Difference between Network Engineer and Software Engineer

The roles and responsibilities of network engineers and software engineers vary in terms of skill sets, salaries, certifications, and more. Selecting a particular area of interest in technology can be puzzling owing to the wide variety of positions offered on the market. That’s why two basic tracks can be mentioned, namely network engineers and software engineers. Both are critical in the technology sector, but they refer to different aspects of it. Thus, this article will describe the differences between these two positions and assist you in choosing which field is more suitable for you. 

What is a network engineer? 

A network engineer is a type of technological profession where the engineers are highly skilled on connectivity of the network, securing the network, improving the network, providing support to the network etc. A network services can be wireless or wired. Voice calls, videos calls, data transferring are belongs to wireless network services.

To provide the maximum network infrastructure is the main goal for a network engineer. The major subject is Computer Science to become a Computer Network Engineer. This type of network engineering deals to making plan, design and some technological specification related to network and connectivity. That’s why a network engineer has more responsibilities than any other type of engineers. Their job is to giving the world a better network to sustain on the server and doing activities for the users.

A network engineers salary range is annually from $46,500 to $115,000, which is purely depends upon their experiences and skills.

The Direct method for being a network engineer is to get a vendor certificate which is known as Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA). There are some other certificates are there such as :

1. CCIE
2. CCNP
3. JNCIE-ENT
4. WCNA
5. CompTIA Network+ etc.

Responsibilities of a Network Engineer

Basically, network engineers have very important functions when it comes to managing networks and ensuring that they are running efficiently. Their responsibilities include: 

• Network Design and Implementation: Construction of elaborate network diagrams alongside choosing the correct equipment and software to set up a network that serves an organization’s requirements. This entails the management of routers, switches, and other network equipment. 
• Maintenance and Troubleshooting: It is also important to monitor frequently the performance of the network and analyze different problems. This may be the identification of hardware and software faults and fixes that need to be implemented in order to avoid recurrent occurrences. 
• Security: It means establishing and maintaining controls to ensure friendly and unfriendly access to safeguards against the cyber threat. This can involve configuring firewalls, implementing IDS devices, and achieving secure data transfers through encapsulation. 
• Performance Optimization: daily monitoring of the performance parameters that define the level of networking performance and tweaking these parameters with the intention of arriving at new kinds of performance speeds. This could be fixing or redesigning the physical components, such as the servers, or configurations, such as increasing bandwidth, among others. 
• Documentation and Reporting: Recording of network configuration, modifications, and almost all other events occurring on the network. It aids in fixing problems that arise with the software in use, in subsequent modifications of the system, and in standard compliance. 
• Collaboration: coordinating with other IT professionals, including system administrators and software developers, in order to incorporate new technologies into the network and ensure that the network is in line with the organization’s goals.

Types of Network Engineer

Following are the types of network engineer.

1. Network Specialist
2. Network Technician
3. Network Administrator
4. Network Analyst
5. Network Manager
6. Network Engineer
7. Network Solution Architect

What is a Software Engineer?

Software engineer is a person who design, develop, perform testing , provides maintenance and evaluation of Computer Software is called as Software Engineer (SWE). Most of the software engineers were works as a employee. Some were works with businesses and for Government agencies. Some are in private non -profit organization as a software engineer.

In a project a software engineer have some specialization roles , such as :

In Industries :

1. Analysts
2. Architects
3. Developers
4. Testers
5. Technical Supporters
6. Managers

In Academics :

1. Educators
2. 2. Researchers

A entry-level Software engineers can earn $3,300 per annual with less than 1years of experience. The average Software engineers salary is around $5,330. A mid-level Software engineer with 5-9 years of experiences earns around $9,877 annual in India.

As this persons experiences and skills are rise, likewise his earnings will also raised. According to Indian Software Engineer, A senior-level Software engineers earnings is $14,430 per annum.

Responsibilities of a Software Engineer

Software engineers perform a wide range of activities related to the creation of different applications. These include: 

• Software Development: Producing high-quality code satisfying the requirements of the project. Results: This entails the application of programming languages including Python, Java, C++, or JavaScript, among others, to fashion out applications and systems. 
• System Design and Analysis: Identifying and consulting the clients and users to establish the requirements and modeling a software solution that would meet the requirements put forward. This can involve developing system diagrams, data models, detailed designs of the system, and the different components of the system. 
• Maintenance and Updates: enhancements of the software to correct errors that the original developers never saw, to close security holes that one never first knew existed, or to just add other features that one never thought of before. Maintenance is an effective way of making sure that the software is compatible with other technologies and is still functional for the users. 
• Testing and Quality Assurance: Testing and using test plans to guarantee the efficiency and credibility of the developed software. This encompasses writing unit tests, integration testing, and, to some extent, fixing any defects that may be realized during the testing. 
• Documentation: To help in the understanding of the software and in the course of developing it or even in any future alteration of the software, write user manuals, technical documents, and commentaries on the computer codes. System documentation enables easy understanding of the code and systems, making it easier to manage them. 
• Collaboration: doing project management with other developers and designers to ensure software projects are completed on time and up to the standards of the company. This usually entails engaging in coding and architecture discussions, developing code reviews, and using Agile development processes. 

Types Of Software Engineer Roles

1. Front-End Engineer
2. Back-End Engineer
3. Full Stack Engineer
4. Software Engineer in Test (QA Engineer)
5. Develops Engineer
6. Security Engineer

Difference between Network Engineer and Software Engineer :

Conclusion

The two roles occupy prime importance in the sphere of technology, but at the same time, they are different. The scope of network engineers is oriented toward structures as the environment facilitating communication and connectivity, as well as making sure the networks in place are secure. Software engineers, on the other hand, focus on developing and maintaining applications that support various processes within technology systems. Awareness of such differences can help you make a wise decision on which careers to go for if you want to have a different career than the one you have now.