Network Engineer

As a network support engineer, you’ll be responsible for maintaining the systems that allow organizations to function and communicate, both internally and externally, on a daily basis.

Depending on your level of responsibility, tasks may include upgrading the company’s communications infrastructure or installing a new system.

Regardless of the type of business, as a network support engineer you’ll be responsible for designing, installing and maintaining the communications, file sharing and general IT resources used by the organization.

It’s your job to ensure internal networks have the capacity to meet business demands. This can include making sure everyone can log onto the system without it crashing or making sure the network has the capacity to carry multimedia files (certain businesses, such as architects’ offices, rely on this in order to function efficiently).

The typical daily tasks of a network support engineer include:

1. Installing new software
2. Installing new hardware (servers, printers, computer workstations, etc.)
3. Setting up user accounts, permissions and passwords
4. Overseeing security of all systems, especially the internet, and installing antivirus protection
5. Fixing network faults
6. Technical support for people using the network
7. Training staff on new systems
8. Day to day admin and monitoring of network use
9. Planning future improvements, suggesting IT solutions to business problems
10. Making sure all IT meets industry standards
11. Supervising helpdesk staff

If you choose to work for a large company, it’s likely you’ll have a designated area of the network to work on; if you work for a smaller company you’ll probably be in charge of the entire network.

Required skills

1. As well as an in depth knowledge of technology, employers will expect you to have the following attributes to become a network support engineer:
2. Good at problem solving
3. Good at organizing and multitasking
4. Able to explain technical problems in simple terms
5. Work well with people
6. A dedication to continually update knowledge
7. A clear understanding of the employer’s particular systems
8. In depth knowledge of (LAN, WAN, MAN and GAN)

Candidate Profile

1. Extensive experience of support and provisioning of routers and firewalls in a similar role
2. Should have experience on firewalls and UTMs
3. High level of customer service skills
4. Capable of producing high standards of work, to tight deadlines
5. Highly organized and able to work on own initiative to complete the range of tasks required
6. Able to work as part of a team and capable of working in key Zen and customer projects
7. A keen interest in computer networking and WAN technology
8. Able to operate effectively in difficult and pressured situations
9. Flexible and willing to work outside core business hours as required