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What does an escalation engineer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

The escalation engineer is the person who takes charge of a network system that experiences high levels of activities at peak times. Congested networks may result in problems and delays, in which the escalation engineer resolves issues related to increased activity on a given network. The escalation engineer collects information, analyzes data, and generates reports and recommendations to improve the system better. The smooth flow of activities in a hectic environment often rests on a few people, including the escalation engineer.

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Escalation engineer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real escalation engineer resumes:

  • Create Powershell and PowerCli scripts to automate tasks for maintaining and troubleshooting the ESXi hosts.
  • Manage VDI environment, configure XD (pervasive desktop) vs XA (non-pervasive laptop) environments.
  • Maintain, monitor, manage and right size the VM environment using industry virtualization tools on a daily basis.
  • Deploy DDC and provisioning services, as well as deployed VDI.
  • Maintain department's FTP site.
  • Reset user roaming profiles on windows 2008 R2.
  • Monitor, build, optimize, and configure PVS servers.
  • Establish new procedures for image patching and updating in PVS.
  • Train Jr. escalation engineers on such products as CVP, Wireshark etc
  • Work on wireshark capture to perform RCA on customer data traffic.
  • Analyze and troubleshoot client's current in house SharePoint to help make transition to new services seamless.
  • Point of contact for storage performance issues and disaster recovery architecture reviews for VMware's largest customers.
  • Perform installation (racking/cabling/patch panel/switch), configuration, test, application install, and TCP/IP routing.
  • Set up virtual environments to duplicate client specific issues, test implementation strategies and troubleshoot scenarios for new technologies.
  • Utilize SCCM to gather server configuration information.

Escalation engineer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 10% of Escalation Engineers are proficient in Cloud, Azure, and Linux. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Multitasking skills.

We break down the percentage of Escalation Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Cloud, 10%

    Executed multiple Proof of Concept solutions for Cloud Computing environments for hybrid SharePoint environments for high-availability.

  • Azure, 7%

    Azure AD Premium and Exchange Online Protection 3 Hybrid Deployments to a Single Office 365 Tenant.

  • Linux, 5%

    Support Spamhaus realtime block-list servers running in Windows and Linux server platforms.

  • Java, 4%

    Resolved the issues related to Java Swing applets running in Internet Explorer.

  • Troubleshoot, 4%

    Collaborated with Cisco and Customer Engineering and Management staff in order to troubleshoot, resolve, document and debrief customer issues.

  • Analyze Problems, 4%

    Used trace analysis, debug skills, and other tools, to analyze problems and develop solutions to meet customer needs.

Most escalation engineers use their skills in "cloud," "azure," and "linux" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential escalation engineer responsibilities here:

Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for an escalation engineer to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what escalation engineers do because "administrators need to evaluate networks and systems to make sure that they perform reliably and to anticipate new requirements as customers’ needs change." Additionally, an escalation engineer resume shows how escalation engineers use analytical skills: "supported complex user installations across multiple os's and databases performed development level support for a java and database application"

Communication skills. Many escalation engineer duties rely on communication skills. "administrators must describe problems and their solutions to non-it workers.," so an escalation engineer will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways escalation engineer responsibilities rely on communication skills: "provide third/top level of premier support for unified communications group. "

Multitasking skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of escalation engineers is multitasking skills. This skill is critical to many everyday escalation engineer duties, as "administrators may have to work on many problems and tasks at the same time." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "refined skills in multitasking and customer service. "

Problem-solving skills. For certain escalation engineer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "problem-solving skills." The day-to-day duties of an escalation engineer rely on this skill, as "administrators must quickly resolve problems that arise with computer networks." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what escalation engineers do: "write knowledge base articles involving resolutions or workarounds to currently identified issues. "

See the full list of escalation engineer skills

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Compare different escalation engineers

Escalation engineer vs. Network technician

A network technician is responsible for system malfunction diagnosis and troubleshooting operations. Network technicians duties' include repairing damaged system components, analyzing computer systems and blueprints, installing network connections, and upgrading accessories for efficient operations. Other duties include assisting customers with technical issues, ensuring computer systems' privacy, creating documents of network issues and resolutions, and suggesting alternative equipment for network backups. A network technician must have a broad knowledge of the technology industry and mechanical processes, plus the ability to work under pressure with minimal supervision.

