How to hire a testing and network engineer

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

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The testing and network engineer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   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 testing and 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 testing and network engineer that fits the bill.

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

   Type of Testing And Network Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Testing And 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.	$38-69
   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
   Systems Administrator	Systems administrators are employees who oversee information technology infrastructures in the office. They are skilled information technology professionals who are knowledgeable about the company's network systems and other technology-related infrastructures... Show more	$28-48

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Switches
   • Linux
   • Wireshark
   • Java
   • Troubleshoot
   • Tcp Ip
   • Test Cases
   • OSPF
   • Test Equipment
   • IOS
   • Test Results
   • TCP/IP
   • BGP
   • L2

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Research and lead effort to implement a new VOIP system.
   • Develop UNIX and Java scripts to automate various Ecommerce processes on variety of platforms.
   • Utilize advanced encryption devices to secure communications between all locations manage by the department.
   • Work on UNIX workstation operation, particularly Solaris and LINUX.
   • Design scenarios and perform testing such as L2 snake test using IXIA traffic generator.
   • Possess comprehensive knowledge in setting up and troubleshooting DNS, DHCP and TCP/IP relate issues.

   More testing and network engineer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, testing and network engineers' average salary in nebraska is 38% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level testing and network engineers earn 45% less than senior-level testing and network engineers.
   • Certifications. A testing and 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 testing and network engineer's salary.

   Average testing and network engineer salary

   $108,110yearly

   $51.98 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level testing and network engineer salary

   $80,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average testing and network engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$132,305	$64
   2	Utah	$113,353	$55
   3	New York	$101,710	$49
   4	Massachusetts	$100,915	$49
   5	New Hampshire	$100,241	$48
   6	Washington	$97,838	$47
   7	North Carolina	$90,487	$44
   8	Texas	$87,195	$42
   9	New Jersey	$85,409	$41
   10	Georgia	$84,791	$41
   11	Ohio	$83,979	$40
   12	Virginia	$83,191	$40
   13	Colorado	$79,434	$38
   14	Michigan	$78,298	$38

   Average testing and network engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$142,419	$68.47	64
   2	Google	$139,334	$66.99	52
   3	Microsoft	$123,766	$59.50	20
   4	Parsons	$119,629	$57.51	31
   5	Ubiquiti	$117,796	$56.63
   6	Nokia	$112,348	$54.01	6
   7	Alliance of Professionals & Consultants	$110,366	$53.06
   8	Randstad North America, Inc.	$109,377	$52.59	7
   9	Booz Allen Hamilton	$108,020	$51.93	114
   10	TÜV SÜD America	$106,292	$51.10
   11	Epitec	$106,060	$50.99	1
   12	Robert Half	$103,744	$49.88	99
   13	Pinnacle Technical Resources	$103,407	$49.71	3
   14	APN	$102,218	$49.14
   15	Orchestra Technology	$101,806	$48.95	1
   16	4Creeks	$101,154	$48.63
   17	Satyam	$101,154	$48.63
   18	Parallel Wireless	$101,153	$48.63
   19	SYSMIND	$100,492	$48.31
   20	Nexius	$100,463	$48.30

4. Writing a testing and network engineer job description

   A testing and 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 testing and network engineer job description:

   Testing and network engineer job description example

   Minimum qualifications:
   
   + Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
   
   + 1 year of experience with object-oriented programming languages (e.g., C++ or Python).
   
   + 1 year of experience with testing/releasing networking products.
   
   + 1 year of experience working with and testing multiple L2 and L3 networking protocols as well as troubleshooting automation.
   
   Preferred qualifications:
   
   + Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
   
   + 3 years of experience with object-oriented programming languages (e.g., C++ or Python).
   
   + 3 years of experience with testing/releasing networking products.
   
   + 3 years of experience working with and testing multiple L2 and L3 networking protocols as well as troubleshooting automation.
   
   + Experience in architecture and developing test infrastructure to support large scaled network solutions.
   
   Our computational challenges are so big and unique we can't just buy our hardware, we've got to make it ourselves. Our Platforms Team designs and builds the hardware, software and networking technologies that power all of Google's services. As a Networking Test Engineer you make sure that our massive and growing network is operating at its peak potential. You have hands-on experience with complex networking equipment, a deep understanding of networking protocols, test design and implementation chops and a background in IP network design. It's your job to make sure Google's cutting-edge technology can perform at scale.
   
   Behind everything our users see online is the architecture built by the Technical Infrastructure team to keep it running. From developing and maintaining our data centers to building the next generation of Google platforms, we make Google's product portfolio possible. We're proud to be our engineers' engineers and love voiding warranties by taking things apart so we can rebuild them. We keep our networks up and running, ensuring our users have the best and fastest experience possible.
   
   + Design, develop, and execute test plans for networking features, equipment, and systems.
   
   + Design and deploy suitable test-beds for testing networking software infrastructure.
   
   + Develop test automation and tools.
   
   + Certify software releases for general use. Manage feature and resource priorities for a release (e.g., deciding priority of test cases, evaluating release-stoppers).
   
   + Generate ideas to solve open-ended problems with multiple approaches to reach an optimal solution.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find testing and network engineers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any testing and network engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level testing and network engineers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your testing and network engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit testing and network engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting testing and network engineers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 testing and 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 testing and network engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the testing and 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 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 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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