Career profile Network Engineer

Table of Contents

• What does a Network Engineer do?
• What is a typical salary for a Network Engineer?
• What personality traits are common among Network Engineers?
  • Career Interests
  • Values
  • Psychological Demands
• What education and training do Network Engineers need?
  • Typical educational degrees
  • Required knowledge and expertise
  • Important abilities
  • Critical skills

What does a Network Engineer do?

Network Engineers design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks.

In addition, Network Engineers

• perform network modeling, analysis, and planning, including analysis of capacity needs for network infrastructures,
• may also design network and computer security measures,
• may research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software.

What kind of tasks does a Network Engineer perform regularly?

Network Engineers are often responsible for overseeing or executing some or all of the following tasks:

• Develop or recommend network security measures, such as firewalls, network security audits, or automated security probes.
• Develop disaster recovery plans.
• Monitor and analyze network performance and reports on data input or output to detect problems, identify inefficient use of computer resources, or perform capacity planning.
• Coordinate network or design activities with designers of associated networks.
• Develop conceptual, logical, or physical network designs.
• Determine specific network hardware or software requirements, such as platforms, interfaces, bandwidths, or routine schemas.
• Communicate with system users to ensure accounts are set up properly or to diagnose and solve operational problems.
• Develop and implement solutions for network problems.
• Visit vendors, attend conferences or training sessions, or study technical journals to keep up with changes in technology.
• Evaluate network designs to determine whether customer requirements are met efficiently and effectively.
• Participate in network technology upgrade or expansion projects, including installation of hardware and software and integration testing.
• Prepare detailed network specifications, including diagrams, charts, equipment configurations, or recommended technologies.
• Adjust network sizes to meet volume or capacity demands.
• Estimate time and materials needed to complete projects.
• Develop network-related documentation.
• Coordinate network operations, maintenance, repairs, or upgrades.
• Develop procedures to track, project, or report network availability, reliability, capacity, or utilization.
• Supervise engineers or other staff in the design or implementation of network solutions.
• Research and test new or modified hardware or software products to determine performance and interoperability.
• Communicate with customers, sales staff, or marketing staff to determine customer needs.
• Prepare design presentations and proposals for staff or customers.
• Design, build, or operate equipment configuration prototypes, including network hardware, software, servers, or server operation systems.
• Develop plans or budgets for network equipment replacement.
• Prepare or monitor project schedules, budgets, or cost control systems.
• Coordinate installation of new equipment.
• Explain design specifications to integration or test engineers.
• Develop or maintain project reporting systems.
• Use network computer-aided design (CAD) software packages to optimize network designs.
• Maintain or coordinate the maintenance of network peripherals, such as printers.
• Develop and write procedures for installation, use, or troubleshooting of communications hardware or software.
• Communicate with vendors to gather information about products, alert them to future needs, resolve problems, or address system maintenance issues.

The above responsibilities are specific to Network Engineers. More generally, Network Engineers are involved in several broader types of activities:

What is a Network Engineer salary?

What personality traits are common among Network Engineers?

Interests

Career interests describe a person's preferences for different types of working environments and activities. When a person's interest match the demands of an occupation, people are usually more engaged and satisfied in that role.

Compared to most occupations, those who work as a Network Engineer are usually higher in their Investigative, Conventional, and Enterprising interests.

Network Engineers typically have very strong Investigative interests. Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Also, Network Engineers typically have very strong Conventional interests. Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Lastly, Network Engineers typically have strong Enterprising interests. Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Network Engineers typically have moderate Realistic interests. Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Values

People differ in their values, or what is most important to them for building job satisfaction and fulfillment.

Compared to most people, those working as a Network Engineer tend to value Achievement, Working Conditions, and Independence.

Most importantly, Network Engineers very strongly value Achievement. Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

Second, Network Engineers strongly value Working Conditions. Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions.

Lastly, Network Engineers strongly value Independence. Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions.

Psychological Demands

Each occupation brings its own set of psychological demands, which describe the characteristics necessary to perform the job well.

In order to perform their job successfully, people who work as Network Engineers must consistently demonstrate qualities such as attention to detail, analytical thinking, and dependability.

Below, you'll find a list of qualities typically required of Network Engineers, ranked by importance:

What education and training do Network Engineers need?

Many Network Engineers will have a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Network Engineers usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Educational degrees among Network Engineers

• 0.8% did not complete high school or secondary school
• 6.5% completed high school or secondary school
• 21.2% completed some college coursework
• 16.2% earned a Associate's degree
• 39.7% earned a Bachelor's degree
• 14.0% earned a Master's degree
• 1.5% earned a doctorate or professional degree

Knowledge and expertise required by Network Engineers

Important Abilities needed by Network Engineers

Network Engineers must develop a particular set of abilities to perform their job well. Abilities are individual capacities that influence a person's information processing, sensory perception, motor coordination, and physical strength or endurance. Individuals may naturally have certain abilities without explicit training, but most abilities can be sharpened somewhat through practice.

For example, Network Engineers need abilities such as oral comprehension, written comprehension, and deductive reasoning in order to perform their job at a high level. The list below shows several important abilities for Network Engineers, ranked by their relative importance.

Critical Skills needed by Network Engineers

Skills are developed capacities that enable people to function effectively in real-world settings. Unlike abilities, skills are typically easier to build through practice and experience. Skills influence effectiveness in areas such as learning, working with others, design, troubleshooting, and more.

Network Engineers frequently use skills like critical thinking, reading comprehension, and active listening to perform their job effectively. The list below shows several critical skills for Network Engineers, ranked by their relative importance.

What is the source of this information?

The information provided on this page is adapted from data and descriptions published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration under the CC BY 4.0 license. TraitLab has modified some information for ease of use and reading, and the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

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