Report on Role of Network Engineer

Introduction of Role of Network Engineer

Every company in the world always focuses to attract prospective and effective applicants and candidates to apply in the company to hold the role of the network engineer in the company. The report is providing the information about the background of the network engineering and the requirement the roles and responsibilities that which will be working toward in the future. there are several websites as well as many job advertisements related to network engineering job are reviewed and researched to show the common qualification and the skills requirements given by the companies. It is also mapped the current skills and upskills in the research study report which will be improved according to the timeline given in the timeline section.

1.      Background of Network Engineer Role working towards in future

The intended role in this research report assignment is the role of the network engineer. It is a very significant job post in the networking companies. In this section, a piece of brief information related to the background of the network engineer’s role in the organizations or the networking companies is provided. The main objective to provide this information in this study is to show what the network engineer is, what qualifications required for this position in the company, what are the important skills they should have as well as what are the key responsibilities of network engineers into the company. Before discussing the background of the network engineer, some information is also required for the network engineer.

The network engineer is a technology professional who has essential skills related to the computer, computer systems as well as computer network systems to make plans, implement and manage the networks of a computer to provide support into the in the network services. To become a software engineer, it is necessary to complete the four years tenure in the computer relate network degree in college or university (Niebert, et al., 2008).

The network engineer is responsible to design, implement, monitor and managing all types of networks of the organization. furthermore, every person that is using the using the network services of the company consecutively sending the larger amount of data and information through the network, needs proper speed as well as fine services of the network. So, it is needed to provide effective services and remove the ambiguities from the network. There are several types of roles and responsibilities of the network engineers in the networking companies such as making effective design configurations of the system, documentation and management of the new network installation. Furthermore, if the network system of the company or the network provider is facing some issues and difficulties in the provision of the services of the network to their prospective buyers and users, then the network system needs maintenance as well as up-gradation of the network, the network engineer’s work start (Conlon, 2008). There is some roles and responsibilities list on working towards in the future provided below.

Network Engineer Roles and Responsibilities of the Job

There are several kinds of roles and responsibilities of the network engineers’ job that will work internally or will be assigned to the project teams of management with outside clients. The network engineers work closely with the IT managers, network architects and the business analysts as part of the IT team of the organization. The job description of the network engineer is given as the following;

·         The job designing and the implementation of the new solutions related to the network and to make improvements in the network efficiency.

·         Configuration, installation and provide support to the network equipment such as DHCP, DNS, Router installation, proxy server installation, and configuration, or other kinds of network equipment (Stoll & Breu, 2013)

·         The network engineer procuring has also the responsibility to procure network equipment as well as subcontractors management and the installation network

·         The configuration of switching, routing and firewalls to maximize the efficiency and the security (Mangina & Vlachos, 2005).

·         They have to monitor and troubleshoot the network on a daily basis to increase performance and security of network for current and future distribution

·         Comprehensive analysis for investigation on the faults in the network

·         Arrangements of the future updates

·         Performing disaster recovery operations and data backups

In historical contexts, the network engineers’ roles have been changed in the last decades. The reason is the saturation of the network providers as well as changing technology across the world. The network engineers performed their responsibilities as the basic network engineers such as the installation of networking devices or networks in the specific area but with the passage of time, networking technology, as well as networking protocols, has been improved and many changes came in the roles of network engineers. according to the changes in network engineering, there were several types of network engineering-related skills had been developed. In the early decades of networking, the computer communication network (CCN) subject was included in the curriculum of the network engineers in which they learned to deal with the IP Addresses but after improvements, CCNA routing as well as switching certification was also upgraded. So, handling heavy networks and different kinds of distribution, CCNA concepts, and other related to concepts, were compulsory to manage and monitor the networks. furthermore, the SDN was also introduced which is to increase the flexibility of the network but it creates several complications to manage the network for the network engineers. Thus, they need to take a better understanding of the virtualization with the software-defined networking technology while they still need to get a better understanding of how the physical network is set up as well as operated (Kolfschoten, et al., 2012).

