Hire the best Network Engineers

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Clients rate Network Engineers
Rating is 4.9 out of 5.
4.9/5
based on 1,199 client reviews
  • $50 hourly
    I am a seasoned Network Engineer with 5 years of experience and CCNP certification, specializing in LAN, WLAN, SAN, and VPN setups. I possess expertise in automation, scripting, Python monitoring, and packet capture for efficient network management. With a keen interest in AI, blockchain, and quantum physics, I bring a fresh perspective to my work. Let me be your guide to seamlessly design, configure, and troubleshoot your network infrastructure, empowering your business with reliable and secure connectivity.
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    Virtualization
    Virtual LAN
    VPN
    Cisco Certified Network Professional
    Palo Alto Firewalls
    Wireless Network Implementation
    Linux
    Cisco Router
    IPv6
    Computer Network
    Network Design
    Network Administration
    Network Security
    Python Script
  • $100 hourly
    I'm a network engineer with experience in building and maintaining networks for both small businesses and large enterprises. Whether you've got a one-time project or the need for continuous work - I'm happy to help!
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    Ansible
    Cisco
    VMware Administration
    VPN
    Fortinet
    Network Design
    Network Security
    FortiGate Firewall
    Network Planning
    Linux System Administration
    Network Administration
    SonicWall
    Network Monitoring
    System Administration
  • $60 hourly
    HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS Experienced software engineering professional with a proven record of success in software design, development, and integration. Consistently recognized by management and peers for designing, coding, testing and installing high-quality software applications. Successfully apply new technologies and techniques to improve existing systems and processes. Strong project leadership, planning, and communication skills. Strong Quality Assurance background. Languages: C++, C#, Visual Basic, Python, QT, Perl, HTML, COBOL Databases: Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access Tools: SQL Server Management Studio, Git, Gerrit, JIRA, Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, Borland StarTeam Methodologies: Agile, Scrum Hardware/Platforms: Raspberry Pi, ESP32, FreeRTOS, Android, IoT, MQTT, Arduino
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    Software QA
    Email Support
    Sensor
    Arduino
    Technical Support
    Microsoft SQL Server Programming
    Microsoft Visual C++
    C
    Technical Writing
    C++
    Python
  • $76 hourly
    Meraki Certified Network Operator and Firewall Network engineer, I have many years setting up and configuring, VPN, SD-WAN and remote locations Meraki and Cisco Switches and networking. Fortinet Firewall setup and config with remote locations and firewall filtering. User VPN setup and configure. Firewall rules and filtering. Nimble SAN Storage server setup and config with VMWare Esxi 5.0-6.7 setup and config with ISCSI connectivity for system storage profiles. Switches, Cisco Aeronet, Meraki, Ubiquiti and Motorola wireless, Nuuo video monitoring and LifeSize video conferencing. Troubleshoot TCP/IP, DNS, WINS, DHCP and VPN. Support and maintain computing services including Windows Hyper-V and IBM iSeries and System X servers, VMWARE Esxi 5.5-6.5. Server, 2003-2019 Citrix XenApps, and Windows environment. Troubleshoot EDI transactions in Data Masons Vantage Point and Liaison AS2. Administer Office 365 mail and apps.
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    Citrix Hypervisor
    MikroTik RouterOS
    OpenWrt
    VMware ESX Server
    VMware vSphere
    Security Infrastructure
    PfSense
    Avaya
    Internet Protocol Security
    Juniper
    Network Equipment
    macOS
    Cisco Meraki
    VPN
  • $75 hourly
    Hi! My name’s Jonathan and I’m a network and systems engineer. Throughout the past 7+ years, I've been both "Mr. Fix It" and "Mr. Build It" in IT, cloud, security, and network administration for healthcare practices, law firms, government contractors, non-profits, media agencies, IT service providers, and hundreds of small businesses all over the country. My technical approach is analytical and systematic, but also efficient. During an active contract, I'm happy to work with you live over Zoom, phone, email, messages, whatever works for you! My professional experience includes (but is not limited to): - Managing/fixing/setting up domain DNS, web servers, email servers, and related components - Administrating all parts of Microsoft 365 & Windows including SharePoint, OneDrive, and Active Directory. - Administrating and implementing corporate IT security to align with strict data security standards (e.g., HIPAA, ISO 27001, and SOC2) - Design, configuration, and supervision of tailored corporate networks, VPNs, access controls, firewalls, servers, and hybrid cloud connects. I am familiar with most of the major manufacturers of networking equipment. - Engineering purpose-built cloud architectures for a variety of enterprise use cases on AWS and Azure (I can also set up Site-to-Site tunneling to/from networks based on AWS, Azure, and on-premises)
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    AWS Development
    Firewall
    Extreme Networks
    Troubleshooting
    Virtualization
    Data Backup
    Technical Project Management
    VPN
    SSL
    DNS
    Office 365
    Windows Server
    Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
    SQL
  • $30 hourly
    Extensive experience in the following Roles, IT Support Engineer, System Engineer, Service Desk, Technical Support, and Customer Service at various levels and areas of responsibilities. Work experiences consist of Troubleshooting different Devices and Computers, Active Directory, Office 365 Administration, MS Exchange, FTP/sFTP, Manage Clients Network, Provision, and Setup VOIP Phone System, Giving Product Information and Product Support for Customers, Provide Technical Assistance and Customer Service through Phones, Chats, and Emails. Certificate: ITIL Foundation ver.3
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    Google Workspace Administration
    VPN
    Technical Support
    Technical Documentation Management
    Customer Service
    Procedure Development
    Ticketing System
    Network Administration
    Desktop Support
    Helpdesk
    Microsoft Active Directory
    System Administration
    Windows Server
  • $40 hourly
    Expert Network & Systems Engineering: VPN solutions, OpenWRT firmware customization, containerization with Docker/Kubernetes, thorough network monitoring, and resilience. Experience: Specialized in elevating server and network infrastructures, my VPN works encompass versatile use cases such as remote access, inter-office connectivity, secure client/end-point communication, and Internet access. Core Skills: - Expert in VPN Configuration and Management of various protocols - OpenWRT Firmware Customization - Cultivated expertise in a variety of networking platforms, such as MikroTik, OpenWrt, UniFi, and more - Proficient with Docker Containers and Orchestration, CI/CD pipelines Professional Philosophy: Commitment to delivering user-friendly, reliable, and easy-to-maintain solutions. Striving to demystify network challenges for clients and enable them to concentrate on their core business activities. My vision as a Network and Systems Engineer is to deliver solutions that provide seamless, efficient communication and operations for end-users. Contact me for network engineering expertise that advances your infrastructure in line with contemporary practices and business objectives.
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    Computer Network