We looked at the average escalation engineer salary and compared it with the wages of a network technician. Generally speaking, network technicians are paid $40,430 lower than escalation engineers per year.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between escalation engineers and network technicians are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like linux, troubleshoot, and tcp ip.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between escalation engineers and network technician. For instance, escalation engineer responsibilities require skills such as "cloud," "azure," "java," and "c #." Whereas a network technician is skilled in "customer service," "routers," "lan," and "technical support." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Network technicians really shine in the finance industry with an average salary of $74,915. Comparatively, escalation engineers tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $106,769.network technicians tend to reach similar levels of education than escalation engineers. In fact, network technicians are 4.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Escalation engineer vs. Network/server administrator

A Network Administrator ensures an organizations' network is operational and up to date. They solve problems that arise within computer networks, maintaining computer networks, interacting with clients, and consulting with them to determine their system requirements.

A career as a network/server administrator brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of an escalation engineer. In fact, network/server administrators salary is $30,449 lower than the salary of escalation engineers per year.A few skills overlap for escalation engineers and network/server administrators. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "azure," "linux," and "troubleshoot. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real escalation engineer resumes. While escalation engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "cloud," "java," "c #," and "analyze problems," network/server administrators use skills like "customer service," "server administration," "microsoft windows," and "disaster recovery."

Network/server administrators earn a lower average salary than escalation engineers. But network/server administrators earn the highest pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $84,609. Additionally, escalation engineers earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $106,769 annually.network/server administrators earn lower levels of education than escalation engineers in general. They're 5.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Escalation engineer vs. Systems administrator

Systems administrators are employees who oversee information technology infrastructures in the office. They are skilled information technology professionals who are knowledgeable about the company's network systems and other technology-related infrastructures. They are responsible for installing, configuring, or updating network systems, software, and hardware. They also monitor the different systems and troubleshoot any issues that users may encounter. Systems administrators manage the access of users, ensure the security of the network, and address any challenges that users may have. They conduct repairs and routine maintenance to ensure that the systems in place are in the best shape.

On average scale, systems administrators bring in lower salaries than escalation engineers. In fact, they earn a $32,212 lower salary per year.Using the responsibilities included on escalation engineers and systems administrators resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "azure," "linux," and "java.rdquo;

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, escalation engineers are more likely to have skills like "cloud," "c #," "analyze problems," and "customer support." But a systems administrator is more likely to have skills like "database," "technical support," "computer system," and "dhcp."

Systems administrators earn the best pay in the technology industry, where they command an average salary of $86,962. Escalation engineers earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $106,769.When it comes to education, systems administrators tend to earn similar degree levels compared to escalation engineers. In fact, they're 2.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Escalation engineer vs. Network administrator

A network administrator is responsible for managing an organization's computer systems, ensuring its smooth operations and highest efficiency. Network administrators' duties include inspecting network malfunctions, troubleshooting unresponsive programs, improving system processes, analyzing client's specifications, upgrading existing applications, coordinating with the technology department, and creating a report of network issues resolutions. A network administrator should display a strong command of programming languages. Extensive knowledge in the technology industry and analytical and problem-solving skills to manage network problems immediately is also necessary.

Network administrators average a lower salary than the annual salary of escalation engineers. The difference is about $38,011 per year.While both escalation engineers and network administrators complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like linux, troubleshoot, and tcp ip, the two careers vary in some skills.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between escalation engineers and network administrators, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an escalation engineer might have more use for skills like "cloud," "azure," "java," and "c #." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of network administrators require skills like "network hardware," "routers," "lan," and "firewall. "

In general, network administrators earn the most working in the finance industry, with an average salary of $74,936. The highest-paying industry for an escalation engineer is the technology industry.In general, network administrators hold similar degree levels compared to escalation engineers. Network administrators are 4.1% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of escalation engineer

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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