| The availability of jobs for network | | | | |
| engineers and systems administrators is | | | | The Skills of a Network Engineer |
| expected to grow by more than 27% per year | | | | |
| from 2004 to 2014, according to data provided | | | | Network engineers must possess technical |
| by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A network | | | | backgrounds; a systematic understanding of |
| engineer may also be referred to as a network | | | | computer hardware, applications, and |
| administrator, systems administrator, network | | | | operating systems; and technical knowledge of |
| analyst, network designer, network architect, | | | | networking hardware and software. A |
| WAN administrator, LAN administrator, IT | | | | networking engineer generally must possess: |
| systems administrator, network operations | | | | |
| analyst, or network technician. The principal | | | | * an understanding of networking principles |
| job of a network engineer is to run and | | | | and influencing factors |
| oversee computer communication systems and | | | | |
| data transfer within an organization or | | | | * thorough knowledge of routing protocols and |
| between companies. Computer networks are used | | | | switching technologies |
| by companies to collect and process data, | | | | |
| access the Internet and web-based utilities, | | | | * an understanding of network security |
| and share files and resources. The network | | | | systems, strategies, and procedures |
| engineer serves as both a road engineer and a | | | | (repetition) |
| police officer directing traffic on the | | | | |
| information superhighway. | | | | * specific knowledge of WAN/LAN |
| | | | infrastructure |
| The Duties of a Network Engineer Network | | | | |
| engineering jobs involve the designing and | | | | * a mastery of scripting languages |
| maintenance of both hardware and software | | | | |
| components of computer networks. Network | | | | * expertise regarding server products and |
| engineers are specialists in constructing and | | | | technologies |
| maintaining local area networks (LANs) or | | | | |
| wide area networks (WANs). All of the | | | | * familiarity with industry protocols |
| elements within an organization's IT system, | | | | |
| including individual desktop PCs, file | | | | * experience with IP addressing, including |
| servers, mail servers, backup servers, | | | | subnetting |
| application servers, custom-designed | | | | |
| workstations, and more, come within the | | | | * experience with troubleshooting router, |
| purview of the network engineer's job. | | | | switch, and fault-tolerant or redundant |
| | | | environments |
| Here are some of the tasks network engineers | | | | |
| commonly perform: | | | | * hardware maintenance skills |
| | | | |
| * selection of hardware and software | | | | * strong communication skills |
| solutions for organizational needs | | | | |
| | | | * motivation |
| * implementation of hardware and software | | | | |
| solutions and utilities | | | | * decision-making ability |
| | | | |
| * testing and resolution of system issues, | | | | Working Hours and Environment |
| including compatibility issues | | | | |
| | | | It is standard for network engineers to work |
| * analysis of organizational needs | | | | around 40 hours per week. However, time spent |
| | | | installing new systems or conducting |
| * building IT networks to support | | | | maintenance often extends beyond normal |
| organizational needs | | | | working hours. Network engineering jobs are |
| | | | usually in metro environments. |
| * troubleshooting and ensuring smooth network | | | | |
| operations | | | | How Does One Become a Network Engineer? |
| | | | |
| * upgrading equipment and systems | | | | Network engineers typically have IT |
| | | | backgrounds as well as bachelor's degrees or |
| * maintaining network and data security | | | | higher-level educational qualifications. |
| | | | Certifications from institutes and |
| * establishing user accounts and passwords | | | | organizations like Microsoft and Cisco also |
| | | | carry weight with employers. Engineers with |
| * providing compatibility training | | | | different IT-related backgrounds or |
| | | | specializations in network design, |
| * documentation of problems and solutions | | | | operations, and related fields can become |
| | | | network engineers. Many universities and |
| * analysis and design of networks | | | | colleges offer degrees in network |
| | | | engineering. There are also network |
| * researching objectives of new or current | | | | management and network engineering programs |
| networks | | | | at various higher education institutions. |
| | | | Working network engineers often upgrade |
| * apprising existing networks and IT | | | | themselves by acquiring specialty |
| solutions | | | | certifications from industry organizations |
| | | | like Microsoft. |
| * designing networks to maximize productivity | | | | |
| | | | Prospects for Network Engineers |
| * monitoring networks to find and establish | | | | |
| regular behavioral patterns | | | | As mentioned earlier, job prospects for |
| | | | network engineers are expected to grow at a |
| * protecting and extending equipment life | | | | rate greater than 27% per year. The average |
| | | | salary of a network engineer ranges from |
| * educating end users | | | | $50,000 to $70,000 per year. |