    OpenWrt
    Firewall
    OpenVPN
    MikroTik RouterOS
    Linux System Administration
    Linux
    Network Equipment
    VPN
    SSL
  • $25 hourly
    -Use of radio propagation modeling and simulation tool such as IBWave, Ekahau, ATOLL,Nemo Analyze to optimise radio indoor, tunnel and outdoor coverage for WiFi and mobile networks (Tetra, LTE, PS25, 5G) -9 yrs experience in RF Postprocessing using Nemo Analyze and Report Generation using Mapinfo, Google Earth, Ekahau, and Autocad Software. -WiFi Survey Design of different WiFi OEM(Cisco, Ubiquiti, Netgear, Ruckus, Aruba,HP, NETGEAR,TP-LINK,Linksys,Zyxel) -Experience in Indoor and Outdoor Coverage Design & Planning using Ekahau, iBWave, and Atoll Software. -Experience in Cellular(2G,3G,4G,5G,Public Safety) and WiFi Antenna and Access Point Location Design. -Design and Planning of Wireless Networks using different Simulation tools(Mapinfo, Google Earth, etc.) -Ubiquiti Unifi Full System Design(WiFi,CCTV,VOIP/Phone,Access Control) -Simulations of Link budget, Coverage, Interference, neighbor lists, SC planning, site power/rf shaping/repeater configuration planning, antenna selection and co-location analysis, population/erlang based traffic planning, design approval reporting
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    Ubiquiti
    Cisco Meraki
    Wireless Communication
    Mapinfo
    Telecommunications Engineering
    RF Design
    WiFi
    Google Earth
    Aruba
    Wireless Network Implementation
    Antenna Design
    Autodesk AutoCAD
  • $40 hourly
    I have been working as Senior Network Engineer at Netfiniti Pvt. Ltd. (Distributor of Fortinet Products) for more than five years. I have been involved in various Government and Private projects regarding New Network Architecture Building, Restructuring of Networks, Deployments of various network devices. Also I have been good at troubleshooting network related problem, network connectivity and overall cloud to on-premise network security. Certified: NSE 4 Network Security Professional NSE5 FortiClient EMS NSE 7 Enterprise Firewall Fortinet Certified Professional (Network Security) Trained: FortiAnalyzer FortiManager FortiSASE FortiEDR SIEM FortiAuthenticator Cloud Security for Azure I am experienced in Secure Enterprise Network, Network Security, Cloud Solutions, Authentication Systems, Active Directory, SIEM technology, ISP Distribution Network and Technical support. I have advanced knowledge in configuration and deep-level troubleshoot of wide ranges of network security and system security solutions.
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    Fortinet
    FortiGate Firewall
    Microsoft Visio
    Network Security
    Network Design
    Network Analysis
  • $75 hourly
    I'm Patrick Maher, an accomplished IT professional with over two decades of experience in network engineering, security, IT systems administration, and form design using JotForm. I bring to the table a broad range of expertise, including Windows server administration, VOIP PBX administration, Microsoft 365, Linux administration, Python and Powershell scripting, and proficiency in creating highly functional, user-friendly JotForms. In my current role as a Network Security Engineer for a large healthcare group, I oversee network security, administer the disaster recovery system, and create hundreds of JotForms. I have successfully automated countless IT tasks and have extensive experience migrating sites' phone systems to FreePBX, PBXact, and Switchvox. I am a graduate of Dakota State University, holding a Bachelor's degree in Cyber Operations, with a focus on information security. In addition, I have earned valuable certifications like CCNA Cyber Operations, A+, and the Accredited Configuration Engineer (ACE) Exam - PAN-OS 7.0 Version (Palo Alto Firewalls). Over the years, I have completed several JotForm projects, creating forms for public use and customizing features like conditional logic and integrations. This experience has allowed me to gain mastery over form design principles, user experience, and maintaining visual consistency with clients' branding guidelines. Whether you need assistance setting up and troubleshooting network systems, integrating legacy EMR solutions, or developing custom JotForms, I'm here to provide tailor-made solutions. My mission is to use my skills to improve businesses and provide top-tier IT services. As a freelancer on Upwork, I am thrilled to extend my services to help you achieve your IT and JotForm-related goals. Feel free to reach out to discuss how we can work together to meet your business objectives. Examples of work available, please message me for the links.
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    PfSense
    VoIP Administration
    Email Support
    FreePBX
    Network Administration
    Veeam
    Linux System Administration
    Information Security
    LAN Administration
    Network Security
  • $125 hourly
    Hello! I'm Tristan Curtis, a Top Rated IT Professional / Sr. Software Engineer with a passion for helping people with their technical needs. Backed with a degree in Information and Network Technology, accompanied by multiple certifications, and strengthened by extensive hands-on experience, I am well-equipped to tackle virtually any challenge you throw my way! Understanding the need for prompt assistance, I strive to be available within a moments notice, day or night. I offer a wide array of services including, but not limited to Web Application Development ▪️ Backend: PHP, Laravel ▪️ Frontend: Vue.js, JavaScript, jQuery, HTML, CSS, Sass, Bootstrap ▪️ Databases: MySQL, SQL Server, MariaDB, PostgreSQL ▪️ Specializes in: architecting complex web applications from scratch based on a provided design Web Administration ▪️ Domain and DNS support ▪️ Troubleshooting issues with Nginx, Apache and WHM/cPanel ▪️ Fine-tuning PHP FPM for optimal scalability ▪️ Installing SSL certificates and addressing renewal issues with LetsEncrypt / Certbot ▪️ Migrating websites from one hosting company to another Network Administration ▪️ Proficient in managing networks powered by the following vendors: UniFi, pfSense, MikroTik, Cisco ▪️ Expertise in deploying and troubleshooting wireless connectivity ▪️ Strong knowledge of VPN connectivity for remote access and site-to-site connections ▪️ Experience developing custom splash pages / captive portals to authorize wireless connections Desktop Administration ▪️ Experience with the following operating systems: Windows, Mac OS, Ubuntu and various other Linux distros ▪️ Virtual desktop administration utilizing VMware Horizon Database Administration ▪️ Experience with: MySQL, MS SQL Server, MariaDB and PostgreSQL ▪️ Familiarity with: Google Cloud SQL and AWS RDS Virtual Infrastructure Administration ▪️ Proficient in VMware ESXI/VMware vCenter and Hyper-V Email Administration ▪️ Setting up SPF, DKIM and DMARC for enhanced email security ▪️ Troubleshooting email deliverability issues ▪️ Seamless migration of email from one platform to another ▪️ Well versed in Google Workspace and Office 365
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    VMware Administration
    Data Migration
    Email Deliverability
    Web Hosting
    Twilio API
    Domain Migration
    MySQL
    Network Administration
    Laravel
    SSL
    PHP
    Ubiquiti
    DNS
    System Administration
  • $30 hourly
