effectively lead/influence/participate in engineering, architecture, and policy discussions, strategic planning, and roadmaps to ensure we design, build, and operate a robust, scalable, and secure network at every location. The ideal candidate will be familiar with the unique advantages and challenges of multi-vsys Palo Alto architectures, successfully advocate for WSI security needs both internally and externally, and thrive in scripting, automation, and AI Operations.

Responsibilities:

• Design, implement, and maintain high-availability in our multi-vsys Palo Alto firewall infrastructure across the global enterprise environment.
• Ensure high-availability and disaster recovery designs for all firewall systems and services.
• Architect and enforce advanced security policies, including application-aware and user-based rules, leveraging Palo Alto’s Panorama and security subscriptions (Threat, URL, WildFire, etc.)
• Perform in-depth troubleshooting and root cause analysis on complex security incidents and firewall-related network issues.
• Lead firewall projects, choosing target software upgrades, and integrations with other security appliances and cloud platforms across the enterprise.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure firewall solutions align with compliance, regulatory, and business requirements.
• Develop and maintain scripts for firewall configuration, automation, and health monitoring (e.g., using Python, Ansible, or similar tools) that the operations team will utilize.
• Conduct regular security assessments, vulnerability testing, and risk analysis specific to firewall environments.
• Stay current with emerging threats, Palo Alto Networks product updates, and cybersecurity best practices.
• Document technical solutions, standard operating procedures, and incident response playbooks.
• Provide mentorship and technical leadership to junior engineers and peers.
• Support tier 3/4 networking escalations in an on-call rotation.
• Perform systems resource optimization activities and capacity planning.
• Consistently lead by example, be a role model and change agent for your team and the larger technology group.
• Measure what matters through KPIs and drive continual process improvements.
• Embrace AI and automation for effective operations and scalability.
• Bring a passion for automation and data-driven analytical approaches to solving problems while flexing to emerging needs and changes as they arise.
• Other duties as assigned.

Criteria:

• You have a BS in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field or equivalent work experience.
• You have 5+ years of Core Firewall Experience.
• You have a Next-Generation Firewall Engineer Certification from Palo Alto or equivalent experience.
• You are an expert in diagnosing and solving complex problems and providing detailed technical analysis.
• You have strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to influence others.
• Hardware: Expertise in Palo Alto Firewalls, PANOS, Panorama, Strata Cloud Manager. Bonus for expertise in Cisco ASRs, Catalysts, Nexus 9/7/5/2k, F5 Load Balancers, Infoblox.
• Extensive understanding and competency with SNMP-based monitoring tools, Netflow, and other network-related monitoring and data-gathering tools.
• Advanced scripting skills in Python, Perl, iRules, TCL, Chef/Puppet or Go a plus.
• Experience with vendor management and contract negotiations.
• This role requires being onsite in the Rocklin, California office Monday through Thursday with optional office presence on Friday.

Our Culture & Values

We believe that taking care of our people is vital to our success and we strive to offer equitable and transparent practices for all. We prioritize connection, growth, and well-being.

People First

Putting People First means investing in overall well-being and opportunities to grow and advance within the organization. Depending on the position and location, here are a few highlights of what benefits may be available:

Benefits:

• A generous discount on all WSI brands.
• A 401(k) plan and other investment opportunities.
• Paid vacations, holidays, and time off to volunteer.
• Health benefits, dental and vision insurance, including same-sex domestic partner benefits.
• Tax-free commuter benefits.
• A wellness program that supports your physical, financial, and emotional health.

Continued Learning:

• In-person and online learning opportunities through WSI University.
• Cross-brand and cross-function career opportunities.
• Resources for self-development.
• Advisor (Mentor) program.
• Career development workshops, learning programs, and speaker series.

WSI will not now or in the future commence an immigration case or "sponsor" an individual for this position (for example, H-1B or other employment-based immigration).

This role is not eligible for relocation assistance.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, or other applicable state or local laws and ordinances.

The expected starting pay range for this position is $130,000 - $150,000. Applicable pay ranges may differ across markets. Actual pay will be determined based on experience and other job-related factors permitted by law. In addition to competitive pay, compensation may include a variety of other components like benefits, paid time off, merit, and bonus opportunities.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is a multi-channel specialty retailer of high quality products for the home. Today, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is one of the United States' largest e-commerce retailers with some of the best known and most beloved brands in home furnishings. We currently operate retail stores in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Australia, and the United Kingdom, and franchise our brands to third parties in a number of countries in the Middle East, the Philippines and Mexico. Our products are also available to customers through our catalogs and online worldwide.