Network Engineer Job Description Template
Network engineers design, implement, and maintain computer networks - LAN, WAN, data centre networks, and cloud networking. In India's telecom and IT services sector, network engineers are essential for managing large-scale enterprise networks, ISP infrastructure, and data centre operations. Use our network engineer job description template to attract certified networking professionals. It covers key responsibilities, required skills, Indian education requirements, salary insights (Cost to Company (CTC)), and the selection process.
Job title:
Network Engineer
Location:
Chennai, Tamil Nadu (or Bengaluru / Hyderabad / Pune / Mumbai / Noida)
Job type:
Full-time, Permanent
Reports to:
Network Manager / Infrastructure Head
Experience:
2-5 years
Employment type:
Permanent
About the role
We are looking for a Network Engineer to join our network operations centre (NOC) team. You will be responsible for configuring and maintaining Cisco and Juniper routers, switches, firewalls, and load balancers across our data centres and office locations. This role includes participating in 24x7 network monitoring, incident response, and change management. The ideal candidate holds CCNA or CCNP certification and has hands-on experience with routing protocols and firewall management.
About the company: - Established: 1998 - Employees: 8,000+ - Industry: Telecom and Managed Network Services (ISP, data centre, cloud connectivity) - Certifications: ISO 27001, ISO 20000-1, ISO 9001, PCI DSS - Presence: 12 data centres across India (Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Noida, Hyderabad); Points of Presence in 200+ cities - Known for: India's top 3 network service provider; managed network services for 40% of India's top 100 enterprises; National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) top 50 digital companies
Network engineer roles and responsibilities - Configure and manage Cisco (IOS, IOS-XE, NX-OS) and Juniper (JunOS) routers, switches, and firewalls across the enterprise network - Implement and troubleshoot routing protocols - OSPF, BGP, EIGRP, MPLS, and VRF for multi-tenant environments - Manage firewall rules and policies on Palo Alto, Fortinet, or Cisco ASA - create access rules, NAT policies, and VPN tunnels (IPsec, SSL VPN) - Monitor network performance using SolarWinds, PRTG, or Nagios - respond to alerts, identify root causes, and resolve within Service Level Agreement (SLA) - Handle change management - plan and execute network changes during maintenance windows following ITIL change management process - Troubleshoot connectivity issues - packet capture analysis using Wireshark, traceroute, ping, and interface-level diagnostics - Manage load balancers (F5 BIG-IP, A10, or Nginx) - configure virtual servers, pools, health monitors, and SSL offloading - Coordinate with ISPs for WAN circuit provisioning, bandwidth upgrades, and outage resolution - Maintain network documentation - topology diagrams (Visio/Lucidchart), IPAM (Infoblox or PHPIPAM), rack layouts, and device inventories - Participate in on-call rotation for P1/P2 incidents and weekend maintenance activities
Network engineer qualifications and skills - Hands-on experience with Cisco and Juniper hardware - routers (ISR, ASR, MX series), switches (Catalyst, Nexus, EX series), and firewalls - Deep understanding of routing and switching - OSPF, BGP, VLAN, STP, EtherChannel, VXLAN, and QoS - Firewall management - Palo Alto, Fortinet, or Check Point; rule audit, NAT, VPN, and threat prevention policies - Network monitoring and troubleshooting - SolarWinds, PRTG, Wireshark, tcpdump, and netflow/sflow analysis - Load balancing technologies - F5 BIG-IP LTM/GTM, A10, or Nginx - Scripting and automation - Python (Netmiko, NAPALM) or Ansible for network automation is a plus - Understanding of SD-WAN (Viptela, Meraki, or Versa) and cloud networking (AWS VPC, Azure Virtual Network, GCP VPC) - CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) certification is mandatory - CCNP Enterprise or Security certification is strongly preferred - Strong analytical and documentation skills
Education and Experience Requirements - Degree: Bachelor of Engineering (BE) / Bachelor of Technology (BTech) in Computer Science, IT, Electronics & Communication, or related branch - BCA / BSc (IT / Electronics) with Cisco certifications also considered - Minimum 50% in graduation - 2-5 years of hands-on experience in network engineering or network operations - CCNA certification mandatory (valid and active) - CCNP (Enterprise or Security) or JNCIA/JNCIS strongly preferred - Python or Ansible scripting experience for network automation is a plus
Network engineer average salary
In India, Network Engineers earn 3.5-6 Lakhs Per Annum (LPA) at the junior level (0-2 years, CCNA), 6-12 LPA at the mid level (2-5 years, CCNP), and 12-18 LPA at the senior level (5+ years). Telecom and managed services companies in Chennai, Bengaluru, and Mumbai offer competitive packages. CCNP-certified professionals earn 20-30% more than CCNA holders.
