My Journey as a Network Engineer: Lessons Learned, Milestones Reached, and Advice for the Next Generation

My interest in technology began at an early age, inspired by my dad tinkering with computers at the dining room table in the mid-90s. As a curious kid "shoulder surfing" my dad’s projects, I quickly developed a passion for all things computing. In middle school, chatting on AIM and playing "Full Throttle" were staples of my early computing experiences, but it was during high school that my path truly took shape.

Early Exposure and Education

High school introduced me to Cisco through a vocational tech program, where I alternated half-days between regular classes and tech-focused training. Starting with PC repair in my sophomore year, I jumped into the Cisco Networking Academy as a junior—the first year my school offered it—sparking a deep fascination with networking.

College saw me revisiting Cisco Networking Academy, now part of an Associate’s degree at my local community college. This second exposure to Cisco material allowed concepts to click much better. Simultaneously, I honed my communication and troubleshooting skills working in tech support at a cable company, assisting customers during the broadband boom.

Gaining Real-World Experience

After seven years, I moved to an IT operations role in a data center. The role had downtime, which I leveraged to earn my CCNA certification after three attempts in 2013. During this period, I also benefited immensely from mentorship, gaining valuable insights and hands-on experiences from real-world scenarios like client disaster recovery tests.

With my CCNA in hand, I became a field network engineer for a hosted voice provider, handling diverse networking equipment, including Cisco switches and firewalls. Achieving my CCNP certification during this tenure proved transformative—I often say, "CCNA opened doors, but CCNP blew them wide open."

Stepping into Leadership and Responsibility

My career accelerated rapidly from there. Taking on the role of "the network guy" at a medical journal and physician recruitment firm was initially intimidating, as every issue ended with me—no escalation available beyond vendors. This challenge significantly enhanced my problem-solving and leadership skills. I further cemented my expertise with a CCNA Security certification, proudly becoming an "ASA expert."

A brief misstep at a small MSP was followed by a highly rewarding stint at a global pest control company. There, I expanded my experience in enterprise environments, learning about SD-WAN, data centers, and my initial ventures into cloud networking.

Currently, I’m a team lead at a regional bank, balancing break/fix duties and architecture design. This position has broadened my exposure further, especially with Palo Alto firewalls and cloud platforms like AWS.

Challenges and Industry Reflections

The obstacles I’ve encountered have mostly been non-technical, revolving around shifting perceptions of IT as a business cost center rather than a business driver. Making the leap from senior engineering roles to management has been particularly challenging without internal champions or strategic moves to new roles.

Another consistent challenge has been communicating technical information effectively to non-technical stakeholders. Often, securing funding or approvals hinges on clearly conveying complex concepts, which remains an ongoing area for growth.

Advice for Aspiring Network Engineers

Now approaching two decades as a network engineer, I regularly mentor newcomers in the field. My primary advice: master the basics first. Many newcomers rush toward specialized or trendy domains like cybersecurity without grasping fundamental concepts. Understanding core networking principles is crucial, as foundational knowledge makes advanced topics much more approachable.

Technologies and trends come and go—from frame relay and MPLS to the current surge in SD-WAN—but fundamentally, we’re still moving IP packets. One of my mentors aptly advises, “Don't overthink it; it all boils down to 0s and 1s.”

Personal Insights and Reflections

My career has been profoundly shaped by mentorship, industry role models, and personal experiences. Early in my journey, I idolized industry experts as larger-than-life figures. Over time, I realized no one has all the answers—we're all continually learning and adapting. Meeting networking influencers like David Bombal at Cisco Live emphasized how approachable and human our industry leaders are.

Today, I understand that progress outweighs perfection. Continuous learning and adaptability are key. My career taught me patience, resilience, and that opportunities unfold organically if you keep showing up and pushing forward.

In sharing my story, I hope to inspire fellow engineers, whether seasoned veterans or those just starting out. Remember, stay curious, master the fundamentals, and never stop learning. The rest will fall into place at its own pace.