ICT Network and Systems Engineer
What the work is
Designs, implements, monitors and maintains computer networks, systems and infrastructure, and takes responsibility for configuration, installation and maintenance of computer hardware and software. Develops, documents and implements project plans and procedures, including for network security. Develops testing procedures, performs audits on computer hardware, software, networks, systems and infrastructure, and provides technical support where required.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Builds, implements, monitors and maintains computer networks and systems
- Researches, analyses, manages and monitors network infrastructure
- Ensures the ongoing performance of networks and systems
- Develops and modifies software and network programs through use of programming code
- Configures, installs and maintains computer hardware and software
- Develops and documents project plans and procedures regarding system configuration, incident resolutions, and system and network maintenance
- Plans, develops and implements network security measures, policies and procedures
- Develops testing procedures and audits computer hardware, software, networks and systems
- Provides technical support to resolve computer network and system issues
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in the network team of a fictional school group that runs many campuses over shared connections. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A flaky connection that annoyed a whole campus finally behaves, and nobody has to think about it
- You map a mystery slowdown and prove which part of the network is to blame
- A planned change goes through overnight and nobody notices
Hard days
- An outage during exams, with every manager asking when it will be fixed
- Being blamed for a problem that is actually in somebody else's system
- Cabling in a hot ceiling space on a weekend, with a deadline on Monday
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 272131, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.