Network Engineer vs Network administrator

Network engineers and network administrators are common positions in the IT field, and both can be very influential. Although the jobs may look similar in their descriptions and roles, and have a real overlap of responsibilities, there are clear differences. In general, the network engineer is responsible for the design and development of a computer network, while a network administrator is responsible for ensuring and maintaining the network once it is developed.

In this article, we explore the roles, responsibilities, and perspectives of network engineer vs  network administrators.

Terminology

The terms "network engineer" and "network architecture" can be used interchangeably. A network administrator, on the other hand, is generally distinguished from engineers and architecture.

As in any field, a title is less important than the details of the job description. The bigger the company, the more specific a job can be. The smaller a company is, the more tasks a single job can have.

Network engineer

Functions and responsibilities

The first part of a network engineer role is to understand, at a macro level, the structure and requirements of the entire network of the organization. With this knowledge, the network engineer must design and maintain any network that supports the company's life cycle and growth opportunities. A network engineer may need to analyze what works and what needs to be improved, while working on a predefined budget.

The common roles and responsibilities of a network engineer are:

• Design and implementation of physical and wireless networks, including those for computer communications and telecommunications.
• Maintain network performance.
• Management of electronic equipment that activate all parts of the network.
• Network troubleshooting
• Research and integration of new technologies in the network life cycle.
• Interface with network administrators to manage or help with problems.

Partners and reports

A network engineer often reports directly to a CTO or CIO. Depending on the corporate hierarchy, a network engineer can supervise network administrators. Alternatively, a network engineer may not supervise any employee, but rather associate with certain roles depending on the projects.

Job requirements

An ideal network engineer will often need, at a minimum, a bachelor's or master's degree in a computer-related field, such as computing, computer engineering, or programming. Some employees prefer an MBA in information systems. Hands-on experience, especially in computer systems or network administration, is always helpful to a candidate.

Applicants applying for a network engineer position should highlight not only their knowledge but also their skills. Analytical skills and attention to detail are two essential skills, as network engineers must examine complex network systems and analyze what works and what doesn't, then suggest and implement solutions.

Leadership and organization skills are also helpful, as network engineers are often responsible for collaborating with multiple employees.

Perspective

For network engineers, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts national growth of nine percent above average through 2024. However, the department cautions that as more companies adopt computing in the cloud more fully, the general need for network engineering and architecture could in the long term.

Network Administrator

Functions and responsibilities

The role of network administrator is often described as taking over where the responsibilities of the network engineer end. Although the engineer focuses on implementing the network throughout the life cycle, the network's daily operations and maintenance (O&M) are often the responsibility of the network administrator. However, the administrator's role is often proactive, helping to prevent security problems before they occur, rather than reacting afterwards.

The scope and depth of responsibilities of a network administrator may depend on the size of the organization. In large organizations, one or more network administrators can share the following roles and responsibilities:

• Monitoring and maintenance of IT infrastructure, with special emphasis on:
• Servers on site
• Software and network interactions
• Network integrity and resilience
• Network testing to detect weaknesses or potential compromise sites
• Stay on top of necessary updates
• Implementation of security programs with hardware and software.

In small organizations, a network administrator may also be responsible for:

• Purchase of new equipment.
• Deploy new software
• Management of email and Internet filters.
• Disk image maintenance for new installations.
• Make sure the licenses are up to date
• Tackling bad data management practices

Partners and reports

Network administrators often inform network engineers because their roles are closely linked. Over time, a network administrator may be prepared for the role of network engineer.

Network administrators also interact with many IT members and the business at large, depending on the issues.

Job requirements

While a BS in an IT field is useful, it may not be necessary for a network administrator role. Many organizations prefer specific training and certifications to relevant practical experience. Common training and certifications for network administrators may include Juniper, Cisco, Brocade Certified Network Engineer, Microsoft, and Red Hat.

It is important to note that the network administrator must generally understand the network that the engineer designs. Since the network engineer and network administrator must work together, clear understanding and communication between stations is essential.

Perspective

The BLS forecasts eight percent growth in this area through 2024. This growth is comparable to the average growth for all occupations. BLS is basing this increased demand for network administrators on the growing need that businesses will need for newer and faster technologies and, of course, for their mobile networks. Healthcare industries are likely to need more network administrators as national legislation requires healthcare to continue to implement technology in the industry.