What skills do you need to advance from junior to senior network engineer?

1 Technical skills

A senior network engineer is expected to have a deep and broad knowledge of network technologies, such as routing, switching, security, wireless, cloud, and automation. You should be able to design, implement, and optimize complex network solutions that meet the business requirements and best practices. You should also be familiar with different network vendors, platforms, and tools, and be able to use them effectively. To demonstrate your technical skills, you may consider obtaining advanced certifications, such as CCNP, CCIE, or AWS Certified Advanced Networking.

2 Soft skills

Technical skills alone are not enough to become a senior network engineer. You also need to develop your soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving. As a senior network engineer, you will often interact with different stakeholders, such as clients, managers, vendors, and other engineers. You need to be able to communicate clearly and confidently, both verbally and in writing, and tailor your message to your audience. You also need to collaborate well with others, share your knowledge and experience, and provide guidance and feedback. Moreover, you need to be able to lead projects, manage expectations, and resolve conflicts.

3 Business skills

Another important skill that you need to advance from junior to senior network engineer is business skills. You need to understand how your network solutions align with the business goals and strategies of your organization or client. You need to be able to translate technical requirements into business outcomes, and vice versa. You also need to be able to assess the costs, benefits, and risks of different network options, and justify your recommendations with data and evidence. Additionally, you need to be aware of the industry trends, standards, and regulations that affect your network environment.

4 Learning skills

The network engineering field is constantly evolving and changing, with new technologies, challenges, and opportunities emerging every day. To keep up with the pace of innovation and stay relevant in the market, you need to have strong learning skills. You need to be curious, proactive, and adaptable, and seek out new knowledge and skills that can enhance your network performance and career prospects. You need to be open to feedback, criticism, and change, and learn from your mistakes and successes. You also need to leverage various resources, such as books, blogs, podcasts, courses, webinars, and mentors, to expand your network horizons.

5 Automation skills

One of the most in-demand skills for network engineers today is automation skills. Automation is the process of using software tools and scripts to perform network tasks that are repetitive, manual, or prone to human error. Automation can help you save time, reduce errors, improve consistency, and increase efficiency. As a senior network engineer, you should be able to automate various aspects of your network lifecycle, such as configuration, deployment, testing, monitoring, and troubleshooting. You should also be able to use automation frameworks, such as Ansible, Puppet, or Chef, and programming languages, such as Python, PowerShell, or Bash, to create and execute automation scripts.

6 Security skills

Last but not least, you need to have security skills to advance from junior to senior network engineer. Security is a crucial aspect of network engineering, as network devices and systems are often the targets of cyberattacks and threats. As a senior network engineer, you should be able to design, implement, and maintain network security solutions that protect your network assets and data from unauthorized access, modification, or damage. You should also be able to use security tools and techniques, such as firewalls, VPNs, encryption, authentication, and penetration testing, to monitor and defend your network against attacks. Furthermore, you should be aware of the security policies, standards, and best practices that apply to your network domain.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?