Role

Network Engineer

Plans and maintains computer networks so organizations stay connected and secure.

12 chaptersAbout 3 months15–30 min a day14 skills2 projects
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Chapter 1 is free. No card needed.

Day 1 on the Network Engineer path.

What a Network Engineer does

Designs, runs, and fixes computer networks for organizations so people and systems can communicate reliably and safely.

  • Design network layouts for offices, data centers, and cloud connections
  • Configure routers, switches, firewalls, and wireless access points
  • Monitor network health and troubleshoot outages and slow connections
  • Plan IP addressing, VLANs, routing, and access rules for different teams
  • Improve security with segmentation, VPNs, and secure remote access
  • Document changes, diagrams, and standard procedures for the network
  • Coordinate maintenance windows and communicate impact to users
  • Test upgrades and rollouts to reduce downtime and performance risks

A day in the life

  1. Check dashboards and alerts, then investigate any overnight incidents
  2. Work on a change request like a new VLAN, VPN user group, or Wi-Fi update
  3. Join meetings with IT and app teams to plan upcoming releases and risks
  4. Run maintenance after hours sometimes, then confirm services are stable

Tools you will use

Networking hardware: routers, switches, wireless accessMonitoring: SNMP, NetFlow, alert dashboardsPacket analysis: WiresharkRemote access: VPNCommand line: SSH, PowerShell, BashDocumentation: network diagrams, runbooks

Your plan

Chapter by chapter.

1~1 wk

See what network engineer work involves

StartFree
2~1 wk

Building and Running Networks

Skills
3~1 wk

Linux, monitoring and security basics

Skills
41–2 wks

Make packet capture walkthrough: dns lookup and https request explained

Proof
5~1 wk

Meet people who do network engineer work

People
6~1 wk

Incidents and Problem Solving

Skills
7~1 wk

Documentation and Communication

Skills
8~1 wk

Collaboration and Adaptability

Skills
91–2 wks

Make self-hosted service with metrics, logs, and alerts

Proof
10~1 wk

Practise role interviews

Interview
11~1 wk

Choose a route into network engineer work

Decide
12on your timeline

Apply for roles

Apply

By the last chapter

This is what you can show.

Things you've made

Packet capture walkthrough: dns lookup and https request explained and Self-hosted service with metrics, logs, and alerts

Skills you can prove

14 skills, each rated on work you actually did.

People you've talked to

3 people who do the job, with a message ready for each.

Questions you can answer

20 interview questions and a mock interview, with feedback.

Credentials

3 credentials compared, so you can pick one, or decide you don't need one. None is required.

Ways in

There is more than one route.

Ways to study

  • Diploma or degree in computer networking, IT, or computer science
  • Vocational training in networking and systems administration
  • Industry certification study plus hands-on labs and home networking practice
  • Apprenticeship or employer training program in IT infrastructure

How people get their first job

  • IT support internship with exposure to switches, Wi-Fi, and cabling
  • Network operations center role monitoring alerts and escalating issues
  • Helpdesk role then take on network tickets and small change requests
  • Build a home lab and document configs, diagrams, and troubleshooting notes
  • Earn an entry networking certification and practice with lab simulators

Life skills on this path: Networking · Job interviews · Job search

How the work is changing

What AI is doing to this role

How AI is changing this role · one of 6 tasks we track

Configure routers, switches, and firewall rules

Sped up a lot

What AI does

Ansible pushes configs. AI assistants draft them. You stopped typing by hand.

Still yours

You read every rule before it goes live. One typo drops a site.

Reviewed September 2026

In the app · Premium

The rest is in the app

  • How AI affects the other 5 tasks
  • Whether this job is growing or shrinking
  • How hard the first job is to get
  • Similar roles that are easier to get into
  • Updated every month, with sources
See it in the app →

How we rate a job →

Already working

Already a Network Engineer?

Plan your move to Senior Network Engineer: 9 chapters that end with a strong case for your next review.

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Questions

Questions about this path

How long does it take to become a network engineer with Welica?

The path is 12 chapters, 3 months at 15 to 30 minutes a day. You can go faster or slower; the plan moves with you.

Do I need a degree?

Not always. Common routes are diploma or degree in computer networking, IT, or computer science, vocational training in networking and systems administration, industry certification study plus hands-on labs and home networking practice, or apprenticeship or employer training program in IT infrastructure.

What is free?

Chapter 1, See what network engineer work involves, is free for good. Premium unlocks the rest of the path.

Start the Network Engineer path.

Chapter 1 free. About 15 to 30 minutes a day.

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