Source: Naukri Salary Index 2025-26; Randstad India Infrastructure Salary Trends 2025.
Benefits - CTC includes: Basic + HRA + Special Allowances + Shift allowance + Variable pay (10-15% of CTC linked to network uptime) - Statutory: Provident Fund (PF), Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) (if eligible), Gratuity (payable after 5 years) - Additional: Group medical insurance (₹5 lakh cover for self + dependents), accidental insurance, term life insurance - Perks: Certification sponsorship (100% reimbursement on CCNA/CCNP passes), internet reimbursement, cab facility for night shifts, meal coupons
Other details - Probation period: 6 months - Notice period: 60 days (30 days during probation) - Immediate joiners preferred: Yes - within 30 days - Bond / Service agreement: 12-month service agreement if sponsored for CCNP certification - Working days: 5 days a week (rotational shifts - NOC operates 24x7) - Work mode: Work from Office (NOC / data centre) - Shifts: Rotational shifts - morning (7 AM-4 PM), evening (3 PM-12 AM), night (11 PM-8 AM). Night shift allowance applicable. - On-call: Week on-call rotation once every 4-6 weeks for P1/P2 incidents - Relocation support: Not provided
Selection process
1. Resume screening: Based on CCNA/CCNP status, years of experience, firewall and routing protocol exposure
2. Technical assessment: 45-minute online test covering routing protocols (OSPF, BGP, EIGRP), subnetting, ACLs, NAT, and network troubleshooting
3. Technical interview: 60-minute interview with Network Manager - design a network for a 3-site organisation, troubleshoot a given topology issue, discuss BGP path selection
4. Practical / lab round: 30-minute exercise on a lab topology - configure OSPF between two routers, set up a site-to-site VPN, or troubleshoot a connectivity issue
5. HR interview: Salary fitment, shift flexibility, notice period, and long-term career interest in networking
6. Offer rollout (conditional on background verification)
How to apply - Platform: Apply through the company careers portal, Naukri, LinkedIn, or via referral - Documents: Resume (PDF), CCNA/CCNP certificate copies, degree mark sheets, government ID - Timeline: Rolling applications; interview process completed within 2 weeks - Referral: Include employee referral ID in the application if applicable
Frequently asked questions
1. What does a Network Engineer do in India?
A Network Engineer designs, configures, and maintains enterprise networks - routers, switches, firewalls, and load balancers. They work in IT services, telecom, data centre, and ISP companies managing LAN, WAN, MPLS, and cloud network connectivity.
2. What qualifications do I need to become a Network Engineer in India?
A Bachelor of Engineering (BE)/Bachelor of Technology (BTech) in ECE, Company Secretary (CS), or IT is the standard path. CCNA certification is mandatory for most roles. CCNP is required for senior positions. Practical lab experience with Cisco and Juniper devices is expected.
3. What is the average salary of a Network Engineer in India?
Junior engineers (CCNA) earn 3.5-6 Lakhs Per Annum (LPA); mid-level engineers (CCNP) earn 6-12 LPA; senior engineers earn 12-18 LPA. CCNP holders earn 20-30% more than CCNA holders.
4. How can I hire the right Network Engineer in India?
Administer a practical lab test - ask candidates to configure OSPF, set up a VPN tunnel, or troubleshoot a simulated outage. Verify CCNA/CCNP validity and hands-on experience with the specific vendor gear you use (Cisco, Juniper, Palo Alto). Prioritise candidates who have experience with network automation (Python/Ansible).