Top 12 Network Design Engineer Skills to Put on Your Resume
In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, standing out as a network design engineer requires a solid set of technical and soft skills that highlight your expertise and adaptability. Crafting a resume that effectively showcases these skills is crucial for capturing the attention of top employers and securing your position in this competitive field.
Network Design Engineer Skills
1. Cisco IOS
Cisco IOS (Internetwork Operating System) is the software used on the majority of Cisco Systems routers and current Cisco network switches, providing a rich set of network protocols, features, and services for network design, configuration, and management.
Why It's Important
Cisco IOS (Internetwork Operating System) is crucial for a Network Design Engineer because it serves as the core operating system that powers Cisco routers and switches, enabling the implementation, management, and optimization of network infrastructure designs.
How to Improve Cisco IOS Skills
Improving Cisco IOS for a Network Design Engineer involves optimizing configuration, maintaining updates, and leveraging advanced features. Focus on:
Configuration Optimization: Ensure configurations are streamlined for performance and security. Utilize Cisco's Configuration Professional for GUI-based management.
Regular Updates: Keep the IOS version updated to mitigate vulnerabilities and access new features. Refer to Cisco's Software Download Portal for the latest firmware.
Feature Utilization: Implement advanced IOS features like Quality of Service (QoS) for traffic prioritization and Virtual LANs (VLANs) for network segmentation. Learn more through Cisco's QoS Guide and VLAN Configuration Guide.
Network Security: Enhance security by enabling features like Access Control Lists (ACLs) and Secure Shell (SSH). Cisco's Security Configuration Guide offers insights.
Performance Monitoring: Utilize Cisco IOS embedded event management (EEM) scripts for automation and proactive monitoring. Explore EEM Best Practices.
Professional Development: Stay informed on the latest technologies and best practices through Cisco Learning Network and Cisco Live for seminars and workshops.
By focusing on these areas, a Network Design Engineer can effectively improve and maintain a robust, secure, and efficient network architecture using Cisco IOS.
How to Display Cisco IOS Skills on Your Resume
2. Juniper Junos
Juniper Junos, short for Junos OS, is a high-performance, network operating system that powers all devices and products in the Juniper Networks portfolio. It provides a unified, consistent operating environment that enables streamlined network design, operation, and automation for Network Design Engineers, offering features like advanced routing, security, and management functionalities.
Why It's Important
Juniper Junos is important for a Network Design Engineer because it provides a unified, robust, and scalable operating system that enhances network reliability, performance, and security across diverse routing, switching, and security devices, enabling efficient network design and operation.
How to Improve Juniper Junos Skills
Improving Juniper Junos for a Network Design Engineer involves enhancing performance, security, and manageability. Here are concise strategies:
Update Regularly: Stay updated with the latest Junos OS versions for security and feature enhancements. Juniper Networks Support
Automation: Utilize Junos automation scripts to streamline configurations, diagnostics, and compliance checks, enhancing efficiency. Explore Junos Automation.
Network Design Optimization: Design your network with scalability, redundancy, and segmentation in mind. Implement protocols like BGP and OSPF properly for efficient routing. Reference Juniper’s Day One Books for design insights.
Security Hardening: Apply best practices for security, such as securing access to devices, using SSH, and configuring firewalls and filters effectively. Consult Juniper Security Configuration.
Monitoring and Telemetry: Implement real-time monitoring and telemetry to proactively manage and troubleshoot your network. Junos offers various tools and protocols for this purpose. Check out Junos Telemetry Interface.
Training and Certification: Enhance your skills and knowledge through Juniper’s training and certification programs. This will ensure you’re utilizing Junos to its full potential. Visit Juniper Networks Certification Program.
By focusing on these areas, you can significantly improve the performance, security, and manageability of your Juniper Junos network.
How to Display Juniper Junos Skills on Your Resume
3. BGP
BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) is the core routing protocol used to exchange routing information across the internet and between autonomous systems (ASes), enabling efficient, scalable, and robust global inter-networking. For a Network Design Engineer, BGP is crucial for designing and optimizing network paths, ensuring redundancy, controlling routing policies, and managing traffic flows.
Why It's Important
BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) is crucial for Network Design Engineers because it is the standardized exterior gateway protocol designed to exchange routing and reachability information among autonomous systems (AS) on the Internet. This enables the creation of robust, scalable, and dynamic networks, facilitating optimal path selection and redundancy for data transmission across diverse networks, ensuring network stability, reliability, and performance.
