Computer Network Architects
15-1241.00
Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning, including analysis of capacity needs for network infrastructures. May also design network and computer security measures. May research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software.
Sample of reported job titles: Design Engineer, Network Analyst, Network and Security Engineer, Network Consultant, Network Engineer, Network Systems Consultant, Networking Systems and Distributed Systems Engineer, Solutions Architect, Telecommunications Analyst
Occupation-Specific Information
Tasks
- Develop or recommend network security measures, such as firewalls, network security audits, or automated security probes.
- Develop disaster recovery plans.
- Monitor and analyze network performance and reports on data input or output to detect problems, identify inefficient use of computer resources, or perform capacity planning.
- Coordinate network or design activities with designers of associated networks.
- Develop conceptual, logical, or physical network designs.
- Develop and implement solutions for network problems.
- Determine specific network hardware or software requirements, such as platforms, interfaces, bandwidths, or routine schemas.
- Communicate with system users to ensure accounts are set up properly or to diagnose and solve operational problems.
- Visit vendors, attend conferences or training sessions, or study technical journals to keep up with changes in technology.
- Evaluate network designs to determine whether customer requirements are met efficiently and effectively.
- Participate in network technology upgrade or expansion projects, including installation of hardware and software and integration testing.
- Adjust network sizes to meet volume or capacity demands.
- Prepare detailed network specifications, including diagrams, charts, equipment configurations, or recommended technologies.
- Develop network-related documentation.
- Estimate time and materials needed to complete projects.
- Supervise engineers or other staff in the design or implementation of network solutions.
- Coordinate network operations, maintenance, repairs, or upgrades.
- Develop procedures to track, project, or report network availability, reliability, capacity, or utilization.
- Research and test new or modified hardware or software products to determine performance and interoperability.
- Communicate with customers, sales staff, or marketing staff to determine customer needs.
- Prepare design presentations and proposals for staff or customers.
- Design, build, or operate equipment configuration prototypes, including network hardware, software, servers, or server operation systems.
- Prepare or monitor project schedules, budgets, or cost control systems.
- Develop plans or budgets for network equipment replacement.
- Coordinate installation of new equipment.
- Explain design specifications to integration or test engineers.
- Develop or maintain project reporting systems.
- Use network computer-aided design (CAD) software packages to optimize network designs.
- Maintain or coordinate the maintenance of network peripherals, such as printers.
- Develop and write procedures for installation, use, or troubleshooting of communications hardware or software.
- Communicate with vendors to gather information about products, alert them to future needs, resolve problems, or address system maintenance issues.
- Maintain networks by performing activities such as file addition, deletion, or backup.
- Design, organize, and deliver product awareness, skills transfer, or product education sessions for staff or suppliers.
Technology Skills
- Access software - Access management software; Citrix cloud computing software; Remote access software
- Administration software - Aruba Networks AirWave; Asset management administration software; Cisco Systems CiscoWorks; Cisco Systems CiscoWorks LAN Management Solution; Cisco Systems Wireless Control System WCS; Element management software; Infoblox security and networking software; Lucent VitalSuite; NetIQ; Netreo OmniCenter; Network documentation software; Riverbed Technology; Simple network management protocol SNMP software
- Analytical or scientific software - Discrete event simulation software; Minitab; Root cause analysis software; The MathWorks MATLAB π₯
- Application server software - Application server software; Citrix XenApp; Docker π₯; GitHub π₯; Microsoft Windows Server π₯; Oracle WebLogic Server; Red Hat OpenShift π₯; Red Hat WildFly; Spring Boot π₯
- Authentication server software - Microsoft Forefront Identify Manager
- Backup or archival software - Computer Associates ArcServ Backup; System and data disaster recovery software; Veritas NetBackup
- Bridge software - Network bridge software
- Business intelligence and data analysis software - Apache Spark π₯; IBM Cognos Impromptu; MicroStrategy; Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition; Qlik Tech QlikView; Tableau π₯
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software - Microsoft SharePoint π₯
- Cloud-based management software - Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormation π₯; IBM WebSphere; IBM WebSphere MQ π₯; Splunk Enterprise π₯
- Cloud-based protection or security software - SolarWinds
- Clustering software - VMware
- Communications server software - Email management software; IBM Domino
- Computer aided design CAD software - Autodesk AutoCAD π₯; Autodesk Revit π₯; Dassault Systemes CATIA; Dassault Systemes SolidWorks π₯