    14+ years’ experience comprises vast experience of; • Data Center Solutions (Huawei | Juniper| Mikrotik ) • IGWs Direct Peering SH1X, Amazon, AMS-IX, NETIX-GIX • IGWs Upstream/Downstream Peering with Full/Partial Routing Prefixes handling & used of BGP attributes for Traffic Engineering inbound/outbound. • IGWs Traffic Engineering inbound/outbound. • IGWs Traffic redirection to Huawei I Cache. • Customer EBGP Peering & Routes advertisement. • Juniper/Huawei Route-Reflector & VRFs route leaking & extended-communities. • Huawei/Juniper PE’s Integration for 2G/3G/4G nodes. • Huawei/Juniper Integration for MSX, IGW, UGW, RNC & BSCs. • Juniper/Huawei based IP/MPLS Backbone Networks • Juniper/Huawei based IT/Enterprise solutions • Cisco/Juniper/Huawei based ISP solutions • Huawei to Juniper IP/MPLS Migration projects • Huawei to Juniper Fixed Network Migration projects • Huawei IP/MPLS & Enterprise Modernization projects • Mikrotik Base Solution IT/PS Core. • Mikrotik IPSEC/OPENVPN deployment. • CDNs Facebook, YouTube, Google Integration on Huawei/Juniper. • Huawei/Juniper PE L2Circuits, VPLS. Training: • MTCNA (Mikrotik Certified Network Associate) • MTCRE ( Mikrotik Certified Routing Engineer) • JNCIA (Juniper Network Certified Associate) • JNCIS (Juniper Networks Certified Internet Specialist) • JNCIP (Juniper Network Certified Internet Professional) • CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) • CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) • CCIE R&S (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert) • Cisco Meraki • AWS Architect Associate • AWS Architect Professional Deployment: • Deployed BGP/MP-BGP/ipv4/V6 • Deployed MPLS/L2VPN/VPLS/VRFs • Deployed ISIS/RIP/OSPF/EIGRP • Deployed NAT/SRC/DST/CGNAT • Deployed GRE/EoIP/IPSEC/l2tp/PPP • Deployed ECMP/PCC • Integrated/Routing PS Core/Gi/GB/GN/Gy/Gx/IU-U/GR/S1-MME/S1U • Integrated/Routing BSC/ABIS/GB/A-Interface/O&M • Intergated/Routing RNC/IUB/IUPS/IUCS/IUR/O&M • Intergated/Routing MSX/Billing/Signalling/LIG/O&M • Integrated/Routing UMG/Voice/Signalling/O&M • Integrated/Routing BTS/Nodeb/E-Nodeb Platforms: • Cisco Switches and Routers • Huawei Switches and Routers (ATN910B, ATN950B, S9303, CX-600X3, and NE40E X8) • Juniper Switches & Juniper Routers, MX960,SRX5800,EX4300,QFX511, SRX5400 & Ex2300-T4 • Cisco Meraki MX64/65/84/100 MR33, MS120/125 • Mikrotik's CCR1072, CCR1009, CCR1036, HEX & RB small series.
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    JNCIA-Junos
    Junos OS
    Amazon Web Services
    OpenVPN
    Cisco Router
    Cisco Certified Network Professional
    Cisco Certified Network Associate
    Border Gateway Protocol
    Mikrotik RouterBOARD
    MikroTik RouterOS
    Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert
    Juniper
    VPN
    Network Administration
    MikroTik
  • $60 hourly
    Talented IT Manager offering over 25 years' experience and top-notch abilities in organizing workflows, solving complex problems and making accurate decisions based on sound judgment and analytical strengths. Diligent, forward-thinking and adaptable to dynamic company, customer and project needs. Successful at motivating teams to meet demanding timelines.
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    Security Engineering
    Vulnerability Assessment
    Infrastructure Management
    System Deployment
    VMware Administration
    Network Security
    Citrix
    Cloud Architecture
    Citrix Hypervisor
    Citrix Virtual Apps & Desktops
  • $120 hourly
    Telecommunication and Systems engineer with a focus on Cloud, Networking and Linux, experience in Infrastructure management and deployment. Deployed Private Cloud infrastructure, Datacenter Network Design for Multi-tenancy, fault-tolerant design, NIC Bonding and VRRP for High Availability. Stack: *Full virtual networking with vSwitches and vRouters *VLAN, VxLAN, GRE and Overlay tunnels *IPv6 *MP-BGP, EVPN *Firewalling *VPN/OpenVPN/IPSec/WireGuard/Site to Site and Client-Server * VPP/DPDK for 100G VPN and routing *Advanced Linux management: IPTables, Kernel modules, Virtualization, Networking. *Traffic engineering *Advanced StrongSwan IPSec tunnels, XFRM *Cloudstack with Open vSwitch *OpenNebula with Open vSwitch *OpenDaylight SDN controller with OpenvSwitch *Advanced Proxy setup with Squid/Nginx *Virtuozzo and OpenVZ *KVM and Libvirtd / Proxmox *MicroVM Managment / Firecracker *RADIUS and FreeRADIUS *Pacemaker/Corosync/Keepalived HA cluster *MTLS design and implementation with NGINX *IoT gateway implementation with Raspberry Pi and 4G modems *DevOps experience with Chef and Ansible *Bash and Python scripting
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    Internet of Things
    Apache CloudStack
    Linux System Administration
    OpenVPN
    Computer Network
    Private Cloud
    Kernel-based Virtual Machine
    System Administration
    Firewall
    Ubuntu
    Network Security
    Linux
    Internet Protocol Security
    VPN
  • $135 hourly
    Are you interested in remote help? - I specialize in Cisco Routing & Switching and Palo Alto Firewalls. - I have experience in other brands like Arista, Meraki, FS, Dell, Brocade. Do you have Network Infrastructure in Central Florida but no local staff to support it? - I can provide "Smart-Hands" services. - University of Central Florida, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology - Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) - Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) - Proficient in Cisco Switching and Routing - Proficient in Palo Alto Firewalls
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    Cisco Router
    Cisco Certified Network Professional
    Routing
    Firewall
    Palo Alto Firewalls
    Cisco IOS
    Cisco
    DHCP
    Cisco Certified Network Associate
    SSL
    Network Equipment
    Network Security
    Network Administration
    Cisco Meraki
  • $15 hourly
    Hello, I am a senior network engineer with 20+ years of overall experience in Network Engineering. I got myself certified in respective domains as well through CCIE(R&S) & ACMP, ACSP(Aruba Certifications). I have held positions in Enterprise, System Integrator and Service Provider environments and gained extensive hands on experience in Network designing, implementation, troubleshooting and optimization in the domains of Routing & Switching, Wireless, Network Security and Unified Communication. I strongly believe that my knowledge, experience and technical know-how in the field will equip me to exceed your expectations if the opportunity avails to me.
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    Cisco IOS
    Data Center Design
    Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert
    Cisco Certified Network Professional
    OSPF
    Network Access Control
    Cisco Router
    WiFi
    Cisco CallManager
    Cisco ASA
    Cisco Certified Design Professional
    Network Design
    Network Monitoring
    Aruba
    Network Administration
  • $70 hourly
    Highly skilled C / C++ / Python / Rust / Lua Senior Software Engineer, with over 20 years of experience. My area of interests is in developing high-available, multi-threaded, high-performance Linux network applications. I'm the lead developer, maintainer and the active participant of several popular OpenSource projects. My recent projects: * custom modules for Envoy / Istio / Emissary projects * custom Nginx modules development (C / C++ language) * custom Apache modules development * custom HAProxy modules development * custom Varnish modules development * porting existing C code to WebAssembly * OpenResty Lua modules
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    Video Stream
    System Programming
    Envoy
    Apache HTTP Server
    Git
    NGINX
    Linux
    System Analysis
    Security Engineering
    Lua
    Rust
    FFmpeg
    Web Application Firewall
    C++
    C
    Python
  • $35 hourly
