How To Become A Network Systems Engineer, Lead: What It Is and Career Path

What is a network systems engineer, lead and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Andrea Welker Ph.D.

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a network systems engineer, lead. For example, did you know that they make an average of $53.35 an hour? That's $110,959 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 18,200 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a network systems engineer, lead?

Andrea Welker Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Villanova University

Be open to new experiences. Find a good mentor. Become a valued employee. Always remember that you are designing something for someone.

ScoreNetwork Systems Engineer, LeadUS Average

Salary

7.9

Avg. Salary $110,959

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.7

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 12.73%

Black or African American 8.52%

Hispanic or Latino 12.22%

Unknown 5.05%

White 61.17%

Gender

female 6.19%

male 93.81%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress level

5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.1

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a network systems engineer, lead

Explore network systems engineer, lead education requirements

Most common network systems engineer, lead degrees

Bachelor's

70.0 %

Associate

12.9 %

Master's

11.4 %

Start to develop specific network systems engineer, lead skills

Skills	Percentages
Switches	10.34%
Linux	9.52%
Technical Support	7.25%
Firewall	7.11%
Tcp Ip	5.93%

Complete relevant network systems engineer, lead training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New network systems engineers, lead learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a network systems engineer, lead based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real network systems engineer, lead resumes.

Research network systems engineer, lead duties and responsibilities

Manage Cisco ASA firewall policies for internal and external client-server access.
Implement and manage all internal corporate desktop machines and perform weekly maintenance on say machines.
Manage ISP and communications SLA's to ensure they are appropriate and are being meet.
Accomplish responsibility to configure, administer and support new infrastructure solutions on Microsoft platforms to meet enterprise level requirements.

Get network systems engineer, lead experience

Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a network systems engineer, lead. The most common roles before becoming a network systems engineer, lead include network engineer, systems administrator team lead and field service technician.

Apply for network systems engineer, lead jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a network systems engineer, lead job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do network systems engineers, lead rate their job?

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Network systems engineer, lead reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019

Pros

talking to people

Cons

outside weather, I work as a network technician and the main problem I always encounter is the cold weather.