How to hire a senior network engineer

How to hire a senior network engineer, step by step

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

What does a senior network engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your senior 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 senior 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

   A senior network engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, senior network engineers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents senior network engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Senior Network Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior 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.	$40-69
   Information Technology Administrator	An Information Technology (IT) administrator is a professional responsible for managing the day-to-day operation of an organization's IT systems and ensuring that the systems are running effectively. IT administrators must conduct consistent analyses of the computer system and install updates when needed... Show more	$24-50
   Administrator	Administrators are administrative professionals who oversee the whole office or department. They manage office activities and supervise administrative functions in the office... Show more	$22-54

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Switches
   • BGP
   • OSPF
   • Troubleshoot
   • Network Infrastructure
   • Lan Wan
   • Lan
   • EIGRP
   • MPLS
   • Nexus
   • TCP/IP
   • Load Balancers
   • VoIP
   • Cisco Asa

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage check point firewall logs using check point tracker and splunk.
   • Manage network / systems security, implement policies, processes PCI, HIPAA compliance.
   • Manage the SAN base storage environment consisting of EMC CX3-80's and CX700's.
   • Design and build Cisco Meraki cloud manage firewall, switch, and wireless access points for new facility of marketing firm.
   • Manage network security processes using ASA firewalls.
   • Manage, operate and analyze results from Sourcefire detection systems.

   More senior network engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior network engineer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A senior network engineer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, senior network engineers' average salary in kentucky is 37% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior network engineers 41% less than senior-level senior network engineers.
   • Certifications. A senior network engineer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a senior network engineer's salary.

   Average senior network engineer salary

   $111,707yearly

   $53.71 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior network engineer salary

   $85,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average senior network engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$146,893	$71
   2	Washington	$136,643	$66
   3	Nevada	$114,595	$55
   4	New York	$112,836	$54
   5	District of Columbia	$111,435	$54
   6	Massachusetts	$110,289	$53
   7	Maryland	$107,008	$51
   8	Pennsylvania	$106,008	$51
   9	Texas	$104,507	$50
   10	Virginia	$104,183	$50
   11	Arizona	$102,327	$49
   12	Illinois	$101,259	$49
   13	North Carolina	$100,391	$48
   14	Georgia	$98,706	$47
   15	Missouri	$93,988	$45
   16	Indiana	$93,149	$45
   17	Florida	$92,742	$45
   18	Colorado	$92,612	$45
   19	Nebraska	$91,222	$44

   Average senior network engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	The Citadel	$176,938	$85.07
   2	Roku	$172,630	$83.00
   3	Airbnb	$168,042	$80.79
   4	Ropes & Gray	$166,358	$79.98	3
   5	Netflix	$163,081	$78.40	2
   6	Twitter	$159,642	$76.75	1
   7	Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld	$157,259	$75.61
   8	Anaplan	$155,710	$74.86
   9	Google	$154,994	$74.52	62
   10	Wealthfront	$154,729	$74.39
   11	The Walt Disney Company	$152,591	$73.36	6
   12	Zocdoc	$151,381	$72.78
   13	Match Group	$149,537	$71.89
   14	Pure Storage	$148,432	$71.36
   15	eBay	$147,429	$70.88	4
   16	Apple	$146,121	$70.25	41
   17	Palo Alto Networks	$145,371	$69.89	15
   18	Uber Technologies	$144,956	$69.69
   19	First Republic Bank	$144,544	$69.49
   20	Box	$144,111	$69.28	2

4. Writing a senior network engineer job description

   A senior 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a senior network engineer job description:

   Senior network engineer job description example

   • 7+ years’ experience in information technology including:

   o 5+ years’ experience in the implementation of WAN, LAN, and datacenter networks with a focus on mission-critical, customer-facing applications and services

    Hands-on experience with Forescout Network Access Control (NAC) and the related technologies and protocols, including a working knowledge of 802.1X, DNS, DHCP, and SNMP

    Hands on experience with Cisco ISE

    Hands on Experience with Firemon.

    Hands-on experience troubleshooting RADIUS and TACACS+ protocols

    Hands-on Working knowledge of PKI, 802.1X, 802.11x, DNS, DHCP, SNMP, and VPN

    Technical knowledge in networking (Cisco and non-Cisco) with an emphasis on software-defined networks (SDN) and leveraging spine & leaf designs, load balancing, firewalls, security design (intrusion detection and prevention), DNS, NTP, Network Tools & Management

    Technical knowledge common routing protocols (e.g., OSPF, BGP), IPv6, VPN, etc. across a global distributed network

    Hands-on experience with the datacenter fabric platforms (Cisco, Arista, or equivalent)

    Hands-on experience with common routing and switching platforms (Cisco, Juniper, HP/Aruba etc.)

    Hands-on experience designing, configuring, and operating high-speed campus / office / property networks

    Technical knowledge and experience with telco and ISP networks, ensuring diversity and managing availability

    Demonstrated experience in delivering written documents detailing network solutions and diagrams

    Knowledgeable in modern in modern configuration management tools (Ansible, Chef, Fabric, etc.)

    Experience with Cloud Computing platforms (e.g. Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Compute Engine)

    Technical knowledge in Load Balancing such as ELBs, NLBs, F5 BIGIP

   
   

   
   

   Preferred:

   • Advanced Degree (e.g., MS, PhD) in Computer Science or other technical discipline or MBA, preferably with a focus on technology

   • 8+ years’ experience implementing large, globally distributed network architecture, engineering, and/or operations teams and leveraging next-generation network designs and technologies to support large-scale deployments

   • Certification in network and/or security technologies (e.g., FSCE, FSAA, CCIE, CCNP, CISSP, etc.)

   • Experience in researching emerging technologies and trends, standards, and products and synthesizing into clear technology roadmaps and strategies

   • Strong knowledge of emerging tools, software, applications, and systems for attaining best-in-class IT technology across the enterprise

   • Excellent problem-solving skills working independently and through leading outcomes for cross functional teams

   • Excellent understanding of change management, testing requirements, techniques, and tools to ensure high availability of platforms

   • Strong attention to detail with an ability to operate effectively across multiple priorities

   • Ability to perform independently as a member of a team and through cross functional initiatives

   • Proven track record of driving transformation in network technologies, tools, and processes through a data-driven continuous improvement methodology

   • Demonstrated experience in improving security, stability, reliability, performance, and agility of complex enterprise networks

   • Strong technical knowledge of foundational networking technologies and solid understanding of the software-defined networking (SDN) ecosystem

   • Strong understanding of network infrastructure automation, instrumentation, and monitoring platforms and the emerging technologies in this area

   • Proven experience leading highly effective technical teams through major technology and organizational change

   • Proven experience driving operational performance through defining and enforcing Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO) Service Level Agreements (SLAs)

   • Strong influencing skills and an ability to overcome barriers while driving change

   • Excellent verbal and written communication skills for a wide range of audiences including executives, business stakeholders, and IT teams

   
   

   
   

   "As an employee with Professional Employment Group of Colorado, you will be eligible for medical, dental, and vision benefits, along with an eligible HSA plan. Benefit eligibility begins on the first of the month following thirty days of employment"

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right senior 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 network engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit senior 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 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

   During your first interview to recruit senior network engineers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   If your interviews with senior network 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 senior network engineer

   Once you've found the senior network engineer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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 employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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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