    I'm a Network Engineer, with a proven experience designing, deploying, and managing technology solutions ( Cisco/PaloAlto/Fortinet..) for a wide variety of business needs (LAN/WAN/VPN) and diverse IT scenarios for ISPs, enterprises, and startups.. Certifications: ✔️CCNA Certified Network Associate. ✔️CCNP Routing and Switching ✔️CCNP Service Provider. Skills in: ✔️ ISP environment : BGP;MPBGP,MPLS,VRF,PE,P.. ✔️Routing and Switching: Cisco, Dell, HP, Meraki ✔️Firewalling: Cisco ASA, Fortinet, Palo-Alto, Pfsense. ✔️ DataCenter : Cisco Nexcus . ✔️ Routing Protocols: BGP, IS-IS, OSPF, EIGRP. ✔️ VPN : SSL VPN ; IPSEC, Site-To-Site. ✔️ Wireless: Cisco AP,WLC, Meraki . When you working with me you will get: ✔️ High-quality work ✔️ Open communication throughout the project ✔️ All files delivered on time, before the deadline ✔️ Fast response --- Contact me for more info or to inquire about an upcoming project - I look forward to helping you achieve your goals!
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    Cisco IOS
    OSPF
    Cisco Router
    Multiprotocol BGP
    Multiprotocol Label Switching
    Network Planning
    LAN Administration
    Cisco ASA
    Cisco Certified Network Professional
    Wireless Network Implementation
    Network Administration
    VPN
    Fortinet
    Network Design
  • $25 hourly
    I am an experienced and confident (Network/System) engineer with more than 15 years' experience in a variety of network environments. Expert in: *** Operating Systems: 1- Windows Servers 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019. 2- Linux Centos/Ubuntu. *** Virtualization Technology: 1- Vmware. 2- Proxmox. *** Networking: 1- Cisco. 2- Teltonika. 3- Mikrotik. 4- Ubiquity & Unifi. 5- PFsense & OPNsense. 6- Fortigate. 7- Netgear. *** VPN 1- OpenVPN. 2- Softether. 3- WireGuard
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    Virtual Private Server
    Python
    System Administration
    cPanel
    Mikrotik RouterBOARD
    Linux System Administration
    Proxmox VE
    Network Administration
    Virtualization
    Virtual LAN
    Zabbix
    VPN
  • $50 hourly
    👑 Expert Vetted - Top 1% of talent on Upwork ⭐️ Top Rated Plus - Highly rated for work on large projects 🎯 100% Job Success Score 🕒 1500+ hours on Upwork ✅ 13+ years of experience ✅ 35+ projects delivered ✅ Excelling in delivering Fortune 500-scale projects Over 13 years of extensive experience in Cloud Environment, Corporate Network, FinTechs and ISPs. In Summary, my credentials include, Cloud Expertise Amazon Web Services (EC2, S3, VPC, IAM, Security-Groups, DirectConnect, Transit Gateway, WAF etc) Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (VCN, Subnets, Route Tables, Compute, IAM etc) Google Cloud Platform (IAM, Compute Engine, Firewall, Partner Interconnect, VPN, VPC etc) Security: Cisco FMC, FTDs & ASA, Palo Alto Network Firewalls and Panorama, Fortinet, FortiManager, Fortigate Firewalls, F5 BigIP LTM WAF, IPSec & Remote Access VPNs, NGIPS, Threat Prevention, URL Filtering, Cisco ISE, Cisco DUO, TACACS & Radius Authentication, SIEM, Cortex XDR, Wazuh, Rapid7, Security Onion Routing: OSPF, BGP, MPLS, Policy Base Routing using Route Maps, TCP/IP, Layer 3 Redundancy (HSRP), IP Spoofing, Virtualization (VRF), IP SLA, NAT/PAT, GRE Tunnels. Switching: Nexus VPC, Cisco Stack, Catalyst VSS, VXLAN, Spanning Tree Protocol, EtherChannels (LACP, PAGP), Access-Maps. DevOps: Terraform, Ansible, Python, Git, BitBucket, Docker, Jenkins, Linux, Netbox, Wireshark PCNSE, PCNSA CCNA 200-120 CCNA Security 640-554 CCNP R & S
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    FortiGate Firewall
    Fortinet
    Cisco Certified Network Professional
    Cisco ISE
    VPN
    Oracle Cloud
    Amazon Web Services
    Google Cloud Platform
    Cisco Firepower Threat Defense
    Palo Alto Firewalls
    Ansible
    Network Design
    Firewall
    Network Security
  • $45 hourly
    A self-motivated professional cloud and DevOps expert with strong work ethic. A certified GCP PCNE, ACE and boosting experience with AWS and Azure for over 3.5 years. I excel in crafting and deploying multi-cloud infrastructure solutions for businesses across startups and large scale corporations for cloud migrations. I provide services tailored to solve your business needs. I have the following: 👔 4.5+ Years of Professional Experience at coralbay.tv (including SES, other bluechip companies), GFT (Deutsche Bank account) ☁️ AWS – 4.5 years - Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS), EC2, VPC, DynamoDB, PostgreSQL, Prometheus, Grafana, Node-exporter, Elasticsearch, Fluentd, Kibana, CloudFormation, Elastic Container Service, RDS, IAM users, EFS, NAT Gateway, S3, Security Groups ☁️ Azure – 4.5 Years - Azure Kubernetes Service, Azure Container Instances, Active Directory, VNet, Postgres Database, Postgres Flexible Server DB, AAD, Blob, Jump Box, NFS, Prometheus, Grafana, Node-exporter, Elasticsearch, Fluentd, Kibana ☁️ GCP – 4.5 Years - Google Kubernetes Engine, Network, Databases, Filestore, IAM, NAT Gateway, Firewalls, Prometheus, Grafana, Node-exporter, Elasticsearch, Fluentd, Kibana The following services are provided across all the 3 major clouds: 🏗️ Cloud and Infrastructure Architecture: Designing and implementing tailored cloud-based solutions to ensure optimal performance, scalability, and security for your business. 🛠️ DevOps: Integrating development and operations teams to establish a streamlined, automated workflow using tools such as GitHub Actions, Jenkins and BitBucket. 👨‍💼 Managed Services for GCP, AWS and Azure: Providing continuous support and maintenance for your cloud infrastructure, including monitoring, security, backup and disaster recovery, and cost optimization. ☁︎ Cloud Migration: Assisting in the migration of your existing applications and services to the cloud, guaranteeing a seamless transition with minimal downtime. ⚙️ Infrastructure as Code: Utilising Terraform and CloudFormation to automate deployment and management of your infrastructure. 🔐 Security: Ensuring your cloud infrastructure adheres to the latest security standards and regulatory requirements. With a deep understanding of the latest cloud technologies and best practices, I am well-equipped to help you achieve your business objectives and revolutionise the way you operate.
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    Cloud Engineering
    DevOps
    Automation
    Bash Programming
    GitHub
    Jenkins
    CI/CD
    Microsoft Azure
    Git
    Deployment Automation
    Kubernetes
    Google Cloud Platform
    Terraform
    Docker
    Amazon Web Services
  • $85 hourly
    Highly skilled and results-driven DevOps engineer with a strong specialization in Kubernetes, AWS, bare metal server orchestration, Terraform, networking, and virtual machine configuration. Offering a proven track record in designing, implementing, and maintaining robust infrastructure solutions for complex software systems. Adept at driving operational efficiency, scalability, and reliability through automation, continuous integration, and cloud technologies. Passionate about optimizing deployment processes and enhancing system performance while ensuring security and adherence to best practices. As an experienced DevOps professional, I thrive on urgent challenges, understanding the value of time for your business. Dedicated to swiftly and efficiently resolving issues, often within minutes, I bring a deep understanding of optimizing servers to handle high volumes of visitors and improving website and application performance. I take pride in delivering innovative solutions that have resulted in significant cost savings for my clients, amounting to thousands of dollars in infrastructure expenses. Committed to collaborating with cross-functional teams, I streamline development workflows and maximize the agility and productivity of organizations in fast-paced environments. With a comprehensive skill set in both software development and operations, I bring expertise that drives successful outcomes for businesses.
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    Cloud Engineering Consultation
    Cloud Engineering
    Cloud Migration
    Database Administration
    Linux System Administration
    Ruby
    Continuous Integration
    DevOps
    VMWare
    Python
    Amazon Web Services
    CI/CD
    Terraform
