NOC Engineer
IT companies are much more cognizant of the prerequisite to innovate and deliver resources that drive add-on business, and they need to travel at the speed of business, not the speed of outdated IT. Hence NOC engineer is no less important in the IT field.
A NOC (network operation center) engineer is an expert who primarily screens large computer networks and server for hitches from a centralized location or through satellite. They analyze the problems, implement the troubleshooting, incident reaction on the system and communicate with field technician for a better resolution to meet the business goals or objectives.
The core of NOC Engineer: Their responsibilities are wide. The expertise needed for a NOC or Network Operations Center includes network administration, Network Support, management, switching, and routing.
Challenges Faced by Network Operation Engineer:
It is due to the difficulties involved with existing system networks and services, particularly in light of the acceptance of cloud setup and SaaS-based solutions, there are many challenges that network operations face.
Following are the critical challenges faced by the NOC Engineer:
- Deficiency of coordination across departments
- Due to changes in the networking technology, certain teams of the business absorbs the concept at a slower pace. Hence the documentation is typically not up-to-date for fixing issues
- Resolving the issues is time-consuming due to network complexity
- Root cause analysis should be done for the problems for better future implementation
Job Description
To accomplish their primary goal of network monitoring and troubleshooting computer and telecommunication networks and systems, NOC engineer performs several tasks. A NOC engineer ensures smooth functioning of the network for business needs and keeps the downtime to a negligible level. The NOC engineer job description includes the following responsibilities:
To ensure maximum possible service availability and performance.
Monitor Systems: They monitor the performance and capability of computer systems using diversified tools. They figure out the malfunctioning of hardware, software, and environmental alerts. When a problem is recognized, NOC Engineers does the root cause analysis (RCA).
Troubleshoot Problems: They work to triage or troubleshoot the issues, within their defined areas. NOCs generally have standard operating procedures (SOP) that the NOC engineer will closely follow. This may include coordinating with third-party vendors, customer contacts, or other IT teams for a holistic solution.
Tracking Issues: In response to incidents, the NOC engineer should carefully track and document all defects and resolutions in detail. This helps in increasing the expert base of NOC and helps in maintenance of system’s health record. Often, the NOC has a ticketing system that the NOC Engineer is accountable for updating.
Report Incidents: When the technical issues are complicated which needs an immediate response or troubleshooting, NOC engineers must escalate the matter to management as per their SOP (Standard Operation Procedure). If need be, they can include the other IT resources, 3rd party or vendors for a faster resolution after obtaining the proper approvals. They maintain the appropriate communication channels within intra teams or outside so that all stakeholders are kept informed ahead in time bound manner.
Skills
Although there are several network engineer (NOC) engineer jobs in the global market in order to be a successful NOC engineer one should have following skills as an add-on, apart from an essential degree in computer science, which will boost the career:
- Server hardware experience with Cisco UCS, HP, and Dell blade systems
- Experience working in a large distribution or manufacturing environments
Along with the technical skills, Network Operation Engineers requires analytical skills, leadership, and organizational skills. Responsiveness to fact and the capability to troubleshoot are also important. Engineers should be capable enough to recognize difficult networks and identify the issues or advise ways to fix them for refined work procedure. They should also be talented to work closely, as well as train other engineers and maintenance staff to run the network connectivity without any interruption.
Certifications
NOC technician is the initial level from which professional can be elevated as engineer post certification. Following are the certifications which will help in enhancing the career of NOC engineer:
- The CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)
- The MCIPT (Microsoft Certified IT Professional certification)
- The MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist certification)
- The Cisco Certification
Salary
Males represent the mainstream of Network Operations Center Engineers in the United States. For a full-time service, an average NOC engineer’s salary as per as per payscale is of $59000 per annum depending upon the experience and maturity of the job. As a freelance NOC engineer, earning potential is huge in the top freelance marketplace like FieldEngineer.com for greater satisfaction.
How does Field Engineer help
If you want to be recruited as a freelance NOC Engineer in the top freelance marketplace, then visit Fieldengineer.com. It enables you to connect with employers who are looking for the right fit. It is a proper channel for businesses to hire, as 40,000 engineers in 180 countries have registered with it.