How to Improve BGP Skills
To improve BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) in a network design, focus on enhancing reliability, security, and efficiency. Consider the following strategies:
Route Filtering: Use route filtering to control which routes are advertised and accepted. This improves network security and performance. Cisco - BGP Route Filtering
Route Aggregation: Implement route aggregation to reduce the size of the routing tables and improve BGP scalability. Juniper Networks - Route Aggregation
Use of Route Reflectors: Deploy route reflectors to reduce the number of BGP sessions, simplifying network design and improving scalability. Cisco - Route Reflectors
BGP Security: Enhance security by implementing features like TCP MD5 authentication and leveraging RPKI (Resource Public Key Infrastructure) to validate route origin. APNIC - RPKI
Multiprotocol Extensions: Utilize BGP's multiprotocol extensions for supporting a wide range of network layer protocols, improving network flexibility. RFC 4760 - Multiprotocol Extensions for BGP-4
BGP Optimization Tools: Use BGP optimization tools and platforms for real-time monitoring, troubleshooting, and predictive analysis to preemptively address issues. Kentik - BGP Monitoring
Improving BGP involves a combination of good practices, advanced configurations, and leveraging the latest technologies to ensure a robust, secure, and efficient network design.
How to Display BGP Skills on Your Resume
4. OSPF
OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) is a link-state routing protocol used in IP networks to facilitate efficient and dynamic routing of packets. It enables routers to construct a complete map of the network topology, allowing for the calculation of the shortest and most efficient paths for data transmission. OSPF supports both IPv4 and IPv6, scales well in large and complex networks, and offers rapid convergence and robust security features.
Why It's Important
OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) is crucial for Network Design Engineers because it enables efficient, scalable, and dynamic routing within large and complex networks, optimizing path selection and bandwidth usage while ensuring rapid convergence and network resilience.
How to Improve OSPF Skills
To improve OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) in a network design, follow these strategies:
Hierarchy with Multi-Area OSPF: Implement a hierarchical network design using multi-area OSPF to reduce the size of the routing table and limit the scope of link-state updates. Cisco OSPF Design Guide
Optimize Timers: Adjust OSPF timers (Hello and Dead intervals) to balance between convergence time and network traffic overhead. Optimizing OSPF Timers
Use Stub Areas: Configure stub areas or not-so-stubby areas (NSSA) to prevent external routes from propagating into certain areas, reducing the size of the routing database. Stub and NSSA Areas
Proper Network Summarization: Implement route summarization at area border routers (ABRs) to reduce the number of routes exchanged between areas, improving scalability and efficiency. Route Summarization
Prioritize Critical Traffic: Use OSPF priorities to influence route selection and ensure critical traffic is prioritized across the network. Setting OSPF Priorities
Leverage Authentication: Enhance security by configuring OSPF authentication to prevent unauthorized access and routing updates. OSPF Authentication Configuration
Focusing on these strategies can significantly improve the efficiency, security, and scalability of OSPF in a network design.
How to Display OSPF Skills on Your Resume
5. MPLS
MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) is a scalable, protocol-agnostic data-carrying technique designed to speed up and shape traffic flows across enterprise and service provider networks. It enables efficient use of network paths, improves performance, and supports virtual private networks (VPNs), traffic engineering, and quality of service (QoS).
Why It's Important
MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) is important for a Network Design Engineer because it enables efficient, scalable, and flexible network traffic management. It allows for the creation of virtual paths for data packets, optimizing performance and reliability across complex networks.
How to Improve MPLS Skills
To improve MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) in a network design, focus on enhancing efficiency, reliability, and security. Here are concise strategies:
Optimize Path Selection: Use traffic engineering tools like RSVP-TE to dynamically allocate bandwidth and select optimal paths, improving load balancing and network utilization.
Enhance QoS (Quality of Service): Implement advanced QoS mechanisms to prioritize critical applications, ensuring performance and reliability.
Deploy MPLS Fast Reroute (FRR): Utilize FRR for immediate switchover in case of link/node failures, minimizing downtime.
Implement MPLS Segment Routing: Leverage Segment Routing for simplified path control and enhanced scalability by encoding paths in packet headers.