    Kubernetes
  • $200 hourly
    I have 20+ years of experience in Information Technology across a variety of roles (IT Director, Systems Administrator, Software Engineer) and with a wide range of technologies. I enjoy helping companies optimize their use of technology, reduce costs, and resolve problems. I'd love to help your business today! During my time as an IT Director for a large, multi-location non-profit I oversaw all aspects of IT including systems (servers, workstations, printers/copiers, phone systems [PBX]), networks (firewalls, security gateways, switches, wireless access points, ISPs, load balancers), applications (CRM, Office, Creative, Marketing), services (email, cloud storage), and software engineering (websites, web applications). I managed a staff and volunteers that served thousands each week, built out new locations and managed the IT for mobile locations and events. I also have first-hand experience working with IT in creative, legal, construction, social networking, and startup companies. This includes building a self-service housing management solution for a University, implementing industry specific software applications with niche requirements, and maintaining public facing websites under heavy load. I have experience with managing the build out of Building Access Control (BAC) systems, security cameras (CCTV), and even a Fire Alarm System (FAS). I've worked with a variety of equipment (Dell, HP, Cisco, NetGear) and software (Windows, macOS, Linux) over the years but there seems to be a particular interest on Upwork for individuals with Ubiquiti experience. I've been working with Ubiquiti equipment, particularly their UniFi line for 6+ years. This includes building out entire networks from UniFi OS/Console (centralized management/monitoring) to Dream Machines, Network Applications, Cloud Keys, Security Gateways, Switches, Wireless Access Points (WAPs or APs), Power-over-Ethernet (PoE), Cameras, and network video recorders (NVR). This has included load balancing scenarios and usage in temporary locations where traditional cabling was not an option. I'd love the opportunity to help you with whatever IT needs you may have!
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    Database Administration
    IT Infrastructure
    Infrastructure Management
    Network Administration
    Information Technology Operations
    Solution Architecture
    Technical Support
    IT Management
    Information Technology
    UniFi
    Ubiquiti
    IT Consultation
    Google Workspace Administration
    Windows Server
    System Administration
  • $165 hourly
    Executive Consultant, Architect and Engineer specializing in Cybersecurity, Networks, Cloud, and IT Systems with proven international business experience and management skills. UPWORK experience: 9000+ work hours, 100% Job Success, Top Rated Plus, Expert-Vetted. With 15+ years of professional experience, I provide a complete set of services from proven advanced technical solutions and methodologies to business development, team-building, and management. I have successfully delivered complex projects across heterogeneous environments such as Telco/ISP providers, SMB, and Large International Enterprises in USA, Europe & Globally. Main offered services include: • Cybersecurity Architect • Network Architect • System Architect • Cloud Architect • Digital transformation • Solution design and implementation • IT strategy development • Information Security Manager • vCTO | vCIO | vCISO • Executive Consultant Highly experienced SME in the following technology fields: Information Security & Cyber Security • Develop & enhance Cybersecurity management frameworks. • Develop, implement & monitor strategic, comprehensive enterprise information security & IT risk management programs. • Develop, and maintain cybersecurity policies, standards, baselines, guidelines, and procedures. Network/IT/System Security • Firewall, UTM, NGFW & NG-IPS protection: Fortigate, FortiManager, FortiAnalyzer, Cisco (ASA FirePower), Barracuda, pfSense, Checkpoint, PaloAlto, SonicWall, WatchGuard • Email Security: Cisco, Barracuda, Mimecast, Microsoft • Web Security: Cisco, Barracuda, Fortinet, McAfee, Zscaler • Proxy and Reverse Proxy: Squid, Nginx, Dante • IPSec VPN & SDWAN: Cisco DMVPN, HPE ADVPN, Fortigate ADVPN • SSL VPN: Fortigate, Cisco, PaloAlto, Barracuda, SonicWall, OpenVPN, pfSense, Swan, OpenConnect • Network Access Control (802.1X, Radius, Tacacs+…), BYOD and MDM : Aruba ClearPass, Cisco ISE, PacketFence, NPS, Genians, Intune... • ZTNA Expert with all leading multi-vendor solutions • IAM SSO SAML2 Oauth: OKTA, Keycloack, Auth0 • DLP & CASB Bitglass, Forcepoint • EDR McAfee, Sophos, SentinelOne... • SIEM and SOC solutions - Wazuh, Fortinet, Splunk... IT Cloud/Systems/Virtualization/Backup/DR • Hybrid Cloud, Multi Cloud Architecture • Cloud Infrastructure Security, Networking, Storage, VPC (AWS, Azure, OVH, OpenStack...) • Virtualization planning, implementation, tuning (VMware, Proxmox, KVM, Hyper-V) • Hyperconverged HCI solutions ESXi & vSAN, Proxmox & CEPH • Linux Systems deployment, administration and development (Debian Ubuntu OpenSuSE CentOS RedHat) including performance optimization, hardening, scripting, HA, backup & restore • Windows Server architecture & administration (Hyper-V AD GPO DNS DHCP PKI File Server ...) • SAN (FC/FCoE), ISCSi, NAS(File) • VDI and Virtual App (Microsoft, VMware, Citrix) • Load Balancer/Application Delivery: HAproxy, Nginx, Barracuda, F5 • ElasticSearch & OpenSearch design & implementation • Critical HA Database clusters: PostgreSQL & MySQL • HA, Backup & Disaster Recovery planning & deployment (Veeam, VMware, Proxmox, Linux, AWS, Azure, Windows...etc) Network technologies • Switches: Cisco, HPE, Comware, Aruba OS, Arista, Alcatel, Juniper, Dell • Routers: Cisco, HPE, Comware, Alcatel, Juniper, Mikrotik • WiFi Mobility: Aruba OS & Central, Cisco, Meraki, Ubiquity, Mikrotik • MPLS L2/L3 VPN, MP-BGP, VPLS, SDWAN • BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, EIGRP routing protocols • FRR, VyOS, Bird • VLAN, QinQ, VXLAN, EVPN L2 scalable overlay networks • ACL, PBR, NAT, QoS, NAS; large-scale DHCP/DNS • IGMP L2 and PIM L3 multicast • Secure WiFi planning: controller managed & cloud-managed • NMS, EMS, FCPAS and OSS/BSS systems - LibreNMS, Zabbix, Nagios, Cacti Some of the most notable certifications I hold are: • CISSP - ISC2 • HPE Master Accredited Solution Expert - Network Solutions • HPE Accredited Solutions Expert - Network Architect • SUSE Cert. Linux Admin.: SLES In addition to technical skills, I deliver proven business operations experience for: • Business development planning and acquiring the correct technology • Project Management • Team building and management • RFP preparation Proposal preparation (technical/commercial) • Pre-sales & Sales Management • Business development, planning, and acquiring the correct technology • Project Management • Team building and management • RFP preparation Proposal preparation (technical/commercial) • Pre-sales & Sales Management • Business partnership establishment and management with leading companies such as HPE, Aruba, Fortinet, Cisco, IBM, Dell, Microsoft… and many more I am an avid learner, enabling me to swiftly adapt to new business environments and new project needs. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills combined with my long experience in team-leading & management enable me to collaborate strongly and work in global project teams with multiple members (in both leading or supporting roles).
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    Certified Information Systems Security Professional
    Firewall
    High Availability and Disaster Recovery
    NIST Cybersecurity Framework
    Network Design
    Network Architecture
    Solution Architecture
    Cloud Architecture
    Cloud Security
    Business Development
