F5 Networking and Security Engineer - Freelance

Daily rate: 600€/650€

Context

The Belgian, German, and European energy landscape is evolving rapidly. A leading European transmission system operator plays a crucial role in ensuring the reliability and sustainability of the electricity supply in Belgium and Germany.

As part of this operator, the Belgian and German entities ensure a sustainable, green, and reliable energy infrastructure that stimulates economic growth and reduces ecological footprints. The organization values diversity and believes that an inclusive work environment fosters innovation, creativity, and better results.

The Datacom department, including the IP Networks team, manages:

• The datacom transport network for IP and IT networks, including an extensive network of fibre and copper cables supplemented by rented connections. Technologies used include PDH, SDH, DWDM, and IP/MPLS.

• IP/Ethernet/WiFi networks for telephony and core business needs across administrative sites, data centres, and dispatching offices.

• Direct IP connections with other electricity transport, distribution, and generation utilities.

• Internet connections.

• Protection and security of networks with firewalls, DMZs (Demilitarised Zones), VPN concentrators, and load balancers.

• Networks connecting high-voltage substations and data centres for remote surveillance, telephony, meter readings, and communication between electrical protection devices.

• Connections with other transmission system operators (TSOs) for remote surveillance, remote protection, and telephony.

Missions

The F5 BIG-IP solution is a central component within the datacenter infrastructure, heavily used for application load balancing, high availability, and security features.

The F5 Networking and Security Engineering Service includes:

• Designing load balancing and high-availability architectures.

• Designing and implementing F5 BIG-IP solutions for application delivery and network traffic management.

• Configuring and administering virtual servers, pools, nodes, monitors, iRules, SSL profiles, and traffic policies.

• Managing SSL/TLS certificates, SSL offloading, encryption configuration, traffic inspection, and reporting.

• Deploying and managing Web Application Firewall (AWAF) policies as needed.

• Integrating authentication and access management using APM and enterprise identity services.

• Performance tuning, capacity planning, and service optimization.

• Supporting incident, problem, and change management.

• Applying security patching, software upgrades, and lifecycle management of F5 infrastructure.

• Conducting root cause analysis and troubleshooting of application delivery, connectivity, and performance issues.

• Documenting operational procedures and transferring knowledge to stakeholders.

Working Conditions

• Work regime: 40 hours per week

• Remote working allowed up to 3 days per week depending on tasks