A principal network engineer takes on full responsibility and accountability for network design, creation, installation, and maintenance. Usually managing a team of network engineers, the principal network engineer is tasked with identifying the client’s infrastructure needs and designing a network that meets – or exceeds – their requirements.

Being a principal network engineer is a managerial role, so there are additional tasks that you’ll need to take on. You may be required to train other network engineers, for example, present your findings and proposals to clients or shareholders and author reports detailing how projects were undertaken.

As you gain professional and practical experience, your skills will develop, and you may be promoted through the ranks. With enough experience, you can begin taking on more responsibility and being the lead developer on certain aspects of network builds, for example. This supervisory experience will stand you in good stead if you plan on becoming a principal network engineer, as it will show that you have managerial experience.

Once you have the technical, practical, and managerial skills required, you’ll be ready to apply for roles as a principal network engineer. However, this isn’t a role that you have to do in-house. By launching your career as a freelance principal network engineer, you can make your role as flexible, interesting, and exciting as you choose.

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