What does a Principal Network Engineer do?
Network engineers are responsible for the implementation, planning, and coordination of security systems and software that protects the technological infrastructure found at a company or an organization. They build and maintain the daily operations of computer networks at their work sites and monitor and administer computer networks and related computing environments, including systems software, application software or hardware, and any and all relevant configurations.
Network engineers are also responsible for running disaster recovery operations and data backups if needed, and they help solve systems and software problems for users by troubleshooting to determine what the issues are. They can also determine an organization's software and hardware needs and install systems accordingly. They maintain a system of network and computer systems and run upgrades and maintenance, which includes the on-boarding of new users and granting of new permissions when necessary. Network engineers need a bachelor’s degree in computer science or related fields and between 5-10 years of experience in the network administration field.
- Administer all network equipment, hardware and software upgrades.
- Serve as the technical point of contact for the customer.
- Analyze local and wide area network systems, to include testing.
- Provide design, migration, implementation and deployment services / guidance.
- Perform network system backups per documented methods and procedures.
- Support customers in deploying IoT and RFID devices into their network.
- Conduct network/site surveys and prepare test reports, if required.
- Assist in the design and review of new data, voice and/or telephony deployments.
- Maintain firewalls to ensure proper security controls are in place.
- Obtain quotes, procure hardware and ensure delivery and installation.
- Provide support for new applications and upgrades to existing systems.
- Install, configure, and support equipment from a variety of vendors.
- Communicate with clients and vendors involved in provisioning activities.
- Contribute to the completion of specific programs and projects.
- Monitor network performance and troubleshoot problem areas as needed.
- Automate network monitoring to provide a proactive approach to mitigate network issues.
- Plan network layouts and configure systems to user environments.
- Bachelor's or Graduate's Degree in computer science, engineering, information systems, or information technology or relevant experience.
- Excellent at problem solving and consulting.
- Skilled with cloud, scripting, and writing and routing protocols.
- Fluent in a variety of programs and software.
How much does a Principal Network Engineer make near United States?
Base Pay
Additional Pay
$202,493
/ yrPrincipal Network Engineer Career Path
Learn how to become a Principal Network Engineer, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.
Years of Experience Distribution
Principal Network Engineer Insights
Huawei Technologies“Good Pay and High Bonus with Huawei Staff ARP is good if you don't want any stress”
IMPACT Infotech“Good for fresher to work as a fresher it is a good start to gain knowledge.”
Cambay Consulting“Good training and development with timely recognition....i love working here and wish to complete at least 5 years.”
Nisum“Teamwork is central to everything we do here at Nisum and that includes our clients.”
Bharti Airtel“Salary is little low and L1 is pretty simple nothing much to grab from Networking prospective.”
Movate“It is good company for freshers to learn and the training is in top notch.”
NATECH“Was a good pay for someone getting their feet in the door but not for an experienced engineer”
Sophos“There is a great deal of pressure and responsibility placed on individuals to deliver projects on time regardless of technical debt accumulating”
Frequently asked questions about the role and responsibilities of network engineers
Also known as network administrators or architects, network engineers spend a typical day running diagnostics, installing new hardware, and completing routine software updates. They also maintain the daily operations of a company's entire computer network system and work closely with network users to determine if issues arise.
Network engineering is a fast-growing occupation due to the ever-developing technology industry. Businesses continue to look for more innovative and fast networks, so they frequently turn to network engineers to help that happen. An advantage of this job is that certain employers allow for a remote work environment.
Network engineers can earn a decent salary. The average base salary for network engineers is $202,493 per year in the United States, but this amount depends on location and years of experience. Those who have additional experience can earn up to $256,430 per year.
Working as a network engineer can be difficult because they need to stay abreast of updates made to computer programs. They might need to take supplemental courses and undergo training frequently to remain up to date. Also, if issues arise, they might need to work evenings or weekends to fix the problems.