How to hire a senior lead network engineer

How to hire a senior lead network engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior 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 senior lead network engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior lead network 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 senior lead network engineer you need to hire. Certain senior lead network 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a senior lead network engineer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a senior lead network engineer that fits the bill.

   This list presents senior lead network engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Senior Lead Network Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior 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.	$40-67
   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
   • OSPF
   • VPN
   • Network Infrastructure
   • BGP
   • SME
   • Nexus
   • MPLS
   • Servers
   • Network Operations
   • Network Design
   • DMVPN
   • IPSEC

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Excele at managing major network-wide upgrades; improve speed and predictability of multicast and order-routing data.
   • Configure and troubleshoot customer's LAN, BGP network, routers, etc.
   • Perform customer migrations; troubleshoot network usage, and map customers to ISP backbone via ATM switches and backbone routers.
   • Load balance DNS and DHCP services.
   • Replace Novell DNS & DHCP with Infoblox appliances.
   • Apply QOS/COS to improve VOIP and critical application performance.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior lead network engineer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A senior lead network engineer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, senior lead network engineers' average salary in indiana is 40% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior lead network engineers earn 40% less than senior-level senior lead network engineers.
   • Certifications. A senior lead network engineer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a senior lead network engineer's salary.

   Average senior lead network engineer salary

   $108,959yearly

   $52.38 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior lead network engineer salary

   $84,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

4. Writing a senior lead network engineer job description

   A senior 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 senior lead network engineer job description:

   Senior lead network engineer job description example

   • Minimum education is BA/BS or equivalent related professional experience
   • Minimum 5 years of experience providing network infrastructure engineering support
   • Experienced in installation, implementation, troubleshooting, and resolving network related incidents
   • Ability to communicate effectively to technical and non-technical individuals and customers
   • ITIL 4 certification/ experience preferred

   WHAT GDIT CAN OFFER YOU:

   • Full-flex work week
   • 401K with company match
   • Internal mobility team dedicated to helping you own your career
   • Collaborative teams of highly motivated critical thinkers and innovators
   • Ability to make a real impact on the world around you

   Not sure this job's the one for you? Check out our other openings at gdit.com/careers.
   
   Do you have a friend or colleague this posting describes? Let them know about the opportunity by clicking “Share.”

   Scheduled Weekly Hours:

   40

   Travel Required:

   10-25%

   Telecommuting Options:

   Hybrid

   Work Location:

   USA MD Aberdeen

   Additional Work Locations:

   COVID-19 Vaccination: GDIT does not have a vaccination mandate applicable to all employees. To protect the health and safety of its employees and to comply with customer requirements, however, GDIT may require employees in certain positions to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccination requirements will depend on the status of the federal contractor mandate and customer site requirements.We are GDIT. The people supporting some of the most complex government, defense, and intelligence projects across the country. We deliver. Bringing the expertise needed to understand and advance critical missions. We transform. Shifting the ways clients invest in, integrate, and innovate technology solutions. We ensure today is safe and tomorrow is smarter. We are there. On the ground, beside our clients, in the lab, and everywhere in between. Offering the technology transformations, strategy, and mission services needed to get the job done.GDIT is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status, or any other protected class.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right senior lead network engineer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with senior lead network engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit senior lead network engineers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   To find senior lead network engineer candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with senior lead network 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.

   Sometimes, it's not enough to interview senior lead network engineer candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

   • 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 senior lead network engineer

   Once you've decided on a perfect senior lead network engineer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new senior lead network engineer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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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