2.      Researching website for skills and qualifications

Every company in the world post the job advertisements on their websites as well as other job searching and offering engines or websites to attract candidates to apply in the company by sending their application forms as well as their CVs to the HR of the company. Several websites are researched and visited to see the job offerings and job advertisements to complete this section. By searching and the reading several network engineer job advertisements and posts of different companies. They all mentioned the job description and the requirements of the job. The job description provides short information what network engineer will have to do and the requirements are the essential things, courses and skills section that will help candidate map skills and other qualities.

If any candidate has no enough qualifications or required things for the job, it means that the job applicant or person is not eligible to apply in a particular company. If the several reasons that every company in the world always gives preference to those employees or candidates who are skillful, well-educated and well mannered, as well as perfect for the job position that is offered by the company. Furthermore, the qualification which is required by the company for the particular network engineering role or position in the company, means that the applicant that has applied for the job has the appropriate education and to see whether the candidate is educated or not in the particular network engineering filed and he must also have the comprehensive knowledge and information-theoretically and practically related to networking as well as network engineering. On the other hand, the requirement for the network-related job is related to personal development, skills and another related job general knowledge and problem-solving skills. After researching several websites, some common qualifications and job requirements are discussed in this document below.

Qualification and Requirements of Role of Network Engineer

Every computer science degree holder who has a network technical background is required to hold the role of network engineer in the companies. Some important subjects should be included in the degree program.

·         Computer Science

·         Computer system engineering/computer software engineering

·         Computer systems and networks

·         Mathematics

·         Information security

·         Physics / digital logic design

·         Computer communication and networks

·         Network security and management

Several organizations also required some network related certifications along with the degree as well as they clearly mentioned in the job advertisements that those candidates and applicants will be preferred who have network configuration and network-related certifications (American Transmission Co, 2020).

·         CCNA / CCNP (cisco certificate network professional)

Some organizations have also addressed in the advertisements on their websites and the job advertisement websites, the candidate must also have some additional skills to fulfill the role of network engineer.

·         Should have strong analytical and problem-solving skills

·         Must have the ability to learn new technologies

·         Must have strong communication skills

·         Must have the time management skills and better management problems

·         Team management skills and teamwork abilities

·         Must have the knowledge of new technologies and vulnerabilities

·         Candidate must have strong business and commercial awareness

The qualification mentioned above, are the common requirements extracted from different websites job applications and different job advertising websites. The main purpose to discuss this information about requirements is to provide information on how the companies in the world require the candidates and to show how tough competition related to holding the role of network engineer in the market.

Website Links;

https://www.higheredjobs.com/admin/details.cfm?JobCode=177255188&Title=Network%20Administrator

https://www.higheredjobs.com/admin/details.cfm?JobCode=177255146&Title=Network%20Engineer

https://www.wellsfargojobs.com/job/chandler/network-engineer-6-ddi-solution-developer-technical-lead/1251/15285467

https://www.indeed.com/q-Network-Engineer-l-California-jobs.html?vjk=863fd336b00182d5

https://www.glassdoor.com/Job/network-engineer-jobs-SRCH_KO0,16.htm

https://www.dice.com/jobs/detail/Senior-Wireless-Network-Engineer-Newmont-USA-Limited-Englewood-CO-80110/10127731/%23196

3. Information of my skills, experience, and qualification with mapping

In this section of the research, the information related to my skill, qualification, as well as my personal experience is discussed as well as it is also provided the information about how my skills meet with general qualifications and requirements which are mentioned in the previous section. The main reason to discuss my qualification, skills as well as the experience in this document is to see and analyze whether my skills and knowledge meet with the requirements extracted with the company. The second reason of discussing the information is to identify the what things and information I have as well as what things and important courses or certifications are essential that I should learn to hold the role or job in the networking or telecommunication company as a network engineer (McLay & Brown, 2003).