    System Administration
    Cybersecurity Management
    Information Security
    VPN
    Network Security
  • $225 hourly
    Hey, I'm James. I've been a self-employed business network and server admin for 21+ years. I've worked with all flavors of Linux and Windows for some of the best businesses in the country. My average customer that I've worked with has been with me over 10 years. I specialize in analyzing current infrastructure and determining the needs of my clients then providing a written plan to correct any issues and protect the business systems from hackers and cryptolockers. In one of my recent projects, I consulted with a six billion dollar, publicly traded company to completely redesign their infrastructure to have redundant firewalls, VMWare host servers, leased fiber lines directly to Amazon AWS with a VPN backup over a regular Internet circuit that would automatically fail over in case of any circuit issue. The vmware servers would auto migrate the guests in the case of overload or host server failure. All power systems were redundant with two powersupplies for each piece of equipment. At the end of this project, we had reduced their monthly cost of management by over 25,000 per month and reduced their server load from over 20 servers to just 8 servers. When you hire me, here's what you can expect: 1. First, click the invite button to invite me to your job. 2. Once everything is accepted, I'll jump on the phone or a zoom with you 3. We'll go over the details of the job and I'll ask questions to drill down to the specific goals you want to accomplish. 4. I'll provide you with a high level written plan to address your goals along with expected time needed to complete your project. 5. When we agree on the timeline and process, I will execute the plan. So, if this sounds good, just click the "invite" button and we can start.
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    Docker
    Email Design
    Network Administration
    Network Monitoring
    Network Design
    Linux System Administration
    Network Security
    Network Planning
    Web Hosting
    Windows Administration
    Virtualization
    System Administration
    System Monitoring
    NGINX
  • $60 hourly
    Skilled System Administrator and Network Engineer with over 20 years of hands-on experience, adept at organizing networks for single-office environments or multiple offices connected via VPN. I am highly proficient in Unix system administration (Linux and FreeBSD), covering DNS, DHCP, LAMP/LEMP, FTP, SMTP, SNMP, ACLs, firewalls, and NAT, BGP. My expertise also extends to major cloud platforms (AWS, Vultr, DigitalOcean) and virtualization technologies (vSphere, Hyper-V, Proxmox), as well as monitoring tools (Zabbix) and VoIP/IP telephony systems (Asterisk, FreePBX). Here is what past clients have said about my work: - “Pavel was fantastic! My project hit a snag and I needed an FTP server configured quickly. He jumped in immediately, resolved the issue in no time, and answered all my questions in a friendly manner. This guy is a real problem solver!” - “Very smart when it comes to Linux systems—was able to help with our issue.” - “A very skilled and professional expert who solved all additional and unexpected problems with patience. He overdelivered, and I highly recommend working with him!” - “The problem was solved quickly and efficiently.” - “Pavel did a great job tracing the problem and solving it.” - “Pleasure to work with.” I take pride in my ability to quickly diagnose issues, implement reliable solutions, and consistently exceed client expectations.
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    Asterisk
    DNSsec
    WordPress
    Linux System Administration
    Firewall
    Apache Administration
    MySQL
    LAN Administration
    Session Initiation Protocol
    Squid
    Web Hosting
    VMware vSphere
    NGINX
  • $75 hourly
    🏆 UPWORK EXPERT-VETTED | NETWORK & SECURITY ENGINEER & ARCHITECT 🏆 I am a Network and Security Engineer/Architect with 17+ years of experience and an Expert Vetted Freelancer on Upwork, with 14,000+ hours logged. I specialize in designing, securing, and optimizing enterprise, ISP, data center, and cloud networks with a strong focus on high-performance, scalability, and security. 🔹 Enterprise Networks | Service Providers | Data Centers | Cloud 🔹 Security & Firewalls | VPN & Remote Access | Network Automation ________________________________________ 💡 CORE EXPERTISE & TECHNOLOGIES ✅ Enterprise & Service Provider Networking ✔ Vendors & Models: • Cisco: ASR 1000/9000, ISR 4000/8000, Catalyst 9000/3850, Nexus 9000/7000 • Juniper: MX480/MX204, SRX Series, QFX/EX Series, vSRX, vMX • MikroTik: CCR1036/CCR2116/CCR2004, CRS3xx, hEX, hAP • Arista: 7050X, 7280R, EOS-based solutions • Dell: PowerSwitch (S5248, S4048, N3048) • Brocade/Ruckus: ICX 6610, FastIron, VDX 6740 • Mellanox: SN2100/SN2700, ConnectX adapters • Ubiquiti: UDM Pro, USG-3P, Unifi Switch Gen2, AP U6 • Motorola/Cambium: PMP 450i, PTP 550, Medusa • Aruba: CX 6300/6400, Instant APs ✔ Technologies: • Routing: BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, IS-IS, MPLS, VXLAN, EVPN, Segment Routing • Switching: VLANs, STP, LACP, MLAG, VRRP, HSRP, QoS • Load Balancing: HAProxy, Cloud Load Balancers, Cisco SLB, F5 ________________________________________ ✅ Firewalls & Security Solutions ✔ Vendors & Models: • Fortinet: FortiGate 60F, 100F, 600E, 1000D, VM-Series • Palo Alto: PA-3200, PA-5400, VM-300 • Sophos: XG 210, XGS 3300, UTM 9 • SonicWall: TZ470, NSA 2650 • Zyxel: ZyWALL VPN 100, USG FLEX 200 • PFSense/OPNSense: Netgate 6100, SG-5100 • Untangle: NG Firewall on U50/U150 ✔ Security Services: • Next-Gen Firewall (NGFW) Deployment & Optimization • Intrusion Prevention (IPS/IDS), Zero Trust, DDoS Mitigation • Web Filtering, Application Control, SIEM Integration ________________________________________ ✅ ISP & Broadband Solutions ✔ Vendors & Models: • Huawei: MA5608T, MA5800, EchoLife ONT • ZTE: C320, C600, ZXHN series • Netonix: WS-12-250-DC, WS-26-400-AC • MikroTik: GPEN11, GPEN21 ✔ Technologies: • FTTH GPON/XG-PON, Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT) • PPPoE, RADIUS, BRAS/BNG, IPv4/IPv6 Migration ________________________________________ ✅ VPN & Remote Access Solutions ✔ Technologies: • IPSec, OpenVPN, WireGuard, SSL VPN, GRE, L2TP, DMVPN, SD-WAN Tunnels • Enterprise VPNs, Hybrid Cloud Connectivity, Remote Workforce Security ________________________________________ ✅ Linux, Cloud & Virtualization ✔ Linux: Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, OpenBSD, FreeBSD ✔ Virtualization: VMware ESXi, Hyper-V, Proxmox, KVM, Xen ✔ Cloud Networking: AWS, Azure, Vultr, DigitalOcean, Linode ________________________________________ ✅ Network Monitoring & Automation ✔ Monitoring: PRTG, Grafana, LibreNMS, Cacti, NetBox, phpIPAM, Zabbix, FastNetMon ✔ Automation: Python (Netmiko, NAPALM), Ansible, Terraform, REST APIs ________________________________________ 📜 CERTIFICATIONS 📌 Cisco Certified (CCNP, CCNA, CCDA, CCDP) 📌 Juniper Certified (JNCIS, JNCIA) ________________________________________ 💼 SERVICES I OFFER ✔ Network Design & Optimization – Enterprise, ISP, Data Center ✔ Firewall & Security Hardening – NGFW, IPS/IDS, Zero Trust ✔ Cloud & Hybrid Networking – Multi-cloud, VPC Peering, Transit Gateway ✔ VPN & Secure Remote Access – IPSec, SSL, SD-WAN ✔ ISP & Broadband Solutions – BGP, MPLS, GPON, IPv6 Migration ✔ Network Troubleshooting & Performance Tuning ✔ Network Automation & Monitoring – Ansible, Python, APIs
    Featured Skill Network Engineering
    Juniper
    Network Architecture
    Network Planning
    Network Design
    Cisco
    Sophos Sophos UTM
    PfSense
    Mikrotik RouterBOARD
    Security Engineering
    Ubiquiti
    VPN
    Network Equipment
    Network Security
    Firewall
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How to Hire Top Network Engineers

