Remote Network Engineer Jobs – An ultimate guide on job market, companies, salaries and skills!

Did you know that network engineer jobs is one of the most booming jobs spaces in the past 10 years? If you are aspiring to be one, this is the right page. Read on!

Remote network engineer jobs

There are several reasons people choose to pursue remote network engineer jobs, from the excellent compensation, establishing yourself at renowned companies, good job benefits including working remotely, to directly work with innovative tech.

Whatever be the reason it is evident that remote network engineer jobs are a popular choice today. Over and above what has been stated, is the fact that, when you opt for remote network engineer jobs, there are plenty of opportunities in the IT world and it isn’t restricted – all the responsibilities can be efficiently handled while working remotely!

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Remote network engineer roles and responsibilities

Let us begin with understanding the basic responsibilities of a network engineer,

1. Building and maintaining the day-to-day operations of computer networks required by organizations. Networks typically include a LAN (Local Area Network), Intranet, extranet, and wide area network (WAN).
2. Maintenance of networks, hardware, software, and other related systems.
3. Protecting data from attacks.
4. Replacing faulty network components when required etc.

As someone looking to get into remote network engineer jobs, your job role will differ only slightly, in that you will handle these responsibilities virtually. The focus will be on implementing and running software, from TCP to IP.

TCP/IP, or the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, is a set of communication protocols used to interconnect network devices on the internet. TCP/IP can additionally be used as a communications protocol within a private computer network (an intranet or an extranet).

Today, Remote network engineer jobs can be undertaken from anywhere in the world!

Remote network engineer jobs roles and responsibilities include,

1. Establishing a network by configuring the system virtually
2. Periodically monitoring network performance pertaining to troubleshooting downtime or scheduling upgrades
3. Defining policies that help in securing the system from internal or external attacks and threats.
4. Conversing with clients regularly via email or phone to be able to troubleshoot any issues, collect and collate feedback to enhance the user experience, and minimize future issues.

Market opportunity for remote network engineer jobs

In recent times the market for remote network engineer jobs has grown significantly and many have been able to establish themselves in this field even while working remotely. According to a study conducted by Burning Glass (they collate and analyze job postings globally), network engineers are currently in high demand (there have been nearly 147,500 job postings between late 2019 and early 2020).

The projected growth rate for remote network engineer jobs is calculated to be at 6.5 percent over the next 10 years. It is also more cost-effective and proven more efficient for companies to hire for remote network engineer jobs.

As a remote network engineer, you can address and monitor issues in real-time, accessing them quickly, and fixing them efficiently. Additionally, with remote access, each minute can be monitored and past issues can be prevented from reoccurring.

Benefits of hiring for remote network engineer jobs,

1. Cost-effective
2. Efficiently manage time and reduce recurring/past issues
3. Access to a global talent pool
4. More effective use of technology – making troubleshooting quicker and reducing downtime.
5. Better communication channels between clients and remote network engineers.

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Qualification and skills needed for remote network engineer jobs

There is a wide range of companies that are hiring for remote network engineer jobs and each of them has a specific range of qualifications and skills that are required. Of these, we have made a list of the 10 basic qualifications and skills needed to get remote network engineer jobs,

1. A degree in IT (Information Technology) or a related field of study with network engineering as the primary focus.
2. A very good grasp and understanding of network infrastructure and network hardware.
3. Advanced problem-solving skills and being able to visualize solutions.
4. Ability to implement, administer, and troubleshoot network infrastructure devices, including wireless access points, firewalls, routers, switches, controllers etc.
5. Knowledge and application of TCP/IP protocols.
6. Ability to create accurate network diagrams and documentation for design and planning network communication systems.
7. Provide specific/clear and detailed information with rationale for hardware and software selection.
8. Be able to familiarize oneself with new technology and products using documentation and internet resources.
9. Be a self-starter with the ability to work independently, communicate with a remote team timely & effectively.
10. Dependable and flexible when necessary

Career paths under remote network engineer jobs

Once you have established yourself as a network engineer with experience to show for, going remote will not be very difficult. When you consider your future prospects, your career could go in different directions as a remote network engineer. You could potentially work with large corporations that have wider IT systems, you could shift towards network management positions where you work as a network manager or network architect.

Your responsibilities would include not just designing networks and developing technology roadmaps for the company but you would also assist in and take charge of analyzing data traffic to determine network needs etc. Other prospects include:

1. Lead Network Controller
2. Remote staff management and network strategy lead.
3. CTO or CIO (Where you would primarily be involved in evaluating new technology and determining the overall corporate tech strategy) – Especially for emerging companies.
4. Network Security Engineer or CISO (Chief Information Security Officer).

