What EXACTLY is a Network Engeneer?

[ibex333]

So anyway, I'm about two years away from my Bachelor's Degree, but I absolutely hate my current major - Desktop Publishing (Graphic Design). I am strongly considering switching to something I'd like more, because I don't want to hate coming to work for the rest of my life, not to mention I will probably never find employment since I am not a very artistic person.


The only alternate option that is available in my college at this time is Computer Science with a concentration in Data Communications. No other options are available, when it comes to fields I'd want to get into.

I am noticing that I am by far more of a technical person than any sort of an artist or designer. I am pretty good at fixing and building computers (on a hobby level), I fixed quite a few computers for various very random people, and successfully dealt with problems which ranged from dead hardware, to internet/connection issues to software and anything in between. I even got A+ certified, and I learned 100% from home - no courses or anything. I am not trying to brag here, I am merely trying to give you guys an idea of what I am good at(or think I am good at) so you can tell me if Data Communications might be for me.

So with all this being said I'd like to know:

1)Does anyone know what other jobs one can get with a degree in Data communications?
2)What does a Network Engineer do exactly? What kinds of things does one learn on the patch to becoming one? What do these people deal with? Routers? Switches? Physical Network layouts, such as bus, ring, mesh, etc? Cisco hardware? All of the above?

3)Does a Network Engineer have to be a "mobile" person with a car? Is it possible to work at just one site or will I have to constantly move around to wherever I'm needed? Do I absolutely have to have a car of my own? How often does it happen that a Network Engineer gets calls in the middle of the night and has to go to a remote site to troubleshoot a network?

4)Overall, how difficult would you say it was for you to become a NE? Did you have to take any advanced math classes such as Trig or Calc? Any good websites out there where I can learn about NE's?


Please be very specific and very thorough in your answers. Thank you.

 

[notposting]

Vague and brief answer coming here:

You could work for companies doing low-voltage construction (ie design and/or project management phase). If you have common sense and the ability to look at real-world situations (and realize what the install process is like) you would be better than lots of people doing it currently.

 

[spidey07]

They build and design network communication systems, every aspect of it from cabling to world wide routing design. Normally they'll have a EE or CS background/degrees. It's a complex field and requires strong technical skills but it can be very lucrative. The mobility vs. working at one place all depends on the position. Check out the networking forum to see what we deal with.

I can't be very specific because the field covers so much.

 

[HannibalX]

spidey's description fits along the lines of what I consider a Network Engineer to be but each company seems to treat the title differently. I have seen some companies use the title in place of Systems Administrator. As was said, the title can cover soooo much it's hard to say exactly. Either way, Cisco certs are your friends.

 

[BriGy86]

Network Engineer vs. Graphic designer?

I got a 2 year degree in computer networking and my sis got a 2 year degree in Graphic design... 6 months after getting an IT job I started making more than her (She's 5 years older)

The network Engineers at my place were the ones in charge of configuring, setting up, and maintaining switches, routers, and servers. If you get a CCNA cert you'll have a pretty good start. Engineers that I know are on call on a rotation and maybe got a call once a week (that they were on call) That is in a 24/7/365 business.

 

[Imdmn04]

Network engineer is a very broad title. A field network engineer will have to go out to a remote side if shit happens, a network architect does not have to.

A network engineer may design a network and/or maintain/operate/support a network.

The data communications emphasis sounds very broad. Considering it is a CS concentration, I doubt it deals with any network topic below the application layer on the OSI model.

 

[RichUK]

In my last job, I was project managing a large network migration for the MoD, which was part of a larger programme of work to migrate the entire MoD off of their old core and onto a new high bandwidth, high availability core. The new core provided connectivity from 2MB to 100MB (and up to a gig for some sites using a MAN topology). This network spanned across the entire UK and also provided connectivity to MoD sites abroad (Germany, Cyprus, amongst others).

Regarding the positions for the design and implementation of the network, the company I was working for employed the following:

-Network Architect (actually a team of architects specialising in different areas of the network design)
-Senior Design Authorities
-Implementation Design Authorities
-Network Engineers

Management

-Senior Project Managers
-Project Managers
-Project Coordinators

I guess the title ?Network Engineer? is a loosely used term in the industry, because the network engineers on the project I managed simply installed equipment, and installed simple base configs, etc. - nothing too technical.

 

[ibex333]

Thanks for the answers guys. Luckily I still have until spring to decide on a major, but already I see that I'd rather deal with networks in some way, then designing logos and ads.

 

[BriGy86]

Originally posted by: ibex333
Thanks for the answers guys. Luckily I still have until spring to decide on a major, but already I see that I'd rather deal with networks in some way, then designing logos and ads.

More lucrative and less competition... at least compared to graphic designers.

 

[smack Down]

I'm confused the major is Computer Science with a concentration in Data Communications which does not really equal "Network Engineer."

Network Engineer is a made up title for the guy that plug in a network cable.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: smack Down
I'm confused the major is Computer Science with a concentration in Data Communications which does not really equal "Network Engineer."

Network Engineer is a made up title for the guy that plug in a network cable.

Most of us have CS or EE degrees or both. It's a highly technical field. We build this cool thing you're using call The Internet.