- Computer based training software - Computer based training software
- Configuration management software - Application management software; Automated installation software; Chef π₯; Configuration management software; Logical partition LPAR software; Patch and update management software; Perforce Helix software; Puppet π₯; Software distribution software
- Content workflow software - Atlassian JIRA π₯
- Data base management system software - Amazon DynamoDB π₯; Apache Cassandra π₯; Apache Hadoop π₯; Apache Hive π₯; Apache Pig; Apache Solr; Elasticsearch π₯; MongoDB π₯; MySQL π₯; NoSQL π₯; Oracle PL/SQL π₯; Relational database management software; Teradata Database π₯
- Data base reporting software - Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services SSRS π₯; Network reporting software
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Data base user interface and query software -
Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2 π₯; Amazon Redshift π₯; Amazon Web Services AWS software
; Microsoft Access π₯; Microsoft SQL Server π₯; Oracle Database π₯; Oracle JDBC; Structured query language SQL ; Transact-SQL π₯
- Desktop communications software - BroadSoft BroadWorks
-
Development environment software -
Adobe ActionScript; Apache Ant; Apache Kafka π₯; Apache Maven π₯; C π₯; Common business oriented language COBOL; Eclipse IDE π₯; Go π₯; Integrated development environment IDE software; Microsoft .NET Framework π₯; Microsoft Azure software ; Microsoft PowerShell π₯; Microsoft Visual Basic π₯; Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScript; Microsoft Visual Studio π₯; National Instruments LabVIEW; Oracle Java Enterprise Edition EE; Ruby π₯; Systems and applications migration software; Verilog
- Electronic mail software - IBM Notes; Microsoft Exchange
- Enterprise application integration software - Atlassian Bamboo π₯; Extensible markup language XML π₯; IBM InfoSphere DataStage; Oracle Fusion Middleware
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software - Microsoft Dynamics π₯; Oracle Fusion Applications; SAP software π₯
- Enterprise system management software - IBM Power Systems software
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Expert system software -
Ansible software
- File versioning software - Apache Subversion SVN π₯; Git π₯
- Financial analysis software - Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
- Geographic information system - ESRI ArcGIS software π₯
- Graphics or photo imaging software - Trimble SketchUp Pro π₯
- Helpdesk or call center software - Help desk software; Ticket information tracking software
- Human resources software - Human resource management software HRMS
- Industrial control software - Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Instant messaging software - Blink
- Internet browser software - Web browser software
- Internet directory services software - Domain name system DNS; Microsoft Active Directory π₯
- Internet protocol IP multimedia subsystem software - Multiprotocol Label Switching MPLS; Open Shortest Path First OSPF; Session Initiation Protocol SIP; Voice over internet protocol VoIP system software
- LAN software - Local area network LAN software
- Metadata management software - Quest Erwin Data Modeler
- Network monitoring software - AirMagnet Enterprise; Compaq Insight Manager; Dynatrace; Ethereal; Ipswitch WhatsUp Gold; Micro Focus OpenView; Multi-router traffic grapher MRTG software; Nagios; NetScout InfinitiStream Console; Network and application load and performance testing software; Network and component performance analysis software; Network availability monitoring software; Network intrusion prevention systems NIPS; Network modeling, mapping, and analysis software; Network traffic flow monitoring and analysis software; Network traffic probe software; Online traffic calculator software; Packet analysis software; Packet tracing software; Snort; Symantec Intruder Alert; Tcpdump; Wireshark
- Network operating system enhancement software - EMC Smarts Network Protocol Manager; Infoblox NetMRI; Network, server and operating system optimization software; OPNET APMXpert; Silver Peak; Wide area network WAN optimization software
- Network security and virtual private network VPN equipment software - Content filter software; Firewall software; Network intrusion detection software
- Network security or virtual private network VPN management software - Computer intrusion detection systems; Internet Protocol Security IPSEC; Intrusion prevention system IPS; LogRhythm; Microsoft Forefront Threat Management Gateway; Network and system vulnerability assessment software; Risk assessment software; Security incident management software; Virtual local area network management software; Virtual private networking VPN software; Websense Data Loss Prevention
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Object or component oriented development software -
Advanced business application programming ABAP; Apache Groovy; C# π₯; C++ π₯; jQuery π₯; Microsoft ActiveX; Oracle Java π₯; Perl π₯; Python ; Scala π₯; Swift π₯
- Object oriented data base management software - Hibernate ORM π₯; PostgreSQL π₯
-
Office suite software -
Microsoft Office software
-
Operating system software -
Apple macOS π₯; Bash π₯; Cisco IOS; Google Android π₯; Hewlett Packard HP-UX; IBM AIX; Job control language JCL; KornShell; Linux ; Microsoft operating system; Microsoft Windows π₯; Operating system software; Oracle Solaris; Red Hat Enterprise Linux; Shell script π₯; Simple mail transfer protocol SMTP; Ubuntu; UNIX π₯; UNIX Shell π₯
