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Network Engineer Job Description: Top Duties and Requirements

A Network Engineer, or a Network Systems Engineer, is responsible for building and maintaining a company’s computer networks, including computer, voice, and firewall. Their duties include working closely with network users to solve problems, administering networks and related computing systems, and protecting data and software.

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Network Engineer duties and responsibilities

Network Engineers work directly with system users across various levels of a company, such as regional offices, distribution centres, retail stores, and others. They must have extensive knowledge of technology infrastructure and networking products to be successful. Other duties and responsibilities include:

  • Designing and installing network infrastructure, including on-premises systems and cloud networking solutions
  • Evaluating user requirements and designing system architecture and parameters
  • Performing disaster recovery processes and data backups to protect data and systems from attacks or loss
  • Coordinating computer and telecommunication network access and use
  • Maximizing network performance by monitoring activity, troubleshooting, scheduling upgrades, and collaborating with network architects
  • Replacing faulty systems and hardware and implementing new hardware solutions
  • Collaborating with project management teams and other engineers regularly
  • Attending workshops and on-the-job technical training sessions
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What does a Network Engineer do?

A Network Engineer designs, builds, manages, and maintains computer and telecommunications networks within or between organizations. They continually modify and evaluate computer hardware and system networks, including mainframe systems, local and wide area networks, internet, intranet, and other data communications structures. Additionally, they work closely with network users to identify any existing problems or potential issues, and implement creative solutions.

Network Engineer skills and qualifications

When hiring a Network Engineer candidate, look for applicants with strong technical skills. Other skills and qualifications for a Network Engineer candidate include:

  • Ability to coordinate, supervise, and manage teams
  • Ability to debug and re-program computer systems
  • Problem-solving and critical-thinking skills
  • Receiving and analyzing information, data, and software
  • Effective written and oral communication skills
  • Strong time management and organizational skills
  • Strategic and logical thinking

Network Engineer experience requirements

A successful Network Engineer candidate typically has two to five years of experience installing, maintaining, securing, and monitoring computer systems and networks. Depending on your company’s needs, you may want a candidate with experience specific to your industry. They also understand how computer and communications systems, infrastructure, and network hardware work.

When going through resumes, look for applicants who have experience designing, operating, and optimizing various computer, communications, and service provider networks. Also, consider candidates with experience in technology infrastructure.

Network Engineer education and training requirements

A successful Network Engineer candidate has a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, electronic engineering, engineering physics, or computer science. To practice as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.), they are required to have a license granted by the provincial or territorial Association of Professional Engineers. Candidates are eligible for this registration after graduating from an accredited educational program or after three to four years of supervised work. Consider candidates with a master’s or doctoral degree in network engineering or related fields.

Network Engineer salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Network Engineer in Canada is $75,040 per year. Please note that may be dependent on experience, location, and company.

Job description samples for similar positions

If a Network Engineer job description sample isn’t quite what you’re looking for, similar positions include:

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Network Engineer job description FAQs

Who does a Network Engineer report to?

Network Engineers may work in various industries, where they complete similar tasks of installing and repairing network systems. Most Network Engineers work in the business and information technology industries. Some may work for government industries, updating and implementing networking systems that follow specific routing and encrypting protocols to provide clearance to certain individuals.

Others may serve in the healthcare industry, installing these systems into medical facilities like hospitals or clinics. They perform routine maintenance on the servers and troubleshoot them for any issues that could impact the medical facility’s daily operations.

Do Network Engineers have different responsibilities in different industries?

Although they’re both Engineers who work in computer technology, Network and Software Engineers specialize in different technical areas. Network Engineers are responsible for setting up and maintaining an organization’s computer networking system. Software Engineers focus on designing, developing, and testing software applications and rarely work with networking systems.

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