Network Engineering is a specialized field within the broader domain of computer science and information technology. It focuses on designing, implementing, and maintaining computer networks that enable communication and data exchange between various devices, such as computers, servers, routers, switches, and other network infrastructure components.
Network engineers play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth functioning of an organization’s network infrastructure. They are responsible for tasks such as network planning, network design, configuration, troubleshooting, and security implementation. They work with various networking technologies, protocols, and tools to create reliable and efficient network solutions
Network Engineering Career Scope in Pakistan Job Opportunities Salary Requirements guidelines for admissions, courses of choice, and begin your career with Network Engineering and stable your lifestyle. Network engineers are professionals in technology and have the knowledge and skills required to plan and implement computers to support internal video, voice, data, and wireless network services. Network Engineering involves designing and maintaining hardware and software required to support computer networking.
The Network Engineers are well-skilled specialists and analysts who specialize in local networking (LANs) and a wide area network of computers (WAN). With the development of Internet technology, Network Engineering involves creating peripherals, programs, devices, and the other components required for computers and networks to work.
Who is Network Engineer?
Network engineers are tech professionals with the required skills to design and implement computers that provide in-house video, data, voice, and wireless network services.
Although the titles networks engineer and network administrator are often used in conjunction, the term network engineer generally has more responsibility for executive management than the network administrator. The engineering part is concerned with the design, planning, and technical specs. The administration is concerned with day-to-day maintenance, administration, and troubleshooting.
The job titles can also be distinguished through education or earnings. A network engineer is generally educated and earns more than a network administrator. The projections for employment show that network engineers are in high demand and that the field and related professions are projected to increase between 4 to 7 percent in the coming decades.
How to become Network Engineer?
Network engineering needs the degree of a bachelor’s. Suppose you are interested in becoming an engineer in networks. In that case, you must pass on your FSC. (Pre-Engineering)and enroll in a school that offers courses in network design engineering, computers, computer information systems, computer science, or another area connected to computer networks engineering.
A degree in this field typically takes between four and five years to complete, based on the degree of study and the university you study at. A basic understanding of electronic devices, including circuit boards, chips, and other electronic equipment, ‘s crucial. You should be interested in Computer Systems, and a diploma or certificate in computer science would be an enormous boost.
Network Engineering Career Scope in Pakistan Jobs & Courses 2024
Network Engineering Job Opportunities
Computer networking is among the jobs growing rapidly on the market right now. Companies and businesses, both small and large, will require the network’s convenience to develop and maintain and install and safeguard IT and computer systems by using networking engineering.
Network engineers can also take various paths in the networking field. Analysts in the field of networks, for instance, are experts in the setting up and maintaining of networks. They frequently cross over between the business and technical parts of an organization. Network managers play the same position. However, they have to guide and train network technicians.
Below is a list of positions apart from network engineer ideal for people with skills in networking engineering:
- Chief Architect
- Design Specialist
- Desktop & Network Engineer
- Network and Firewall Engineer
- Network Planning & Optimization Engineer
- Network Data Engineer / Network Info Security Lead
- Technical Support Analyst Network Engineer
Work of Network Engineer
Also called network architects for computers, Network engineers are the ones who manage the company’s computer network employing information technology to build network systems that are available to all employees to utilize. These networks of data can comprise the local area network (LANs), broad network (WANs), intranets, and extranets. Network engineers concentrate on providing high-availability network infrastructure that can support users’ online and off-site IT activities. Network engineers are often paired with other roles, for instance, security system engineers. They also work within an organization or as external consultants.
Network engineers develop and install network configurations, solve performance problems, perform network monitoring, and set up security systems, such as firewalls. They typically report to the CIO or the chief of information security and other leaders in the line of business to discuss and make decisions on the overall goals of the business and policies and status changes. In many cases, Network engineers work closely with project managers and other engineers to manage capacity and offer online or off-site assistance.
Skills Required for Career in Network Engineering
An applicant may require an associate’s degree to get an entry-level engineering position. However, most jobs require a bachelor’s degree in computer science or several years of working experience. Many network engineers come from areas such as physical engineering or electrical engineering, or mathematics.
Engineers should be able to comprehend complex networks, identify the issues, and suggest methods to enhance the network. They should also be able to collaborate and teach the other engineers and staff how to run the network. They must also be adaptable enough to work with line-of-business and engineers colleagues who might not know about networking.
