Network engineers play an essential role in many enterprises. These experts provide the groundwork for an organization’s network and guarantee that company processes function smoothly. Therefore, what precisely does a network engineer do? Is this a career that has potential? This network engineering guide gives you a thorough understanding of the knowledge, abilities, and specialties needed to become a network engineer, along with an estimate of compensation, so you can choose whether or not you should pursue a career in this area.
What Is a Network Engineer?
A network engineer’s job is among the highest paying and most reliable in the networking industry. These networking engineers design, construct and manage networks for maximum performance while collaborating closely with other critical IT positions, such as network administrators. Additionally, you will be in charge of overseeing the framework of your company’s IT networking system if you land an engineering position in this rapidly expanding industry.
As a network engineer, you’ll have access to a world of perks and possibilities. Working with a varied mix of staff members and departments will supply you with the opportunity to keep learning and developing as you push yourself to think creatively. You’ll be entering a field that may offer a lifetime of steady, fulfilling work if you combine the opportunity to work with technology, which you love, with the chance to make a good wage.
Where do Network Engineers Work?
Network engineers often provide various services to companies of all sizes, from massive corporations to small and medium-sized enterprises, including system administration, IT support, and internal network infrastructure design, implementation, and maintenance.
To support and manage an organization’s network engineers may work in various areas like healthcare, education, and research. These experts are needed in military and government institutions as well. They are responsible for developing, setting into place, and maintaining secure networks that support vital government functions and the country’s defense. Network engineers can also serve various clients by working as consultants, contractors, or independent contractors and offering their expertise in network design, implementation, and troubleshooting.
What Are the Daily Responsibilities of a Network Engineer?
Regarding specific duties and responsibilities, a network engineer’s daily activities might differ based on the company and the position. Network engineers may be responsible for performing heavy lifting to make sure the networks work correctly. The following are some of a network engineer’s vital duties:
- Creating, developing, and putting into practice the network structure to increase network efficiency
- Carrying out activities to track and enhance network performance, such as keeping an eye on network traffic, reviewing network records, and locating problems
- Determining the source of the issue and creating a strategy to fix it to troubleshoot network problems
- It’s conceivable to work with technology, love it, and get paid well. It will place you in a field that will probably provide you with stable, satisfying work for the balance of your life.
Network Engineer Specializations
Consider the following specialties in network engineering:
Cloud Networking Architect:
Cloud networking architects are in charge of planning, creating, and managing the networks that connect cloud-based resources.
Network Security Experts:
They are in charge of guarding computer networks from online attacks and safeguarding them.
Wireless Network Engineer:
The planning, execution, and upkeep of wireless networks fall within the purview of these engineers.
What Skills Do Network Engineers Require?
Before we address the question, “What does a network engineer do?” consider some of the vital abilities required for the position:
- Proficiency with networking principles and protocols, including TCP/IP, DHCP, UDP, and routing
- Familiarity with servers, routers, hubs, VPNs, and switches, among other network devices and equipment
- Understanding security and firewalls for network protection
- Proficiency in cloud networking design, automation, and virtualization
- Knowledge in tracking and resolving complicated network problems
- Outstanding capacity to analyze and solve problem
- Remarkable capacity to communicate technical ideas to non-technical people
- Ability to handle time well enough to coordinate different project aspects
Responsibilities of Network Engineer
As a network engineer, you will need to:
- To establish the networking environment, design the system configuration, supervise the system’s installation, verify documents, and uphold the system standards.
- Create, put into practice, and enhance the resiliency of the existing environment.
- Increase network performance through performance monitoring, network outage and problem-solving, upgrade scheduling, and network optimization work with network architects.
- Investigate data network issues in local and wide-area contexts utilizing data from various sources.
- Create and enforce rules, define and track access, and safeguard network systems.
- Manage projects, acquire and prioritize information, and report network operational status to support and maintain firewall environments by IT security policy.
- Install the most recent stable firmware versions on data network devices.
- Firewalls, hosted IP voice services, and routing and switching equipment configuration
- Offer remote assistance to clients and on-site engineers during the installation process.
- Provide remote troubleshooting and fault identification in case issues develop during the first installation.
- Manage capacity and conduct IP addressing and hosted device audits in data centers.
- Maintain constant communication with project management teams, service desk engineers, and third-line engineers.
- To gather the first requirements, speak with consumers over the phone and via email.
How Can I Become a Network Engineer?
Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Network Engineering
The prerequisite for entry-level network engineer positions is a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, information systems, network engineering, or IT. Then, you may acquire vital on-the-job training to expose yourself as a valuable team member and advance within your company or into other senior-level possibilities.
Network technology is evolving, so you should also routinely attend training sessions and get many information technology certificates, or “certs,” many of which can be necessary for future employment or mandated by your company. Network engineering’s top qualification is provided by Cisco. Leading certification options for this professional path are presented by Cisco, a trusted brand in the IT sector. Depending on where you acquired your bachelor’s degree, certain certificates can even be vital for you to complete your curriculum.
Is Network Engineering a Good Profession?
Network engineering is an incredible field to work in, but success in it demands perseverance, hard effort, and lifelong learning. Network engineers are well-paid, with wages usually greater than average, considering their crucial function in the company.
Before you commit, keep this in mind: network engineers are lifelong learners who need to stay current with technological developments to maintain their certifications, skills, and talents. Now that you are aware of the responsibilities performed by network engineers and the procedures involved in becoming one, go to take the steps you need to succeed in this industry.
