How to hire a network and communication engineer

How to hire a network and communication engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step network and communication 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 network and communication engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new network and communication engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the network and communication engineer you need to hire. Certain network and communication engineer roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   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 network and communication 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.

   This list shows salaries for various types of network and communication engineers.

   Type of Network And Communication Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Network And Communication 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.	$31-59
   Engineer	Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects... Show more	$31-62
   Network Support Analyst	Network support analysts are professionals who provide technical support as well as maintain various network components for an organization's network system. These analysts are responsible for installing and configuring local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), internet systems, and other components of network systems... Show more	$25-61

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Switches
   • Troubleshoot
   • DOD
   • VoIP
   • Network Design
   • OSPF
   • VPN
   • Network Hardware
   • QoS
   • Juniper
   • BGP
   • Linux
   • Firewall
   • Communications Systems

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage firewall, network monitoring and server monitoring both on-site and off.
   • Manage and monitor day to day operations of the network; including WAN/LAN, network routers, switches, and firewalls.
   • Implement and currently manage the corporate firewall solution.
   • Excele at managing major network-wide upgrades; improve speed and predictability of multicast and order-routing data.
   • Install, test, troubleshoot and repair new circuits, networks, and communications systems.
   • Identify and resolve long standing architectural network issues (multicast, QOS, LAN instability )

   More network and communication engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the network and communication engineer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A network and communication engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a network and communication engineer in Kansas may be lower than in Idaho, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level network and communication engineer. Additionally, a network and communication engineer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average network and communication engineer salary

   $89,993yearly

   $43.27 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level network and communication engineer salary

   $65,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average network and communication engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$101,431	$49
   2	Washington	$99,234	$48
   3	Virginia	$89,900	$43
   4	Massachusetts	$89,256	$43
   5	Illinois	$89,140	$43
   6	New York	$86,786	$42
   7	Texas	$86,712	$42
   8	Colorado	$82,612	$40
   9	Georgia	$80,147	$39
   10	Michigan	$79,020	$38
   11	Ohio	$76,004	$37
   12	Alabama	$70,269	$34

   Average network and communication engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	MITRE	$89,820	$43.18	6
   2	Stifel Financial	$88,751	$42.67
   3	General Dynamics Mission Systems	$87,613	$42.12	3
   4	Apps Associates	$84,937	$40.84
   5	The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory	$84,807	$40.77	18
   6	EPS	$83,395	$40.09	4
   7	Riverside Research	$82,845	$39.83
   8	ManTech	$82,843	$39.83	86
   9	AM Pierce & Associates	$82,028	$39.44
   10	PROLIM	$81,477	$39.17
   11	Dataquest	$80,604	$38.75
   12	Atos	$80,068	$38.49	4
   13	General Dynamics	$79,664	$38.30	188
   14	Lincoln Financial Group	$79,346	$38.15	1
   15	GTS	$77,539	$37.28
   16	Northrop Grumman	$76,443	$36.75	56
   17	Nes Holdings	$75,304	$36.20
   18	Leidos	$73,230	$35.21	343
   19	Thresholds	$46,177	$22.20

4. Writing a network and communication engineer job description

   A network and communication 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 network and communication engineer job description:

   Network and communication engineer job description example

   Troy 7 Inc.
   
   Regular
   
   ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
   Provide engineering, technical, and project management expertise to BCN to develop and deploy robust, end-to-end, high availability, test, and operational communication networks for the sharing of information across all MDS assets. Perform systems engineering and integration to include Military SATCOM Architecture studies and long-haul communications engineering and analysis to include site selections, site surveys, strategic capability development, site planning, establishing facility requirements, supporting facility design efforts, providing on-site construction support, site implementation leadership, communications equipment selection, staging, installation, integration and testing management.Provide technical analysis of Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) provided designs. Assist the government with overseeing the Prime Contractor on development of the BCN Develop facility requirements and participate in facility design reviews. Coordinate the installation of facility requirements.Facilitate working groups and technical interchange meetings. Integrate communication system components into a larger system Draft/brief information/decision papers/briefings and staff coordination packages for senior leadership Perform assessments of detailed network test data Travel up to 25%
   
   SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES (if applicable):
   The position does not have supervisory responsibilities.
   
   KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:
   
   QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
   Master's Degree (STEM) with 12+ years of experience Active Secret security clearance Experience with radio frequency (RF) communication system design required Experience with DoD terrestrial and satellite communication systems (MILSATCOM), tactical data links (TDL J, Link 11, Link 16) systems, encryption systems, and DoD Risk Management Framework (RMF) required Understanding of telecommunication systems test data Understanding of the requirements review and design review process Understanding of how requirements are flowed down from system specifications to elements specification
   
   DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
   Active Top Secret ClearanceExperience with Missile Defense Agency and Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) services desired Experience with large-scale construction projects a plus
   
   This position may require a COVID vaccination or an approved accommodation/exemption for a disability/medical condition or religious belief as required by federal, state, provincial or local mandates or customer requirements.
   
   PREFERENCE STATEMENTPreference will be given to Calista shareholders and their descendants and to spouses of Calista shareholders, and to shareholders of other corporations created pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, in accordance with Title 43 U.S. Code 1626(g).
   
   EEO STATEMENTAdditionally, it is our policy to select, place, train and promote the most qualified individuals based upon relevant factors such as work quality, attitude and experience, so as to provide equal employment opportunity for all employees in compliance with applicable local, state and federal laws and without regard to non-work related factors such as race, color, religion/creed, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship, genetic information, or other protected status. When applicable, our policy of non-discrimination applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, transfer, promotion, placement, layoff, compensation, termination, reduction in force and benefits. REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONIt is Calista and Subsidiaries' business philosophy and practice to provide reasonable accommodations, according to applicable state and federal laws, to all qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities. The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe the general content and requirements for performance of this job. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties, responsibilities, and requirements. This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter the scope of work within the framework of this job description at any time without prior notice.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find network and communication 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 network and communication engineer job on Zippia to find and attract quality network and communication engineer candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with network and communication engineer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   If your interviews with network and communication engineer applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you 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 network and communication engineer

   Once you've selected the best network and communication engineer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new network and communication 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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