After identification of the requirements company, it is tried to map those requirements with my skills and qualification. I have found that I have the BS Computer science degree that fulfills the initial requirement to apply for a job. I have not enough experience in the networking field because I have completed my degree and my most favorite subjects were programming, information security as well as a computer communication network. These subjects are common and also required to apply for the job as network engineering. I have strong communication skills, and some skills to manage time and teams. I have the knowledge of CCNA and CCNP but not have the certification. But I have strong information on network systems and IPV/4 addressing mathematically including I have also information and some skills to use networking software such as Wireshark.

4. Identification of upskilling/reskill for the best position

It is critically identified that I have the information as well as the network-related skills and other side skills that can be used to apply for the network engineer role. I have a good knowledge of the network systems and have also the mathematical knowledge and skills to calculate the IP addresses, subnetting and other network-related concepts. But to hold the role as a network engineer in a networking company, I should have to revise my networking subject to hold a better grip on the subject and should also have to get the certification of CCNA and CCNP to make myself strong by attempting Cisco networking test examination from Cisco registered and affiliated institute. It is because it is essential to make my skills enhanced as well as these skills and certifications are compulsory to prepare me the best fit for the network engineer’s position in the company.

It is also identified that I must have to enhance and improve the analytics which can be practiced by playing cards, chess, solving complex puzzles as well as other problem-solving puzzles. The puzzles can be in the form of mathematical, visual or in the simple text format. Such types of puzzles are very effective to exercise the brain to make it ready to see everything in the problem-solving context. Furthermore, when people use and play such kinds of games, it might possible that they can develop their brains to think critically as well as their brain can easily solve complex problems. The analytical skills and problem-solving techniques are needed to improve because the network engineer position requires such skills, and the various problem in the networking system, maybe more complicated than needs strong analytical skills along with the networking information to solve. So, some skills which are mentioned in this document are needed to be improved to make myself the best option in the company and hold the role of a network engineer (Hogarty & Guckin, 2018).

Timeline of Role of Network Engineer

In this section, a timeline, time map or the Gantt chart is provided that is showing the activities will be performed and the time required for every task or activity to enhance the skills to apply for the position of the network engineer in the company.

Conclusion of Role of Network Engineer

It is concluded that it is a very significant job post in the networking companies. In this section, a piece of brief information related to the background of the network engineer’s role in the organizations or the networking companies is provided. The network engineer is a technology professional who has essential skills related to the computer, computer systems. The network engineer is responsible to design, implement, monitor and managing all types of networks of the organization. The network engineers work closely with the IT managers, network architects as well as business analysts as part of the IT team of the organization. In historical contexts, the network engineers’ roles have been changed in the last decades. The reason is the saturation of the network providers and changing technology across the world. I should have to revise my networking subject to hold a better grip on the subject as well as should also have to get the certification of CCNA and CCNP to make myself strong by attempting Cisco networking 

References of Role of Network Engineer

American Transmission Co, 2020. glassdoor. [Online]
Available at: https://www.glassdoor.com/Job/network-engineer-jobs-SRCH_KO0,16.htm

Conlon, E., 2008. The new engineer: between employability and social responsibility.. European Journal of Engineering Education, 33(2), pp. 151-159..

Hogarty, V. L. & Guckin, C. M., 2018. Measuring Social and Psychological Outcomes from Activation Labour Market Programmes in Higher Education: A Pilot Study.. DBS Business Review.

Kolfschoten, G. L., Niederman, F., Briggs, R. O. & Vreede, G. J. D., 2012. Facilitation roles and responsibilities for sustained collaboration support in organizations.. Journal of Management Information Systems, 28(4), pp. 129-162..

Mangina, E. & Vlachos, I. P., 2005. The changing role of information technology in food and beverage logistics management: beverage network optimisation using intelligent agent technology. Journal of food engineering, pp. 403-420..

McLay, M. & Brown, M., 2003. Using concept mapping to evaluate the training of primary school leaders.. International journal of leadership in education,, 6(1), pp. 73-87.

Niebert, N. et al., 2008. Network virtualization: A viable path towards the future internet.. Wireless Personal Communications,, 45(4), pp. 511-520.

Stoll, M. & Breu, R., 2013. Information security measurement roles and responsibilities.. In Emerging trends in computing, informatics, systems sciences, and engineering, pp. 11-23.