Consulting network engineers are responsible for providing network and server support and troubleshooting, working with customers and network system teams to provide technical support for workstation and server installation and system maintenance. This article will introduce you to what a Network Consulting Engineer is, the career information and prospects of a Network Consulting Engineer, and the necessary conditions to become a Network Consulting Engineer.

1. What is a Network Consulting Engineer ？

Consulting network engineers are responsible for providing network and server support and troubleshooting, working with customers and network system teams to provide technical support for workstation and server installation and system maintenance. At the same time, they also solve Internet connection and other network problems, and improve work efficiency through process optimization and network automation.

2. What does a Network Consulting Engineer do?

Network Consulting Engineers conduct network design analysis, diagnose and handle complex network problems by building simulated networks to solve problems and compatibility issues. At the same time, as technical experts, they collaborate with other team members and other teams around the world. And as modern information networks continue to develop, they need to keep abreast of the latest technology products, provide improvement opportunities and suggestions for products and IOS, and provide high-quality support for current and future services.

3. Career Insights: Salary, Outlook & Related Roles

(1) Network Consulting Engineer Salary

According to Glassdoor, the estimated total salary for network consulting engineers in the United States is $146,938 per year, with an average salary of $119,481 per year. The expected additional salary is $27,456 per year. Additional salary may include cash bonuses, commissions, tips, and profit sharing. The statistical annual salary on the ZipRecruiter website can be as high as $158,000, and the lowest is only $31,000. The annual salary of the highest earners (90th percentile) is as high as $143,000 across the United States. The average salary range for network consulting engineers varies greatly (up to $44,500), which means there may be many opportunities for advancement and salary increases depending on skill level, location, and years of work.

(2) Job Outlook of Network Consulting Engineer

With the popularization of technologies such as cloud computing, the Internet of Things, 5G and artificial intelligence, enterprises' demand for network consulting services continues to rise. According to data from Xinhua News Agency, the global network engineering service market is expected to grow from US$48.7 billion in 2022 to US$76.3 billion in 2027, with an average annual growth rate of 9.4%. The career prospects of network consulting engineers continue to grow globally. In the context of digital transformation and technological innovation, network consulting engineers have broad career development prospects.

(3) Similar Occupations

• Security Engineer
• Network Security Consultant
• Netsec Engineer
• Cybersecurity Manager
• Information Security Manager
• Cybersecurity Program Manager
• Security Administrator
• Security Consultant
• MSP (Managed Service Provider)
• VAR (Value Added Reseller)

4. What Are the Qualifications to Become a Network Consulting Engineer ?

(1) Obtain a Bachelor's Degree

Most Network Consulting Engineer positions require a bachelor's degree in a related field, such as telecommunications, electronics, computer science and Cybersecurity. At the same time, higher education and on-the-job training can also be beneficial to your career.

(2) Develop professional skills

Network consultant engineers need to have a variety of professional skills to ensure the efficient and secure operation of network systems. They should be customer-oriented, able to provide technical solutions based on customer needs, handle faults and respond to new feature requests. In addition, they must be proficient in advanced network technologies such as network impact analysis, modeling and capacity planning, and be able to write new technology white papers and develop operation modules. In actual operations, engineers need to have the ability to upgrade software and hardware, and be able to configure and deploy LAN and WAN equipment. They should have a deep understanding of network protocols such as IP addressing and variable-length subnet mask (VLSM), and be able to efficiently complete protocol analysis and troubleshooting tasks. At the same time, they also need to have network security-related skills, including proficient application of remote access technologies such as SSL-VPN, IPSec and B2B. In short, consultant engineers are an important technical role that combines technical, analytical and communication skills.

(3) Earn Industry Certifications

When applying for infrastructure engineer positions, it is helpful to obtain certain certifications as they can help you develop the key skills and knowledge required for the position and make your resume more noticeable to employers.Some employers prefer to hire candidates with experience in sales or a related technical field, such as engineering or IT strategy.
CCIE Service Provider certification demonstrates your ability to plan, design, implement, operate, and optimize complex service provider network solutions. Get the Cisco Certified Internet Expert (CCIE) Service Provider certification to advance your career.

5. Summarize

Network Consulting Engineers conduct network design analysis, diagnose and handle complex network problems by building simulated networks to solve problems and compatibility issues.Network Consulting Engineers are usually required to have a bachelor's degree or above in computer science or related majors, and have a deep understanding of network basics.At the same time, it is also extremely important to have corresponding professional skills certification and practical experience.