- Optical network management software - Optical network management software
- Pattern design software - Diagramming software
- Portal server software - Apache HTTP Server
- Presentation software - Microsoft PowerPoint π₯
-
Process mapping and design software -
Microsoft Visio
- Program testing software - Hewlett Packard LoadRunner; JUnit π₯; Segue SilkPerformer; Selenium π₯; System testing software
- Project management software - Atlassian Confluence π₯; Microsoft Project π₯
- Requirements analysis and system architecture software - Capacity planning software; Network architecture design software; Requirements management software; Unified modeling language UML
- Spreadsheet software - Microsoft Excel π₯
- Storage networking software - Amazon Simple Storage Service S3 π₯; Network storage software; Storage area network SAN software; Storage management software
-
Switch or router software -
Border Gateway Protocol BGP ; Cisco Systems Cisco Web Cache Communication Protocol WCCP; Cisco Systems Gateway Load Balancing Protocol GLBP; Cisco Systems Hot Standby Router Protocol HSRP; Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol EIGRP; Intermediate System to Intermediate System IS-IS; Transparent Interconnection of Lots of Links TRILL; Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol VRRP
- Time accounting software - Time reporting software
- Transaction security and virus protection software - CA eTrust; Encryption software; McAfee; McAfee VirusScan; NortonLifeLock cybersecurity software; Packet filter software; Penetration testing software; Ping Identity; Virus scanning software
- Transaction server software - Customer information control system CICS
- Video conferencing software - Cisco Webex π₯; Videoconferencing software
- Video creation and editing software - Adobe After Effects π₯
- WAN switching software and firmware - Wide area network WAN software
- Web platform development software - AJAX π₯; Apache Struts; Apache Tomcat π₯; Cascading style sheets CSS π₯; Django π₯; Drupal π₯; Dynamic hypertext markup language DHTML; Enterprise JavaBeans; Ext JS; Extensible hypertext markup language XHTML; Google Angular π₯; Hypertext markup language HTML π₯; JavaScript π₯; JavaScript Object Notation JSON π₯; LAMP Stack; Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP π₯; Microsoft ASP.NET π₯; Microsoft ASP.NET Core MVC; Node.js π₯; Oracle JavaServer Pages JSP π₯; PHP π₯; Ruby on Rails π₯; Spring Framework π₯
- Word processing software - Microsoft Word π₯
Occupational Requirements
Work Activities
- Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
- Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
- Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
- Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
- Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment - Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment - Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
- Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment - Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
- Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
- Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
- Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
- Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
- Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
- Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
- Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
- Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
- Staffing Organizational Units - Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
- Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
Detailed Work Activities
- Develop computer or information security policies or procedures.
- Recommend changes to improve computer or information systems.
- Maintain contingency plans for disaster recovery.
- Monitor the performance of computer networks.
- Analyze data to identify or resolve operational problems.
- Coordinate project activities with other personnel or departments.
- Develop models of information or communications systems.
- Resolve computer network problems.
- Develop specifications for computer network operation.
- Provide technical support for computer network issues.
- Update knowledge about emerging industry or technology trends.
- Evaluate project designs to determine adequacy or feasibility.
- Modify software programs to improve performance.
- Install computer software.
- Install computer hardware.
- Maintain computer networks to enhance performance and user access.
- Document network-related activities or tasks.
- Estimate time or monetary resources needed to complete projects.
- Supervise information technology personnel.
- Analyze website or related online data to track trends or usage.
- Conduct research to gain information about products or processes.
- Test computer hardware performance.
- Collaborate with others to determine design specifications or details.
- Communicate project information to others.
- Design integrated computer systems.
- Configure computer networks.
- Manage financial activities of the organization.
- Manage budgets for appropriate resource allocation.
- Coordinate software or hardware installation.
- Develop information communication procedures.
- Manage documentation to ensure organization or accuracy.
- Maintain computer hardware.
- Develop testing routines or procedures.
- Collaborate with others to resolve information technology issues.
- Teach others to use computer equipment or hardware.