In our hyper-connected world, network engineers are the unsung heroes keeping us online. Their work is crucial, complex, and increasingly in demand. This article provides a complete overview of the profession, including the typical job description, salary ranges, and skills required to succeed in the role.
Network engineers are technicians who build, operate, maintain, and improve communication environments, including networks.
The emails we send and the data we download every day are made possible by the smooth operation of networks maintained by network engineers.
A network refers to the technology and state that connects computers via cables or wireless communication, enabling data exchange. The internet is one example of a network. The role of a network engineer is to ensure that networks within a company or client's organization function without issues.
A similar profession is that of an "infrastructure engineer." Infrastructure engineers handle not only networks but also the foundation of systems, including servers and operating systems.
What makes network engineering rewarding?
The following are some rewarding aspects of being a network engineer:
Engaging in highly specialized work
Managing a critical aspect of a company's operations
Experiencing a sense of unity within a team
Aiming for a high income
Due to the high level of specialization, network engineering is in demand and offers the potential for high earnings. While it might seem like a solitary job, communication skills within the team and with clients are also crucial.
Network engineers vs. system engineers
"System engineer" is a profession often confused with network engineer.
System engineers are technicians responsible for the design, development, and testing of systems. Their role is to develop software and applications used on individual computers, which differs from network engineers who connect computers.
Programmers are the ones who actually write code and create systems. System engineers act as intermediaries between clients and programmers, creating system design documents.
Network engineers vs. server engineers
The term "server engineer" is also often confused with "network engineer."
A server engineer is a technical professional responsible for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of servers. After gathering requirements about servers from clients, they design the servers. A server is a computer that provides services over a network. When you click on a specific part of a webpage, the corresponding page or image is sent from a server.
A network engineer, on the other hand, is responsible for connecting servers and computers to build a network. Server engineers may also be involved in network maintenance, requiring a broader range of knowledge than network engineers.
The demand for network engineers is on the rise, pointing to a promising future for this career path. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' 2023 White Paper on Information and Communications, cloud service adoption by businesses has climbed from 58.7% in 2018 to 72.2% in 2022. Managing these cloud-based network environments falls squarely within the network engineer's domain.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's 2023 Survey on Labor Economy Trends highlights a consistent shortage of full-time employees in the information and communications industry, where network engineers play a key role. This suggests a favorable landscape for those looking to leverage their network engineering experience to transition into other engineering fields.
All of this indicates that network engineering is a profession in high demand, offering the potential for stable and secure income.
A network engineer’s job can be broken down into four primary phases:
Requirements gathering: The first step is to understand exactly what the client needs. This involves having in-depth conversations with the client to determine their specific network requirements. From these discussions, a detailed document is created outlining the project scope, budget, and timeline. This document, known as a requirements document, is crucial for ensuring that both the client and the engineer are on the same page. Before diving into design, it's essential to assess the current network infrastructure to identify any potential issues or areas for improvement.
Network design: Once the requirements are clear, the network engineer can begin the design phase. This phase is typically divided into two parts: basic design and detailed design. In the basic design phase, the overall structure of the network is determined, including IP addressing, routing, and other fundamental components. The detailed design phase delves deeper into the specifics, such as configuring individual devices and assigning IP addresses. This detailed design document serves as a blueprint for the network, providing step-by-step instructions for building it.
Implementation: With a detailed design in hand, the engineer can start building the network. This involves configuring network devices, connecting them together, and testing the network to ensure it functions as expected. The engineer will also verify that the network can handle failures by testing alternative paths for data transmission. If any issues arise, the engineer will make the necessary adjustments until the network is fully operational and ready for handover to the client.
Maintenance and support: Once the network is up and running, the engineer's responsibilities shift to ongoing maintenance and support. This includes making configuration changes to accommodate the client's evolving needs, removing obsolete settings, and replacing faulty equipment. The goal is to ensure that the network remains stable and reliable over time.
The average salary for network engineers in Japan ranges from 4.5 million to 7 million yen (Reference: Trends in IT Human Resources in Japan, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, February 2021).
Many companies seeking experienced network engineers require at least 3 years of experience. Remote work opportunities may also be available in fields like network monitoring and operations.
Some job listings on Robert Half even offer salaries between 7 million and 11 million yen. Robert Half's listings often cater to highly specialized job seekers, which tends to result in higher-than-average salaries.
