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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Network Planning Engineer

💰 $95,000 - $150,000

ITNetworkingTelecommunicationsEngineering

🎯 Role Definition

As a Network Planning Engineer, you will be the architect of our future network. You'll be at the forefront of designing and evolving our complex network infrastructure, ensuring it is robust, scalable, and ready to meet the ever-growing demands of our services. This is a strategic role that blends deep technical expertise with forward-thinking planning, where you will analyze traffic patterns, forecast capacity needs, and evaluate new technologies to build a world-class network. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate business requirements into tangible network designs and play a pivotal role in the long-term success of our digital backbone.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Network Engineer
  • Senior NOC Analyst
  • Network Implementation Engineer

Advancement To:

  • Senior Network Planning Engineer
  • Network Architect
  • Manager, Network Engineering

Lateral Moves:

  • Cloud Network Engineer
  • Network Security Architect
  • Solutions Architect

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop and maintain long-term strategic plans for the network infrastructure, including core, edge, and access networks, to support future growth and technology evolution.
  • Conduct in-depth network capacity planning and performance analysis, monitoring traffic trends and forecasting future requirements to prevent congestion and ensure service quality.
  • Design and engineer complex network solutions for expansions, upgrades, and new service deployments, creating detailed design documents, diagrams, and implementation plans.
  • Evaluate, test, and recommend new networking hardware, software, and technologies from various vendors to enhance network performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.
  • Create and manage detailed network topology maps and documentation, ensuring all records of network architecture and configurations are accurate and up-to-date.
  • Collaborate with finance and business stakeholders to develop business cases and cost models (CapEx/OpEx) for network projects and technology investments.
  • Model network traffic flows and simulate failure scenarios using specialized software to identify potential bottlenecks, assess resilience, and validate design robustness.
  • Define and maintain network architecture standards, best practices, and technical specifications to ensure consistency and quality across the infrastructure.
  • Lead the planning and integration of new network services, such as SD-WAN, cloud connectivity (AWS, Azure, GCP), and 5G, into the existing infrastructure.
  • Serve as a top-tier technical expert and escalation point for complex network issues, providing strategic guidance to operations teams during major incidents.
  • Develop detailed project plans, migration strategies, and Methods of Procedure (MOPs) for network changes to minimize operational impact.
  • Interface with vendors and service providers to manage circuit provisioning, technology roadmaps, and ensure adherence to Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
  • Perform regular audits of the network to ensure compliance with architectural standards, security policies, and industry regulations.
  • Analyze performance metrics, telemetry data, and alerts from network monitoring systems to proactively identify trends and areas for optimization.
  • Drive the automation of network planning and analysis tasks using scripting (e.g., Python) and software tools to improve efficiency and accuracy.
  • Plan and manage the IP address (IPv4/IPv6) and ASN allocation strategy across the entire global network footprint.
  • Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers and network operations personnel on topics related to network design and architecture.
  • Prepare and present detailed technical reports, architecture proposals, and project updates to both technical and non-technical leadership.
  • Plan for network lifecycle management, including hardware and software refresh cycles, to mitigate risks associated with end-of-life equipment.
  • Define Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for network health and performance and develop dashboards to visualize and track these metrics over time.
  • Translate high-level business and service requirements into specific, actionable network design criteria and engineering work packages.
  • Conduct research on emerging industry trends, standards (e.g., IETF), and next-generation technologies to inform the long-term network strategy.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis on network performance and traffic data.
  • Contribute to the organization's network security policies and technology roadmap.
  • Collaborate with product and software development units to translate application needs into network engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the infrastructure engineering team.
  • Assist in the creation of training materials and documentation for the Network Operations Center (NOC).
  • Provide technical input for RFPs/RFIs related to network hardware, software, and services.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Deep understanding of IP routing protocols including BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, and MPLS traffic engineering.
  • Expertise in designing and managing large-scale WAN, LAN, and data center network architectures.
  • Proficiency with network modeling and simulation tools (e.g., Cariden MATE/WANDL, OPNET, GNS3/EVE-NG).
  • Hands-on experience with network hardware from major vendors such as Cisco, Juniper, Arista, and Nokia.
  • Strong knowledge of network transport technologies, including DWDM, optical networking, and Carrier Ethernet.
  • Scripting and automation skills using Python, Ansible, or similar languages for network management and data analysis.
  • Familiarity with cloud networking concepts and connectivity solutions (e.g., AWS Direct Connect, Azure ExpressRoute, Google Cloud Interconnect).
  • Knowledge of modern network technologies such as Segment Routing (SR-MPLS, SRv6) and SD-WAN.
  • Experience with network performance monitoring, capacity planning tools, and traffic analysis platforms (e.g., NetFlow, sFlow, SNMP).
  • Solid understanding of network security principles, including firewalls, VPNs, and DDoS mitigation techniques.
  • Proficiency in creating detailed network diagrams and documentation using tools like Visio or Lucidchart.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional analytical, strategic, and creative problem-solving skills.
  • Superior written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
  • Strong project management and organizational capabilities to handle multiple initiatives simultaneously.
  • A collaborative spirit with a proven ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.
  • A forward-thinking and long-term planning mindset.
  • Innate leadership qualities and a passion for mentoring others.
  • Meticulous attention to detail and commitment to quality.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree in a relevant technical field or equivalent practical experience.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's Degree or advanced industry certifications (e.g., CCIE, JNCIE, or equivalent).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Computer Science
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Telecommunications
  • Information Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5-10 years in network engineering, planning, or architecture.

Preferred: Proven track record in a network planning, architecture, or senior engineering role within a large-scale service provider, cloud provider, or enterprise environment.

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