A Complete Guide to Becoming a Network Engineer

Network engineers with the highest salaries earn well over $100,000 per year. Traveling to the office daily can seem like a burden to some people;  the network experts have the liberty to work from home with a good Internet connection. Even a junior network engineer applicant must demonstrate past work expertise as a network technician to an employer.

This meant that being able to configure a Cisco switch didn’t imply I could configure a Juniper switch. If we consider that most network switches are built off of a Linux base, and provide similar functionality, the CLI becomes an abstraction of the underlying Linux system. While I think this is a fair generalization, it’s also fair to say that most vendors don’t run a completely vanilla version of Linux or the Linux kernel. If you want to increase your competitiveness as a candidate in the IT job market, learning to enhance and market your Linux skills is an excellent place to start.

Step 2: Earn a bachelor’s degree

But statistically, network engineers tend to have a slightly higher level of education than network administrators. The CCNA covers a broad range of fundamentals based on the latest networking technologies, software development skills and job roles. For entry-level network engineer jobs, you’ll first need to get your bachelor’s degree in network engineering, information systems, IT, or computer engineering. You can then gain critical on-the-job experience to become a valued member of your team and move up within your organization or onto other senior-level opportunities.

In this role, individuals might create and manage applications, work on their integration, and ensure their smooth operation on Linux platforms. Being a part of the IT department, a significant amount of time is spent on computers deploying codes, configuring systems, troubleshooting issues, and monitoring performance. Their work can be highly demanding, often linux network engineer requiring proficiency in several scripting languages, problem-solving skills, and the ability to handle stressful situations, especially when dealing with system failures or security breaches. The range and scope of technologies that leverage Linux is large and growing rapidly. The deeper you dive into any technology the more likely you are to see Linux.

Where the Linux engineer jobs are

Focus areas should include the command line, system administration, network configuration, and server management. Don’t forget to explore related fields like cybersecurity and cloud computing. With global interconnectivity becoming increasingly prevalent, companies require robust, secure, and scalable systems to handle their operations. Many organizations are seeking skilled Linux engineers to manage their information systems, leading to a promising career outlook. The tech industry has been evolving rapidly, making this role increasingly challenging and exciting.

• Network engineers are also liable for maintaining the company’s server systems’ stability and minimizing network failures to improve network performance.
• If you want to increase your competitiveness as a candidate in the IT job market, learning to enhance and market your Linux skills is an excellent place to start.
• Network Engineers are experts who can apply a range of technologies to connect, secure, and automate complex networks, and it’s a critical role in companies from every industry.
• Find out how different WGU is about personalizing and supporting your education.

You can explore job opportunities in tech companies, telecommunications companies, and any business that utilizes Linux operating systems. Tailor your resume and cover letter to showcase your skills, education, certifications, and experience. Additionally, they play an active role in developing and implementing software and hardware solutions that align with business needs and strategies. With advanced knowledge of Linux and related technologies, they are often called upon to improve system efficiency, automate routine tasks, and enhance overall system security.

Linux Fundamentals for Network Engineers

There are more similarities between network engineers and network administrators than differences as network engineers are essentially advanced network administrators. A network administrator should also be capable of using network management systems to improve network performance and security. Other professional skills that can benefit network administrators include time management, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. If you follow the traditional educational path, becoming a network engineer can take anywhere from five to six years.

Developers can also use the NVIDIA TAO Toolkit to create efficient and accurate AI models for edge applications. TAO provides a low-code interface to fine-tune and optimize vision AI models, including ViT and vision foundational models. They can also customize and fine-tune foundational models like NVIDIA NV-DINOv2 or public models like OpenCLIP to create highly accurate vision AI models with very little data. TAO additionally now includes VisualChangeNet, a new transformer-based model for defect inspection.

Shifting toward project management

This move could involve obtaining additional credentials like the PMP (Project Management Professional) and would typically result in more strategic, big-picture work. You may want to explore climbing the ladder within your existing field, where positions such as senior engineer or project lead will increase your responsibility, experience, and exposure. Eventually, this could lead to a role as a systems director or IT manager, overseeing teams of engineers and making significant decisions about infrastructure and strategy. Many companies hire external consultants to provide expert advice on Linux systems. Professionals in these roles analyze current systems, suggest improvements, and oversee system updates. The job requires a deep understanding of Linux platforms and excellent communication skills to communicate effectively with stakeholders and clients.