How to hire a lead network engineer

How to hire a lead network engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step lead network engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a lead network engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new lead network engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a lead network engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your lead network engineer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a lead network engineer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect lead network engineer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of lead network engineers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Lead Network Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Lead Network Engineer	Computer networks are critical parts of almost every organization. Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation of these networks.	$40-68
   Network Operation Technician	A network operation technician is responsible for providing technical assistance with computer network issues. Network operation technicians repair and troubleshoot networks and routers, identifying the source of defects by listening to the customers and determining step-by-step guidelines for resolution... Show more	$19-47
   Network Operations Manager	Network operations managers are information technology (IT) professionals who are responsible for managing the operation and stability of an organization's network. These managers usually work with local area networks (LAN) or sometimes with wide area networks (WAN), where information can be shared in a building or between different locations... Show more	$34-65

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Firewall
   • Switches
   • Lan Wan
   • BGP
   • Network Infrastructure
   • VPN
   • OSPF
   • Network Security
   • Lan
   • Nexus
   • Project Management
   • DNS
   • VoIP
   • EIGRP

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Configure & manage DHCP servers within a large corporate environment.
   • Manage installation and maintenance projects of clusters of Linux base servers and networking equipment around the globe.
   • Develop RFP responses and manage delivery of advance networking and IP telephony engagements.
   • Manage firewall and security issues, including researching, analyzing and reporting technical information regarding information security issues.
   • Manage the first and second releases of a highly customize SharePoint portal application focuse on engaging partners and automating business processes.
   • Implement and support TCP/IP management products such as DNS and DHCP.

   More lead network engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your lead network engineer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A lead network engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a lead network engineer in Alabama may be lower than in California, and an entry-level lead network engineer usually earns less than a senior-level lead network engineer. Additionally, a lead network engineer with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average lead network engineer salary

   $110,170yearly

   $52.97 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level lead network engineer salary

   $85,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average lead network engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$147,017	$71
   2	Washington	$119,250	$57
   3	Nevada	$117,190	$56
   4	North Carolina	$111,796	$54
   5	Massachusetts	$107,774	$52
   6	Arizona	$107,279	$52
   7	New York	$105,756	$51
   8	Virginia	$105,290	$51
   9	New Jersey	$104,310	$50
   10	Texas	$103,820	$50
   11	Georgia	$103,102	$50
   12	Ohio	$101,843	$49
   13	District of Columbia	$100,699	$48
   14	Illinois	$100,423	$48
   15	Florida	$99,905	$48
   16	Minnesota	$98,003	$47
   17	Colorado	$97,293	$47
   18	Missouri	$93,914	$45
   19	South Carolina	$87,245	$42

   Average lead network engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$181,098	$87.07	451
   2	Vista Equity Partners	$146,292	$70.33
   3	Activision Blizzard	$143,314	$68.90	1
   4	Electronic Arts	$138,448	$66.56
   5	ViacomCBS	$136,482	$65.62
   6	RealNetworks	$134,097	$64.47
   7	Warner Bros.	$132,379	$63.64	6
   8	Target	$131,724	$63.33	21
   9	MUFG EMEA	$131,537	$63.24
   10	Qualys	$130,493	$62.74	1
   11	Ciena	$127,898	$61.49
   12	Salesforce	$121,538	$58.43
   13	The Home Depot	$121,164	$58.25
   14	Kum & Go	$119,908	$57.65
   15	AT&T	$119,592	$57.50	71
   16	Ericsson	$119,162	$57.29	2
   17	AIG	$118,193	$56.82	4
   18	Randstad North America, Inc.	$117,586	$56.53	7
   19	Motion Recruitment	$117,299	$56.39	14
   20	Recruit	$116,016	$55.78	1

4. Writing a lead network engineer job description

   A lead network engineer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a lead network engineer job description:

   Lead network engineer job description example

   The Network Optimization Lead oversees various efforts involving highly complex data analysis and consultation projects/contracts. The Network Optimization Lead works on problems of diverse scope and complexity ranging from moderate to substantial.
   Responsibilities
   
   The Network Optimization Lead, Louisiana Medicaid, is responsible for driving network optimization and value, while also managing compliance with network requirements, including network adequacy, in the Louisiana Department of Health of Medicaid Managed Care Contract. The Lead will support the analysis of provider network performance to inform contracting and terminations, work closely with the Provider Relations team to understand and address network operational issues, and advise on network composition and value-based payment strategy. This position works on problems of diverse scope and complexity ranging from moderate to substantial. This is a collaborative role requiring critical thinking and problem solving skills, independence, tactical execution on strategy, and attention to detail. This position reports to the Director, Network Optimization.
   
   Key Responsibilities
   Contribute to strategy for Louisiana Medicaid provider network, including contracting approaches, unique partnerships, and deployment of value-based care models to assure long term mutually successful provider relationships Analyze internal and external data, as well as market intelligence information Monitor network adequacy data to inform targeted contracting opportunities and manage resolution process in the event of network terminations Manage provider network strategic initiatives and their tactical execution, ensuring alignment to financial, operational and clinical goals Lead network governance meetings to proactively identify network issues, ensure compliance with Louisiana Department of Health Medicaid requirements, and support network operations Monitor performance against key performance indicators and contractual commitments and requirements to ensure compliance. Work with health plan leadership to drive operational efficiencies and improve performance Solve complex business challenges Work collaboratively with Chief Operating Officer, Provider Services Director, health plan finance, and clinical and quality teams to achieve strategic goals and priorities
   
   Required Qualifications
   Bachelor's Degree5+ years of experience in Medicaid managed care operations, network contracting, network operations and/or network development Demonstrated skills in executing on strategic playbooks or roadmaps in alignment with organizational goals Proven expertise in driving operational efficiencies and management of timelines and processes. Highly adept at managing processes from concept to completion ensuring on-time, on-budget, and on-target results.Ability to identify, structure and solve complex business problems Experience operating in matrixed environment Excellent interpersonal, organizational, written, and oral communication and presentation skills with proven experience writing and delivering presentations to members of the management team. COVID VACCINATION: Humana and its subsidiaries require vaccinated associates who work outside of their home to submit proof of vaccination, including COVID-19 boosters. Associates who remain unvaccinated must either undergo weekly negative COVID testing OR wear a mask at all times while in a Humana facility or while working in the field.WORK AT HOME Requirements: Must have the ability to provide a high speed DSL or cable modem for a home office. Associates or contractors who live and work from home in the state of California will be provided payment for their internet expense. A minimum standard speed for optimal performance of 25x10 (25mpbs download x 10mpbs upload) is required. Satellite and Wireless Internet service is NOT allowed for this role. A dedicated space lacking ongoing interruptions to protect member PHI / HIPAA information
   
   Preferred Qualifications
   Master's DegreeUnderstanding of Louisiana Department of Health contractual requirements, and provider landscape Expertise in value-based payment models Knowledge of Humana's internal policies, procedures and systems
   
   Additional information
   
   Schedule: 8 am to 5 pm CST Monday through Friday with the flexibility to work weekends, holidays and/or mandatory overtime based on business needs
   Training: Online Training - 1 Week
   Work Location (Address): Work at Home/Remote - Louisiana ONLY# of Direct Reports: TBD
   
   Scheduled Weekly Hours
   
   40

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find lead network engineers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your lead network engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit lead network engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit lead network engineers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   While interviews are great, you will only sometimes learn enough from a conversation with a lead network engineer applicant. In those cases, having candidates complete a test project can go a long way in figuring out who's the most likely to succeed in the role. If you aren't a technical person and don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new lead network engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the lead network engineer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new lead network engineer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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