Secure MPLS Networks: Strengthen security by implementing MPLS VPN encryption and ensuring proper isolation between different VPNs to protect data integrity and privacy.
Regular Network Audits: Conduct regular network audits to assess performance, identify bottlenecks, and adjust configurations for optimal performance.
Stay Updated with Standards: Keep abreast of the latest IETF standards for MPLS to implement current best practices and technologies.
By focusing on these strategies, you can significantly improve the performance, reliability, and security of MPLS networks.
How to Display MPLS Skills on Your Resume
6. IPv6
IPv6, or Internet Protocol version 6, is a networking protocol designed to facilitate communication over the internet, providing a vastly expanded address space compared to IPv4, to accommodate the growing number of internet-connected devices. It introduces improved routing and autoconfiguration capabilities, enhancing network design and management for engineers.
Why It's Important
IPv6 is crucial for a Network Design Engineer due to its vast address space that supports the exponential growth of internet devices, ensuring global connectivity and scalability, while also incorporating enhanced security and simplified network configuration features.
How to Improve IPv6 Skills
Improving IPv6 in a network design involves several strategies focused on ensuring compatibility, security, and efficient routing. Here are concise recommendations:
Dual-Stack Implementation: Run IPv4 and IPv6 concurrently to ensure compatibility and smooth transition. Cisco Dual Stack
Security Enhancement: Implement IPv6-specific security measures, such as IPsec for encryption, and update firewall policies to handle IPv6 traffic. IPv6 Security
Efficient Address Allocation: Use stateful DHCPv6 or stateless address autoconfiguration (SLAAC) for effective address management. IPv6 Address Allocation
IPv6 Routing Optimization: Utilize IPv6 routing protocols like OSPFv3 or BGP4+ for enhanced routing efficiency and scalability. IPv6 Routing Protocols
Quality of Service (QoS): Ensure QoS for IPv6 by identifying and prioritizing IPv6 traffic, which is crucial for latency-sensitive applications. IPv6 QoS
Network Monitoring: Update network monitoring tools to fully support IPv6, allowing for complete visibility and management of IPv6 traffic. IPv6 Monitoring Tools
Training and Awareness: Provide training for IT staff on IPv6 features, security considerations, and troubleshooting practices. IPv6 Training
By implementing these strategies, Network Design Engineers can enhance their IPv6 deployment, ensuring a robust, secure, and efficient network infrastructure.
How to Display IPv6 Skills on Your Resume
7. QoS
QoS (Quality of Service) is a networking mechanism that prioritizes certain data flows to ensure optimal performance for critical applications or services, by managing bandwidth, reducing latency, and improving reliability.
Why It's Important
QoS (Quality of Service) is crucial in network design to ensure reliable and prioritized data delivery, optimize bandwidth usage, and enhance user experience by managing network congestion and reducing latency for critical applications.
How to Improve QoS Skills
Improving Quality of Service (QoS) in network design involves prioritizing network traffic, ensuring efficient bandwidth usage, and minimizing latency and packet loss. Here are concise steps for a Network Design Engineer:
Identify Traffic Types: Classify traffic into categories (e.g., voice, video, critical data) based on importance. Cisco - Identifying Network Traffic.
Traffic Prioritization: Implement QoS policies to prioritize critical traffic types. Voice and video traffic often get higher priority. Juniper - QoS Prioritization.
Bandwidth Management: Allocate bandwidth to different types of traffic to prevent network congestion. Techniques include rate limiting and traffic shaping. Huawei - Bandwidth Management.
Implement QoS Mechanisms: Use specific QoS mechanisms such as Differentiated Services (DiffServ) for policy enforcement and Integrated Services (IntServ) for resource reservation. IEEE - QoS Mechanisms.
Monitoring and Adjusting: Continuously monitor network performance and adjust QoS policies as needed to adapt to changing network conditions. SolarWinds - QoS Monitoring.
Consider Advanced Technologies: Leverage SD-WAN for more dynamic traffic management and improved QoS over wide area networks. VMware - SD-WAN and QoS.
These steps, complemented with ongoing analysis and adjustment, help ensure that critical network services meet performance expectations, enhancing the overall user experience.
How to Display QoS Skills on Your Resume
8. Wireshark
Wireshark is a network protocol analyzer tool that allows a Network Design Engineer to capture and inspect live data packets on a network, facilitating the diagnosis of network problems and the analysis of network traffic for design optimization.