How to hire network engineers

Planning on setting up your own application server, VoIP network, or other IT infrastructure? A network engineer can help.

So how do you hire network engineers? What follows are some tips for finding top network engineers on Upwork.

How to shortlist network engineering professionals

As you’re browsing available network engineering consultants, it can be helpful to develop a shortlist of the professionals you may want to interview. You can screen profiles on criteria such as:

  • Technology fit. You want a network engineer who understands your IT infrastructure.
  • Project experience. Screen candidate profiles for specific skills and experience (e.g., server automation with Ansible).
  • Feedback. Check reviews from past clients for glowing testimonials or red flags that can tell you what it’s like to work with a particular network engineer.

Defining your network engineering project

The first thing you should explain up front is what you need the network engineer to do. As mentioned above, what you need from a network engineer is going to largely depend on the size of your network and its complexities and requirements. Are you setting up a new network from scratch? If so, you’ll likely need a highly skilled network architect to determine what systems you need, what bandwidth your business is going to require, then have them design and configure the system with the appropriate tools, technologies and hardware if applicable.

Do you need to upgrade any existing server hardware to address performance issues? If so, you’ll want a network engineer who knows the latest hardware options to help you optimize your network. to run an audit that assesses the health of your system and to then provide a plan for upgrading, augmenting, and expanding your hardware and software to beef up bandwidth.