In addition to technical abilities, network engineers also require thinking critically, leading, and having interpersonal skills. Attention to detail and the ability to solve problems are essential as well.
Network engineers are increasingly aware of software as well as software, demonstrating the growing importance in the field of software-defined networks and automation. Thus, engineers must know about traffic flows and applications’ priority, and data transfer.
In addition, engineers must be familiar with hyper-convergence, virtualization containers, wide area networking, and storage engineering. They should also know the essential components of networks, like servers, clients’ Internet routing, IP addresses, and hubs for networks.
Courses for Network Engineering
There are many excellent schools in Pakistan. They assist students in acquiring practical and theoretical knowledge in this area. Numerous universities and other institutions provide network engineer training courses and programs. Many institutions offer certifications that enhance professional qualifications.
Many engineers’ need for additional qualifications and training are connected with training and qualifications that are closely tied to the Cisco engineer certification program. It offers different levels of education for career development. Other certifications are offered by organizations and vendors such as Juniper Networks, Microsoft, Aruba, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, Riverbed Technology, Solar Winds, HPE, Extreme Networks, and the IPv6 Forum.
The most well-known certifications for network engineers include:
- Computer TIA Network
- Cisco Certified Technician (CCT) Routing & Switching
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
- Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
- Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)
- VMware Certified Professional – Network Virtualization (VCP-NV)
The Scope of Network Engineering
With the development of technology, network engineering has a broad reach that keeps growing. There is a rising need for qualified network engineers as organisations rely more and more on computer networks. There are job openings for network engineers in a variety of industries, including IT corporations, telecommunications, finance, healthcare, government agencies, and consulting firms. They may work as network architects, administrators, security experts, or managers of the network operations.
Several universities and institutions offer excellent network engineering programs. Here are some renowned ones:
Top Network Engineering Programs
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Stanford University
- Carnegie Mellon University
- University of California, Berkeley
- California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
- Harvard University
- Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)
- University of Cambridge
- ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
- University of Oxford
Network Engineering Syllabus
This course provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts of networking, exploring its various application areas, classification, and reference models. It covers the transmission environment, different technologies involved, and routing algorithms used in networks.
The course delves into the protocols such as IP, UDP, and TCP, focusing on reliable data transfer methods. Additionally, it covers application protocols, network security, and management systems. By examining these topics, students gain a comprehensive understanding of communication perspectives within the realm of networking.
Network Engineering Salary in Pakistan:
The salary of a network engineer in Pakistan can vary depending on factors such as experience, skills, and the organization’s size. On average, a network engineer in Pakistan can earn around PKR 500,000 to PKR 1,800,000 per year. However, it is important to note that these figures are approximate and can vary based on individual circumstances.
Network Engineering Interview Questions
Here are some sample interview questions for network engineering positions:
- What is the difference between a router and a switch?
- Explain the TCP/IP protocol suite.
- How does DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) work?
- What is VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) and its benefits?
- Describe the process of subnetting and its significance.
- What are the different types of routing protocols?
- How does a firewall enhance network security?
- Explain the concept of Quality of Service (QoS) in networking.
- What is the purpose of DNS (Domain Name System)?
- How would you troubleshoot a network connectivity issue?
FAQs
- What is network engineering course?
The Network Engineer Masters Programme prepares students for a lucrative future in networking by teaching them how to build and manage network configurations, maintain networks, diagnose performance issues, and set up firewalls and other security mechanisms
- Which skill is required for network engineer?
Hard skills like software development, computer systems management, and mathematics abilities are frequently needed by these individuals. To succeed in a variety of work situations, network engineers also need soft skills like planning, collaboration, and communication.
- What is the scope of network engineer?
To maintain network security, network engineers are largely responsible for setting up, maintaining, and supporting firewalls. They are also in charge of purchasing tools like routers or switches that ensure the IT infrastructure of an organisation operates as efficiently as possible.
- Is network engineering in demand?
The need for network engineers is considerable, particularly in the US. Only 3.2% of the approximately 46 million individuals employed in the United States at the moment are network engineers.
- Does network engineer need physics?
Depending on the organisation and the particular job, network engineering academic requirements might change. But the majority of network engineers has a Bachelor’s degree or higher in computer science, electrical engineering, mathematics, or physics.