While the exact salary will vary depending on your specific responsibilities and skills, it's safe to say that network engineers have the potential to earn well above the average for all professions.
Here is an example of a typical network engineer job listing:
Job title: Network engineer
Estimated annual salary: 7 million to 11 million yen
Job description:
Network infrastructure design for digital systems comprising video, audio, and IT equipment
Equipment configuration and on-site construction supervision
Network traffic monitoring and optimization
Network troubleshooting
IP configuration for web conferencing
Design and configuration of audio/visual equipment for large modern offices
Qualifications:
3+ years of experience as a network engineer or in a related field
Interest in digital systems composed of video, audio, and IT equipment, with the following abilities:
Conversational English with IT engineers from foreign companies
High Japanese proficiency (N1)
Location: Tokyo
To thrive as a network engineer, you'll need the following four skills:
Network-related skills
As the name "network engineer" suggests, skills related to networks are essential. Bon Siripairoj, division manager of the IT Infrastructure at Robert Half Japan, states, "Comprehensive skills in network equipment connection and configuration, along with basic knowledge of network mechanisms and communication processes, are necessary. Additionally, with the expanding domestic cloud market, cloud construction skills would broaden your career opportunities."
Security-related skills
Acquire security-related skills, such as troubleshooting, to address any issues that may arise in network systems. Cyberattacks and other external threats necessitate the design and implementation of robust systems and countermeasures, as well as swift responses.
Logical thinking
Logical thinking is crucial for troubleshooting and problem-solving. It involves organizing matters and information, proceeding with work rationally, calmly investigating the causes of system failures, and taking appropriate action. Some troubles may have causes not readily apparent from experience, so flexibility in logical thinking is also essential.
Communication skills
Despite being a technical profession, network engineers interact with many people, requiring strong communication skills. It's important to actively listen to clients during requirement gathering and explain technical terms in an easy-to-understand manner. The ability to clearly summarize information in writing, such as when creating requirement definition documents, is also part of communication skills. Additionally, on-site work often requires collaboration with team members.
As you progress to a project manager role, you'll be responsible for overseeing the entire project, demanding even higher levels of communication skills.
While no specific certifications are mandatory to become a network engineer, obtaining relevant certifications can be advantageous in job hunting and career advancement.
Here are three certifications that can be beneficial for network engineers:
Network specialist examination
The "Network specialist examination" is a national certification specifically for networking. It falls under Skill Level 4, the most challenging level of IT-related national exams. Acquiring this certification requires studying not only network fundamentals but also a broad range of topics, including general IT, security, management, and law.
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
The "Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)" is a network-related certification offered by Cisco Systems. It validates your knowledge and skills in network fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, IP services, security fundamentals, and automation and programmability.
Information security management professional examination
The "Information security management professional examination" is an exam on information security. Passing this exam and completing the necessary procedures grants you national certification. It also falls under Skill Level 4, the most challenging level of IT-related national exams, with a pass rate of around 20%. The exam covers knowledge of information security and the ability to make decisions regarding countermeasures. Given the increase in cyberattacks, this certification is highly regarded.
The following three traits are characteristic of people who are well-suited to be network engineers:
Ability to calmly handle challenges
If you can calmly handle challenges, you might be a good fit for network engineering. Whether it's proposing the best solution to a client's complex request or calmly addressing a troubleshooting issue, the ability to work rationally without panicking is essential.
Patience and accuracy in work
Network engineers need to follow established procedures and work without errors, making patience and accuracy crucial traits. If you enjoy meticulous work and are good at it, this profession might be a good fit for you.
High level of cooperation
Network engineers interact with many people, so being cooperative is also important. Smooth communication with clients and team members is essential for successful project outcomes.
There are two main career paths for network engineers:
Handling upstream processes
In network engineering, requirements definition, design, and construction are referred to as "upstream processes," while maintenance, operation, and monitoring are called "downstream processes."
Upstream processes require specialized knowledge and skills. Those new to the field often start with downstream processes and gradually move to upstream processes as they gain experience.
Becoming a technical specialist
Another path is to become a specialist by mastering other IT technologies beyond networking.
You could advance to roles like server engineer or cloud engineer, or aim to become a generalist capable of handling various areas.
In this article, we explored the job description, salary, job listings, and necessary skills for network engineers.
Network engineering is a highly specialized profession that offers great rewards.
If you're interested in meticulous work that involves interacting with various people, why not consider pursuing a career in network engineering?
