What is a Network Engineer? Skills, Duties & Career

Since interconnected systems power everything from social media to global businesses, have you ever wondered who implements and manages these intricate digital systems for efficient data exchange? Well, that’s what a network engineer does.

These professionals design, implement, and maintain wired and wireless cloud systems —however, many question whether network engineering is a rewarding career and what skills are needed to excel. 

If you have similar questions, this article is for you! Let’s discuss everything from the educational requirements of network engineers to salary and more.

Who is a network engineer?

Typically, a network engineer is a technology professional with the skills to plan, design, and implement complex network systems.

Not only this, but when an issue arises, these network architects quickly resolve it to ensure that communication and data exchange between systems is smooth and secure. 

Key network engineer skills explained

Network engineers require technical and soft skills to succeed in different work environments. There are the different skills needed to excel in network engineering:

Firewalls

Establishing secure systems is the ultimate responsibility of a network engineer. To do so, they should have in-depth knowledge about firewalls. Firewalls scan different users and restrict access to users and computers showing suspicious activity.

Network engineers should understand different types of firewalls, including network firewalls, web application firewalls, and host-based firewalls. 

Programming languages 

Network engineers also build and maintain different databases. However, to do this efficiently, they need to master programming languages like Go, Python, C++, and Ruby.

This allows them to write custom scripts to create new solutions and complex software and perform tasks like database integration. 

Cloud networks

Most businesses store its data in cloud systems as these systems offer excellent security and scalability compared to traditional networks. Statistics reveal that 76% of organizations globally use a multi-cloud operating model, at least one shared and one private cloud. 

Network engineers should have the knowledge and skills to manage public and private cloud networks to meet these modern tech needs. They must also be aware of the risks associated with cloud networks, such as data loss, and liaise with cloud service providers. 

Other skills that network engineers should possess include network automation and virtualization. Team members must also have good analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills. 

Network engineer role and responsibilities

Now that you know the different skills network engineers should have to excel. Let’s look at what role network engineers play:

• Responsible for creating blueprints that outline a network’s layout or design. 

• Configure the components of the computer networks as per the design and assign unique IP addresses. 

• Monitor the network’s traffic and analyze issues to improve overall network performance.

• Maintain different systems, such as routers, switches, and firewalls, to ensure the network’s security for data exchange. 

• Work with other tech professionals like security personnel and system administrators to find loopholes in network hardware and take immediate steps to resolve them. They also use tools like HelpDesk to listen to customer concerns, collect feedback regarding implemented network solutions, and provide hassle-free 24/7 assistance.

Education and degrees for network engineers

Know that most network engineers’ educational and degree requirements vary depending on their chosen roles.

However, here’s a general overview of how to become a network engineer:

1. Have an associate or bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT, electrical engineering, physics, or any other relevant field. 

2. Get necessary certifications from Cisco, CompTIA, or Microsoft.

3. Enroll in programming, maths, signals, and systems courses to improve skills. 

4. Before entering the field, start an entry-level job like IT support or system administrator at any firm to understand the role. 

Skills and certifications for network engineers

Network engineers must be able to design and configure network and computer systems, implement firewalls, and manage cloud networks. Here are some certifications that help them acquire all such skills: 

Cisco certified network associate (CCNA)

A Cisco certified network associate (CCNA) is an entry-level certification for network engineers that validates their knowledge of handling networking systems. The topics covered in this include network security, IP services, network automation, and troubleshooting.

To become a Cisco-certified network professional, one should take a course like Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions (CCNA) and pass the required exam (201 to 300).

CompTIA network+

Another option is the CompTIA Network+ certification, which verifies an engineer’s foundational skills in designing, implementing, and maintaining a network. It prepares them for an entry-level job as a network engineer in some popular tech firms. 

Getting this certification involves passing an exam that contains 90 questions, a mix of drag-and-drop, multiple-choice, and performance-based questions, and getting a minimum score of 720/900. 

Juniper Networks certified associate - Junos (JNCIA-Junos)

Besides the above two, a Juniper Networks certified associate - Junos (JNCIA-Junos) certification is also a good option.

An associate-level certification tests an individual’s knowledge of essential software configuring, transit traffic processing, and firewall filters. To qualify for this certificate, a network engineer must pass the JNA-102 exam, valid for three years.

Network engineering tasks and challenges

While network engineering is rewarding, like providing a good salary and knowledge of new technologies, it also has some challenges.

Network engineering is constantly evolving; sometimes, staying updated about the latest trends and technologies can become a hassle for engineers. They need to keep track of everything from new developments in network automation to cloud computing, which is quite overwhelming. 

These days, networks have multiple layers of protocols, protection firewalls, and devices. This makes it difficult for network engineers to design and manage new systems. Network engineers work actively and rely on network management tools to do so. 

Networks are constantly exposed to cyber-attacks and unauthorized access, which can compromise sensitive information. To avoid this, network engineers must comply with security regulations like GDPR and take preventive security measures like encryption and backups, which can add to the overall workload. 

Career path and specializations

Network engineering opens doors to a variety of career paths, such as: 

• Network engineers: Quite an advanced role where professionals design, plan, build, and test network solutions for different projects. 

• Network administrators: Install, configure, and maintain the organizational network infrastructure. 

• Network security specialists implement security policies and tools, such as firewalls and encryption, to protect the network against security attacks, such as data breaches and unauthorized access. 

• Network consultants: Stay updated on the latest network trends. This job is freelance primarily or contract-based, helping organizations pinpoint and resolve technical issues. 

Some other career options include network manager, cloud networking architect, network design expert, network analyst, and network technician.

Network engineer salaries and job prospects

Anyone thinking about starting a career as a network engineer must be wondering about its job prospects and salaries.

So, here’s an overview:

• Network engineers earn a handsome yearly salary of $118,441.

• The average annual salary of a network engineer is around $96,659. 

• The job market for network engineers is quickly growing. According to Zippia, from 2018 to 2028, there will be a 5% growth in these jobs, with 18,200 new jobs projected. 

In addition to these fixed salaries, network engineers can earn bonuses based on their performance or offer freelance services to diversify their portfolio. 

Professional development and networking to stay updated with the latest trends 

For professional development and networking, network engineers should do the following things:

• Courses and certificates: Enroll in certifications like CCNA and Cisco certified network professional (CCNP) to stay updated with the latest technologies and emerging trends. They also connect with industry mentors who guide them through software-defined and automated networking so they can streamline daily tasks. 

• Organizations: They can become a partner of different engineering organizations, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) or the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), where they get access to premium, valuable resources and connect to like-minded people, helping them grow in their field.

• Seminars and events: Attend meetings, webinars, and conferences relevant to their field where they can share their knowledge and network with other professionals. They also get insights on what’s trending in the network engineering field, ranging from Network Function visualization to Edge Computing and 5G, and how to adapt to modern solutions. 

Summary

Network engineers focus on designing and creating reliable network systems that deliver efficient and secure experiences to end users. HelpDesk is an incredible platform that can help you in this regard!

As a network engineer, you can use it to collect feedback about the designed computer networks and take immediate steps to improve your services. So get it now and pave the way for smooth feedback analysis and issue resolution!