The Traditional Network Engineer
The traditional network engineer was a hardware-focused professional who was responsible for racking and stacking routers and switches. They were experts in the command-line interface (CLI), and they spent their days manually configuring, managing, and troubleshooting network devices.
The Changing Role of the Network Engineer
The role of the network engineer is changing. In the age of cloud, automation, and AI, the network engineer is no longer just a hardware-focused professional. They are now a software-focused professional who is responsible for designing, building, and operating programmable networks.
The Skills of the Network Engineer of Tomorrow
The network engineer of tomorrow will need a wide range of skills, including:
- Software development: The network engineer of tomorrow will need to be able to write code. This is because they will be responsible for automating and orchestrating network services.
- Cloud computing: The network engineer of tomorrow will need to be an expert in cloud computing. This is because more and more organizations are moving their applications and data to the cloud.
- Security: The network engineer of tomorrow will need to be an expert in security. This is because the network is a critical part of the security posture of any organization.
- Data analysis: The network engineer of tomorrow will need to be able to analyze data. This is because they will be responsible for monitoring the health and performance of the network.
The Future of Network Engineering
The future of network engineering is bright. The network is becoming more and more important, and the demand for skilled network engineers is growing. The network engineer of tomorrow will be a highly sought-after professional who is responsible for designing, building, and operating the networks of the future.