Zscaler SME (Subject Matter Expert)

Peraton is seeking a Senior/Expert Zscaler Professional Services Consultant to join our team of qualified and diverse professionals. In this role, the selected candidate will serve as a Zscaler Subject Matter Expert (SME), providing strategic guidance, technical leadership, and hands-on support for the deployment, optimization, and lifecycle management of Zscaler cloud security solutions.

This individual will play a pivotal role in advising the Department of Justice (DOJ) on secure communications infrastructure by aligning Zscaler implementations with Federal cybersecurity frameworks such as TIC 3.0 and applicable Executive Orders. The SME will ensure solution resiliency, policy compliance, and architectural best practices while integrating Zscaler platforms within a Federal Zero Trust environment.

Location: Washington, DC (Hybrid – must reside in the DC Metro area)

Day to Day Roles and Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, architecture, and deployment of Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA), Zscaler Private Access (ZPA), and Zscaler Digital Experience (ZDX) solutions for DOJ and other Federal stakeholders.
• Provide expert advisory services and develop configuration recommendations aligned with Federal security mandates.
• Collaborate with network engineers, cybersecurity teams, and Federal agency stakeholders to integrate Zscaler into complex environments.
• Troubleshoot and resolve advanced Zscaler-related issues, conduct root cause analysis, and support escalations.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, implementation guides, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and end-user training materials.
• Participate in security assessments, compliance audits, and internal reviews to ensure adherence to Federal cybersecurity policies.
• Monitor emerging Zscaler capabilities and cloud security trends; proactively recommend solution enhancements.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience; Associate degree with 10 years; or High School diploma with 12 years of experience.
• U.S. Citizenship required with the ability to obtain a Public Trust clearance.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in network and cloud security, including 3–5 years of hands-on experience deploying and managing Zscaler platforms (ZIA, ZPA, ZDX).
• Strong understanding of networking protocols and technologies including TCP/IP, DNS, VPN, firewalls, proxies, HTTPS, and SSL/TLS.
• Experience with identity and access management systems such as Okta, Azure AD, LDAP, and SAML-based SSO integrations.
• Proficiency with packet analysis and troubleshooting tools such as Wireshark and tcpdump.
• Required Zscaler certifications (At least one of the following:
• Zscaler Digital Transformation Administrator (ZDTA)
• ZCCA, ZCCP, ZCIP or equivalent advanced certifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with or supporting U.S. Federal agencies and familiarity with Federal cybersecurity frameworks (FedRAMP, TIC 3.0, NIST).
• Familiarity with Zscaler Client Connector deployment, Palo Alto Networks firewalls, and other endpoint security tools.
• Knowledge of public cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP) and virtualization technologies.
• Scripting capabilities using PowerShell, Python, or Bash.
• Industry certifications such as CCNP, JNCIP, PCNSA, CISSP, or CCSP.
• Highly desired Zscaler certifications include:
• Zscaler Certified Delivery Specialist (ZCDS)
• Zscaler Digital Transformation Engineer (ZDTE)