Finally, briefly explain your goals. What do you need from your network architect to get you from where you are now to where you’d like to be? Do you feel like systems and hardware are underutilized? Are you culturally shifting toward a more DevOps approach and need to reconfigure how your network supports you?

How to write an effective network engineering job post

Now that you’ve clearly defined your project deliverables, it’s time to write your project description. The description will determine the quality of the network engineer you’ll attract, so be sure to include as much context and detail as possible to ensure they have demonstrated experience tackling the challenges your project may entail.

Be direct and succinct in your title, and include any relevant technology, tools, or services they should know in order to work within your system. Do you need specific tools to support a continuous delivery network, or containerization? Be as specific as possible, and also open to discussion about their suggestions.

A network engineer is typically the top of the totem pole when it comes to IT professionals, having more ownership over the planning and design phases. If they’ll be working in a consulting capacity, let them know who they’ll be working within your organization. Also, provide budget information that might affect their choices for the physical hardware behind your network.

Be sure to specify for certifications to make sure they’re qualified and their skills and hardware knowledge are up to date. If you’re setting up a new network from scratch, you want a network that’s future proofed—not a functional network that’s using outdated technology that’s likely to fail down the line.

Sample project overview

Below is a sample of how a project description may look. Keep in mind that many people use the term “job description,” but a full job description is only needed for employees. When engaging a freelancer as an independent contractor, you typically just need a statement of work, job post, or any other document that describes the work.

Title: Network Engineer Needed to Configure and Install Hybrid Cloud Continuous Delivery Network To Support Medical Tech Startup & Mobile App

Description:

We are a medical mobile app who recently received the funding we need to launch our prototype and set up the network for our physical office space. We need an experienced network engineer to help us design both an on-site network (set up wifi and telephone access, servers, and security protocols) and our hybrid cloud network. We’re looking to build a network with elastic capabilities to support continuous delivery from our engineering team. We’re also open to suggestions about continuous integration and DevOps tools (e.g. Jenkins).

Project Scope & Deliverables:

In preparation for launch of our mobile app, an on-demand medical supply delivery app, we need onsite and hybrid cloud CD production networks to support our mobile app which offers location-based delivery services, inventory management and support, scheduling, anonymized messaging services between drivers and practices, and other logistics. We’ll also need our onsite office network setup (wifi, telecommunications). We’d like the SDN set up as a phase one so our distributed engineers can begin work on the app, with the office as a phase two.

NETWORK ENGINEERS FAQ

What is network engineering?

Network engineering is an umbrella term for all the tasks involved with setting up and maintaining IT infrastructure.

Here’s a quick overview of the skills you should look for in network engineering professionals:

  • Network engineering
  • Network design, planning, and administration
  • Networking protocols such as TCP/IP
  • Server technologies such as ASP.NET
  • Router technologies such as Cisco

Why hire network engineers?

The trick to finding top network engineers is to identify your needs. Is your goal to set up your own internal network with Cisco routers? Do you require experience with DevOps services to automate your continuous integration and delivery pipelines? The cost of your project will depend largely on your scope of work and the specific skills needed to bring your project to life.

How much does it cost to hire a network engineer?

Rates can vary due to many factors, including expertise and experience, location, and market conditions.

  • An experienced network engineer may command higher fees but also work faster, have more specialized areas of expertise, and deliver higher-quality work.
  • A freelancer who is still in the process of building a client base may price their network engineering services more competitively.

Which one is right for you will depend on the specifics of your project.

Cost factor #1: Network project scope

Your project description will definitely help when it comes to assessing the first major cost factor: the overall scope and complexity of your network. This is going to be one of the biggest contributors to how much time your network engineer will need to get you up and running. Are you setting up a new network from scratch? Or are you upgrading some existing server hardware to address performance issues? Is your network a mix of on-site and in the cloud, or is it strictly in the cloud? Do you need specific tools to support a continuous delivery network or containerization?

All of this will impact what systems you need, what bandwidth your business requires, and how the engineer will configure the system with the appropriate technologies and hardware. Establishing scope will not only help you match your project with the caliber of talent you need, but it will also help you estimate your project’s timeline and milestones.

Tip: IT security and network engineering go hand in hand. You might consider a round of penetration testing before engaging a network engineer to design your system. This can provide visibility into what is and isn’t working, help you make more-educated decisions about the systems you should invest in, and allow for more proactive security improvements along with the redesign.

Cost factor #2: Network engineer’s experience and expertise

What you want to look for first and foremost is experience related to projects similar to yours. Gauge both the appropriate experience and any niche expertise. For instance, some network engineers are more focused on software requirements than hardware requirements, in response to the shift toward software-defined networking (SDN)—systems deployed in the cloud rather than on-site. This new cloud-based landscape requires a different skill set from that of traditional network engineers, including server-side scripting, operating systems and command-line interfaces, file system structures, languages like Python or Java, and a code repository system such as GitLab. For example, if you deploy any of the 40% of servers out there that are virtualized, you’ll want to look for someone with appropriate skills or certifications to manage that environment.

Other specialized experience might come into play as well. If you need an engineer who’s capable of working “close to the metal” with more on-site hardware components, look for electrical engineering expertise: familiarity with motherboards, interface cards, drivers, circuitry, wiring, and more. IT security-focused experience with TCP/IP connections and penetration testing is another specialty to look for, especially as breaches continue to threaten businesses’ bottom lines.

The following table breaks down some average rates of network engineers you can find on Upwork.

Typical rates charged by network engineers*

Level of Network Engineer Description Average Hourly Rate
Basic/Entry Technician/Junior Administrator Basics such as the installation, configuration, and management of LAN, WAN, routers, networks, servers, software, cloud services, and security protocols. Entry-level certifications such as CompTIA A+ or CCENT. $30-$60+
Intermediate/Advanced Beyond basics, specialized in automation tools like Puppet. Advanced certifications such as CCNP, CCIE, or higher. $60-$100+
DevOps Engineer Experienced working with a DevOps toolchain (Ansible, Jenkins, Kubernetes, etc.). Strong leadership and communication skills for implementing the DevOps culture within an organization. $100-$150+

*Reflects rates charged by freelancers on Upwork in North America with more than 1,000 hours and 90% success rate.

Cost factor #3: Certifications

Like software, networks need to constantly evolve to be more scalable—and network engineers’ skill sets should evolve too. It’s a competitive market, and many opt for industry-recognized certifications to stand out and market themselves. We won’t go into every single certification here, but just note it’s important to match a certification with the qualifications you need, whether they’re IT security or data center virtualization.

Basic credentials to note include Windows, Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Python networking certifications, and Microsoft Network Engineer certifications. For cloud-based, virtualized server environments, keep an eye out for the Citrix Certified Associate-Networking (CCA-N) and VMWare certifications. For security-related credentials, the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) credential is one of the oldest and most respected.

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