Why It's Important
Wireshark is crucial for a Network Design Engineer as it allows for the monitoring and analysis of real-time network traffic, helping in identifying and troubleshooting network issues, optimizing network performance, and ensuring security compliance.
How to Improve Wireshark Skills
To enhance Wireshark for a Network Design Engineer, focus on the following:
Customize Wireshark Profiles: Tailor profiles for specific projects or network analysis tasks to streamline your workflow. Wireshark Documentation on Profiles
Develop Lua Scripts: Utilize Lua scripting to automate tasks or add custom functionalities tailored to your network design needs. Wireshark Lua Support
Use Advanced Display Filters: Mastering display filters can significantly improve the efficiency of identifying relevant data. Display Filters
Contribute to Wireshark Development: Engage with the community to add features or improvements relevant to network design. Wireshark Development
Stay Updated and Educated: Regularly update your Wireshark version and leverage resources for continuous learning. Wireshark Educational Resources
By focusing on these areas, you can tailor Wireshark to better suit your role as a Network Design Engineer, enhancing both your productivity and the tool’s effectiveness in your projects.
How to Display Wireshark Skills on Your Resume
9. Python
Python is a high-level, versatile programming language widely used by Network Design Engineers for automating tasks, managing network configurations, and analyzing network performance data due to its simplicity and extensive library support.
Why It's Important
Python is important for a Network Design Engineer because it automates repetitive tasks, manages network configurations, and analyzes network performance efficiently, enhancing productivity and network reliability.
How to Improve Python Skills
To improve your Python skills as a Network Design Engineer, focus on mastering libraries and frameworks that are specific to network automation and management. Here’s a concise guide:
Learn Basics Thoroughly: Ensure a solid understanding of Python basics. Automate the Boring Stuff with Python is a great starting point for practical Python use.
Understand Networking Fundamentals in Python: Dive into Python for Network Engineers for a tailored learning path.
Master Network Automation Libraries: Focus on libraries like Netmiko, NAPALM, and Ansible for network automation tasks.
Explore Advanced Frameworks: For more complex automation tasks, learn about SaltStack and Terraform.
Practice with Real Projects: Apply your skills to real-world problems. GitHub is a great place to find project ideas.
Stay Updated and Network: Join communities like Stack Overflow and Reddit’s r/networking to stay updated and get support.
By focusing on these areas, you can significantly improve your Python skills and directly apply them to your role as a Network Design Engineer.
How to Display Python Skills on Your Resume
10. VMware NSX
VMware NSX is a network virtualization and security platform that enables the creation, deployment, and management of virtual networks and services in software, independent of underlying physical hardware. It provides Network Design Engineers with tools for automating and managing network functions, ensuring security, agility, and flexibility in data center and cloud environments.
Why It's Important
VMware NSX is crucial for a Network Design Engineer because it provides a flexible, software-defined networking (SDN) solution that enhances network security, agility, and scalability, enabling more efficient network infrastructure design and operation.
How to Improve VMware NSX Skills
Improving VMware NSX as a Network Design Engineer involves several key strategies focused on design optimization, security enhancements, performance tuning, and continuous learning. Below are concise steps with relevant resources for each:
Design Optimization:
- Segment Networks Strategically: Utilize NSX to create logical segments for different application tiers, minimizing lateral movement and optimizing traffic flow. VMware NSX Design Guide
Security Enhancements:
- Implement Micro-Segmentation: Enhance security by applying fine-grained policies and controls at the workload level. Micro-Segmentation Guide
Performance Tuning:
- Optimize Edge Services Gateway (ESG) and Distributed Logical Router (DLR): Ensure efficient routing and NAT policies to enhance performance. NSX Performance Best Practices
Automation and Orchestration:
- Leverage NSX API for Automation: Utilize the NSX REST API for automating repetitive tasks, saving time and reducing human error. NSX Automation Documentation
Continuous Learning and Certification:
- Stay Updated with VMware Training: VMware offers NSX-specific training and certification programs to keep skills sharp. VMware Education
Improving VMware NSX involves a blend of technical strategies and continuous education. By focusing on network design optimization, security, performance tuning, and leveraging automation, a Network Design Engineer can significantly enhance the functionality and efficiency of NSX deployments.
