Entry Level Network Security Specialist Jobs
New grad network security specialist jobs are open to recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where a strong portfolio or internship work can matter more than a long resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Technology & Software, Education, and Consulting & Professional Services, with employers like HCLTech, Collabera, and Howard Community College hiring at this level now.
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Virginia Western Community College is a two-year public institution of higher education operating under the Virginia Community College System, a statewide system of community colleges. The College operates under the policies established by the State Board for Community Colleges and the Virginia Western Community College Local Advisory Board.
Virginia Western is located on a 70-acre campus in southwest Roanoke, VA. The service region of the College includes Roanoke, Salem, Roanoke County, Craig County, Franklin County, and southern Botetourt County. The College was established in 1966 and has grown from an initial enrollment of 1,352 to its current annual enrollment of over 9,000 students in credit courses and more than 1,400 enrollments in fast-track workforce and continuing education courses.
Virginia Western is seeking to fill a Network and Security Engineer position.
The Network and Security Engineer position supports the Virginia Western Community College enterprise network, cybersecurity, and infrastructure services. This position designs, configures, maintains, monitors, and troubleshoots wired and wireless networks, WAN routing, firewall services, virtualization platforms, and related communications infrastructure. The role performs advanced technical work to ensure secure, reliable, and resilient technology services that support instruction, operations, and emergency response across the college.
May be required to perform other duties as assigned. May be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.
- Considerable experience supporting enterprise network infrastructure, including switching, routing, WAN connectivity, wireless systems, and firewalls.
- Strong knowledge of TCP/IP, OSI Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking, VLANs, network segmentation, network access control, routing, VPN, DNS, DHCP, and traffic analysis.
- Experience configuring, monitoring, troubleshooting, and documenting enterprise network and security systems.
- Knowledge of cybersecurity best practices, intrusion detection and prevention, vulnerability management, privileged access, and standards such as NIST or CIS.
- Experience with firewall policy design, URL filtering, least privilege access principles, logging, diagnostics, and incident investigation.
- Ability to perform remote after-hours and weekend maintenance as needed to minimize service interruptions.
- Demonstrated initiative, critical thinking, adaptability, teamwork, and effective verbal and written communication skills.
- Cisco CCNA, Cisco CCNP, Palo Alto, cybersecurity, or related professional certifications.
- Experience with Extreme switching or wireless equipment.
- Experience supporting virtualization platforms, VoIP or Microsoft Teams phones, emergency communications platforms, Linux administration, and physical communications infrastructure including fiber and copper cabling systems.
The selected candidate’s offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation, which may include: fingerprint checks, local agency checks, employment verification, verification of education, credit checks (relevant to employment). Additionally, selected candidates may be required to complete the Commonwealth’s Statement of Economic Interest. For more information, please follow this link: http://ethics.dls.virginia.gov/
VCCS uses E-Verify to check employee eligibility to work in the United States. You will be required to complete an I-9 form and provide documentation of your identity for employment purposes.
Virginia Western Community College is a two-year public institution of higher education operating under the Virginia Community College System, a statewide system of community colleges. The College operates under the policies established by the State Board for Community Colleges and the Virginia Western Community College Local Advisory Board.
Virginia Western is located on a 70-acre campus in southwest Roanoke, VA. The service region of the College includes Roanoke, Salem, Roanoke County, Craig County, Franklin County, and southern Botetourt County. The College was established in 1966 and has grown from an initial enrollment of 1,352 to its current annual enrollment of over 9,000 students in credit courses and more than 1,400 enrollments in fast-track workforce and continuing education courses.
Virginia Western is seeking to fill a Network and Security Engineer position.
The Network and Security Engineer position supports the Virginia Western Community College enterprise network, cybersecurity, and infrastructure services. This position designs, configures, maintains, monitors, and troubleshoots wired and wireless networks, WAN routing, firewall services, virtualization platforms, and related communications infrastructure. The role performs advanced technical work to ensure secure, reliable, and resilient technology services that support instruction, operations, and emergency response across the college.
May be required to perform other duties as assigned. May be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.
- Considerable experience supporting enterprise network infrastructure, including switching, routing, WAN connectivity, wireless systems, and firewalls.
- Strong knowledge of TCP/IP, OSI Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking, VLANs, network segmentation, network access control, routing, VPN, DNS, DHCP, and traffic analysis.
- Experience configuring, monitoring, troubleshooting, and documenting enterprise network and security systems.
- Knowledge of cybersecurity best practices, intrusion detection and prevention, vulnerability management, privileged access, and standards such as NIST or CIS.
- Experience with firewall policy design, URL filtering, least privilege access principles, logging, diagnostics, and incident investigation.
- Ability to perform remote after-hours and weekend maintenance as needed to minimize service interruptions.
- Demonstrated initiative, critical thinking, adaptability, teamwork, and effective verbal and written communication skills.
- Cisco CCNA, Cisco CCNP, Palo Alto, cybersecurity, or related professional certifications.
- Experience with Extreme switching or wireless equipment.
- Experience supporting virtualization platforms, VoIP or Microsoft Teams phones, emergency communications platforms, Linux administration, and physical communications infrastructure including fiber and copper cabling systems.
The selected candidate’s offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation, which may include: fingerprint checks, local agency checks, employment verification, verification of education, credit checks (relevant to employment). Additionally, selected candidates may be required to complete the Commonwealth’s Statement of Economic Interest. For more information, please follow this link: http://ethics.dls.virginia.gov/
VCCS uses E-Verify to check employee eligibility to work in the United States. You will be required to complete an I-9 form and provide documentation of your identity for employment purposes.
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Entry Level Network Security Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level network security specialist job?
Employers hiring at the entry level look for foundational certifications like CompTIA Security+, Network+, or a vendor credential from Cisco or Microsoft. Hands-on experience through a home lab, a capstone project, or a college internship signals practical ability even without years on the job. Tailoring your resume to specific tools mentioned in each posting, such as firewalls, SIEM platforms, or intrusion detection systems, gives you a concrete edge over less-targeted applicants.
Which companies hire entry level network security specialists?
Companies hiring entry level network security specialists right now include HCLTech, Collabera, and Howard Community College, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Government contractors, managed security service providers, and large enterprises in finance and healthcare tend to post the most openings at this level because they maintain dedicated security operations teams that need junior staff.
Are there remote entry level network security specialist jobs?
Yes, though on-site roles still dominate at the entry level. About 33% of entry level network security specialist openings are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, so filtering by work setting when you search is worth doing. Many employers prefer in-person onboarding for junior hires before granting remote access to sensitive network environments.
Are these new grad network security specialist jobs?
Yes. The listings on this page include new grad, recent graduate, and junior network security specialist roles alongside other entry level postings. A new grad friendly posting typically welcomes candidates with zero to two years of experience, accepts an internship or a degree project in place of full-time work history, and does not require advanced certifications. Checking the listed requirements rather than the job title is the fastest way to confirm a role fits where you are now.
Which industries hire the most entry level network security specialists?
Entry Level network security specialist roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Education, and Consulting & Professional Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Those sectors drive hiring at this level because they operate large internal networks, handle regulated data, or face compliance requirements that create ongoing demand for junior security staff to monitor, test, and maintain defenses.