Note: Network Engineers can work in virtually any business field, the key is to be able to balance your technical skills with your qualifications and interests as a remote network engineer.

Recommended certifications for remote network engineer jobs

It is obvious that, for you to be able to substantiate your skills, a certification is the best way to do so. Here’s a list of the best and recommended certifications to get remote network engineer jobs,

• Cisco CCIE
• Cisco CCNP
• VMware Certified Professional – Network Virtualization 2019 (VCP-NV 2019)
• CompTIA Network+
• ONF Certified SDN Associate (OCSA)
• Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA)
• AWS Certified Advanced Networking
• Juniper Networks Certified Enterprise Routing and Switching Expert (JNCIE)
• Cisco CCNA
• CompTIA Security+
• Python
• Citrix Certified Associate
• Wireshark Network Analyst
• Systems Security Professional

Note: Cisco owns 80% of the market when it comes to routing and switching technologies. If you are trained and certified to work on Cisco products, your skills will be more marketable and more in demand.

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Top 10 tools needed for remote network engineer jobs

As a remote network engineer, knowledge of the best software is your biggest asset to ensure you do a seamless job. The right remote network engineer tools can help you achieve the most efficient workflow that is capable of providing detailed insight into your network issues remotely. Here’s a list of the top 10 tools needed for remote network engineer jobs,

1. SolarWinds ETS
2. Paessler PRTG
3. Wireshark
4. NMap
5. Ping
6. Emulated Virtual Environment – Next Generation
7. Cisco Packet Tracer
8. Bitvise
9. Graphical Network Simulator
10. WINSCP

Top 25 dream companies for remote network engineer jobs

Working at your dream company as a remote network engineer is an absolute possibility, with the right set of skills and experience. As we’ve already mentioned before, the market is consistently growing and more and more companies are open to remote workers who come with the right skillset. Here is a list of the Top 25 dream companies for remote network engineer jobs that should be on every network engineer’s radar,

1. The Walt Disney Studios
2. IBM
3. Netflix
4. Capgemini
5. ThyssenKrupp Materials
6. SAP
7. S. Department of the Navy
8. VMware
9. Facebook
10. Citrix
11. Trader Joe’s
12. Juniper Networks
13. The Home Depot
14. Target
15. Whole Food Market
16. Chipotle
17. Nasa
18. CrowdStrike
19. Humana
20. Honeywell
21. NetApp
22. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc
23. Tesla
24. Whataburger
25. HCL Technologies

Top places to find remote network engineer jobs

Job searches are never a very easy process and can be extremely stressful, but there are great portals available that make – at the very least – the search incredibly simple. The best platforms that list the top places to find remote network engineer jobs are:

1. com
2. unremot.com
3. Glassdoor
4. LinkedIn
5. Indeed
6. SimplyHired

Top resume elements of remote network engineer jobs

When creating your remote network engineer resume first and foremost you must keep in mind the following list of dos and don’ts,

1. List your newest job and experience first.
2. Pick a standard font and size (eg: 10–12pt Cambria or Georgia)
3. Add resume sections: Heading, Summary, Experience, Education, and Skills.
4. Space out your sections clearly.
5. Try and keep your resume length to a page. Add only relevant and necessary information
6. Keep descriptions brief and bulleted
7. Have one base template. Tailor that to the job & company you are applying to based on what would be relevant for them.
8. Use specific keywords
9. Don’t steal the Job Description’s wording exactly as it is
10. Don’t include obvious skills you possess
11. Don’t go overboard or obsess over a particular job/experience.
12. Don’t copy templates directly from the web. Use the templates to build your own unique resume.
13. Tailor your resume format to meet ATS (Application Tracking System) requirements
14. Keep it simple.

Summary of resume elements in remote network engineer jobs are below,

Along with the above as a basic academic requirement, a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in Information Technology is nearly essential.

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Remote network engineer jobs pay structure

Although the assumption is that remote jobs may not pay as much as full-time jobs, the fact is that, as the market grows and the demand increases, pay structures for both remote jobs as well as other job roles have become similar.

When it comes to Remote network engineer jobs pay structures the average pay in the US is currently at $94,552. Although for an entry level position it may be slightly lower. Having said that, with the background of network engineer jobs, there is always space to grow and increase your salary with experience.

Remote entry-level network engineer jobs

There are plenty of companies hiring for Remote entry-level network engineer jobs including the likes of Facebook. The key thing to keep in mind when applying for entry level jobs is to showcase your existing skills and experience. For remote network engineer jobs, it is recommended to provide your potential employer with a clear list of all your certifications.
Additionally, for entry level roles you would usually be working with a team or one other lead/mentor within the network engineer team, and based on your aptitude you can learn and grow within the role.

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