Employers

Typical employers for NOC engineers include companies that manage their own computer networks, managed service providers, federal and state government agencies (especially those involved in mission-critical areas such as defense or emergency response), public utilities that have large network systems, colleges and universities, and the U.S. military.

Starting Out

The majority of NOC engineering jobs require a bachelor’s degree, but some employers hire engineers with associate degree and extensive (5+ years) of experience in lower-level network operations positions. Some engineers pursue careers in network operations after working as electrical, electronics, software, hardware, and other types of engineers.

Job openings can be learned about via connections made during internships, co-ops, or lower-level positions at network operations centers and by using the assistance of industry recruiters, participating in online and in-person networking events, attending career fairs, and contacting potential employers directly about job openings.

Network operations center engineers advance by receiving pay raises and promotion to supervisory and managerial roles. Highly skilled and experienced engineers who have a master’s degree in business management or engineering management can be promoted to the position of director of network operations. Some engineers choose to launch their own consulting firms, while others become college educators.

Visit the following Web sites for job listings:

• https://www.indeed.com/q-Network-Operations-Center-Engineer-jobs.html?vjk=dbf9b2891c61998a
• https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/network-operations-center-jobs
• https://www.npa.org/public/careers_jobboard.cfm
• https://careers.naspa.com.

Check out The NPA Journal (https://www.npa.org/public/publications_npj.cfm) and Technical Support (https://naspa.com/publications) to learn more about the field.

Create a profile on LinkedIn to raise your profile and attract the interest of recruiters. Follow potential employers and join groups such as Network Operations Center Professionals; Telecom & Carrier Network Operations Center Discussions Telecom & Carrier Network Operations Center Discussions; and IT and Network Documentation to network and learn about industry developments.