Senior Network Engineer

**Senior Network Engineer Job Responsibilities
- Meet with the Chief Technology Officer and company management to discuss internal and external data communication networks whenever there is a need for new systems or additional technological support
- Research hardware and software solutions and create plans, including layouts and product specifications, for all data communication networks resulting from meetings
- Present findings in report format to appropriate personnel and explain how the new communications network will address current issues
- Secure all hardware and software required for network solutions or supervise network administrator tasked with securing all hardware and software
- Plan out network installation and/or upgrade project, assign milestone tasks to support personnel and meet company deadlines for full implementation, including network and user station set-ups and permissions, installation of all software and end-user security
- Assign and supervise network support staff in their daily activities and during special projects
- Write and implement networking protocols company-wide and department policies and procedures
- Research and analyze new network technologies and present suggestions for upgrades to improve existing communications network
- Meet with the Chief Technology Officer and other members of the top management to examine interior and outer information correspondence systems
- Inform management when there is gap in the workforce for the IT department
- Inform management whenever there is a need for new IT framework or upgrade of existing IT infrastructure
- Delegate duties to junior network engineers and monitor them to ensure schedules are being followed
- Lead a team of network engineers in the execution of IT projects
- Design organizational network security infrastructure and monitor its implementation
- Write network status reports and deliver them to the management
- Submit a regular report and update on the status of projects to the management and stakeholders
- Plan out system establishment as well as overhaul venture; allot development errands to help faculty and meet organization due dates for full usage, including system and client station set-ups and authorizations; the establishment of all product and end-client security
- Research and examine new system advancements and present recommendations for upgrading existing infrastructure
- Arrange and install network hardware and software
- Screen network performance and plan functional networks
- Make and implement network security measures
- Delegate network maintenance tasks.

Design Functional Networks

Senior network engineers collaborate with network architects to design and build functional networks from the ground up based on their employer's specific needs.

Configure and Install Network Hardware and Software

Using their knowledge of communication and routing protocol, senior network engineers make sure all the machines on a network communicate with each other properly. They also are responsible for installing and updating network security software.

Monitor Network Performance

While senior network engineers spend a lot of time putting out fires, they monitor network performance routinely to try and catch these fires before they happen.

Create and Implement Network Security Measures

Network security protocol is created and enforced by the senior network engineer. This includes configuring and monitoring things like user access levels, data access history, and other related security concerns.

Delegate Network Maintenance Tasks

Most basic network maintenance tasks can be delegated to a computer support technician or junior network engineer.

Provide Network Status Reports to Chief Technology Officer

Senior network engineers are in constant contact with the chief technology officer. They must create and present regular network reports in weekly meetings.

**Senior Network Engineer Skills and Qualifications**

Senior network engineers rely mostly on technical knowledge, but their senior position requires more managerial skills than a junior position. The following is a list of skills senior network engineers need to have:
Expertise in network operating systems - Cisco IOS is the most widely used network operating system in corporate America. Senior network engineers must constantly update their Cisco knowledge as the platform evolves

Understanding of communication and routing protocols - knowledge of TCP/IP is used to solve network connectivity issues and construct functional networks

Familiarity with coding languages - familiarity with coding languages like Perl and Python allows senior network engineers to understand how efforts from the programming team will affect network functionality

Experience with network diagnostic tools - senior network engineers use network diagnostic tools to monitor network performance and diagnose which areas need attention

Leadership and mentoring skills - senior network