How to Display VMware NSX Skills on Your Resume
11. AWS Networking
AWS Networking refers to the comprehensive suite of cloud networking services provided by Amazon Web Services that allow Network Design Engineers to design, implement, and manage scalable, secure, and highly available network infrastructure in the cloud. These services include Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), Direct Connect, Route 53, Elastic Load Balancing, and more, offering solutions for networking tasks such as connectivity, domain name system resolution, content delivery, and traffic routing.
Why It's Important
AWS Networking is crucial for a Network Design Engineer as it enables scalable, flexible, and secure network infrastructure design in the cloud, ensuring efficient data flow, connectivity, and access control for diverse applications and services.
How to Improve AWS Networking Skills
To improve AWS Networking as a Network Design Engineer, focus on the following key strategies:
Optimize for Performance and Cost - Leverage AWS's global infrastructure to optimize for both performance and cost-efficiency. Use Amazon CloudFront for content delivery to reduce latency. Consider AWS Direct Connect for a dedicated network connection from your premises to AWS.
Implement High Availability and Fault Tolerance - Design your network for high availability by using multiple Availability Zones and VPC peering. Auto Scaling and Elastic Load Balancing (ELB) ensure your applications handle varying load efficiently.
Secure Your Network - Implement strong network security measures using Security Groups and Network Access Control Lists (NACLs) to control inbound and outbound traffic. Utilize AWS Shield for DDoS protection.
Automate Network Deployments - Use AWS CloudFormation for automating the deployment of your network resources, ensuring consistency and saving time.
Monitor and Analyze Network Traffic - Implement monitoring and logging with Amazon CloudWatch and VPC Flow Logs to gain insights into your network traffic and performance, allowing for informed decision-making.
Leverage Advanced Networking Services - Explore advanced services such as AWS Transit Gateway for simplified network architecture, or AWS PrivateLink for securely accessing services across VPCs.
Continuous Learning and Adaptation - Stay updated with AWS advancements and continuously adapt your network design to leverage new features and services for improvement. The AWS Networking & Content Delivery Blog is a valuable resource.
By focusing on these areas, you can significantly improve your AWS Networking capabilities, ensuring a robust, secure, and efficient network architecture.
How to Display AWS Networking Skills on Your Resume
12. SD-WAN
SD-WAN, or Software-Defined Wide Area Network, is a networking approach that uses software-defined networking (SDN) principles to automatically determine the most efficient way to route traffic between locations (e.g., branch offices, data centers, the cloud) over a wide area network. It provides centralized control, enhanced visibility, and the ability to dynamically adjust to changing network conditions, optimizing performance and reducing costs.
Why It's Important
SD-WAN is important for a Network Design Engineer because it enhances network flexibility, reduces operational costs, and improves resource usage for multisite deployments, thereby enabling more efficient bandwidth utilization and ensuring high levels of performance for critical applications without sacrificing security or data privacy.
How to Improve SD-WAN Skills
To improve SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network), a Network Design Engineer should focus on the following key areas:
Performance Optimization: Implement application-aware routing policies to prioritize critical applications and ensure they use the best path across the WAN. Cisco and VMware offer solutions that optimize application performance.
Security Enhancement: Integrate advanced security features such as next-generation firewalls, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), and secure web gateways directly into the SD-WAN solution. Fortinet has options for integrating comprehensive security features.
Scalability and Flexibility: Design the network to easily scale up or down based on demand. Consider cloud-based SD-WAN solutions for added flexibility. Silver Peak, now part of Aruba, provides scalable solutions.
Cost Management: Evaluate and choose transport options wisely (MPLS, broadband internet, LTE) based on cost, availability, and performance needs. Tools like Gartner's research can help in decision making.
Monitoring and Management: Use centralized management tools for better visibility and control over the network. SolarWinds offers comprehensive network management software.
Quality of Service (QoS): Implement QoS policies to manage bandwidth and prioritize network traffic, ensuring critical applications perform well even during high congestion. Juniper Networks provides robust QoS features.
Expert Consultation and Training: Stay updated with the latest SD-WAN technologies and best practices through continuous learning and consulting with industry experts. LinkedIn Learning offers courses on SD-WAN.
By focusing on these areas, Network Design Engineers can significantly improve SD-WAN deployments, enhancing network performance, security, and efficiency.
How to Display SD-WAN Skills on Your Resume
