30 Senior Network Engineer Interview Questions & Answers
Below is a list of our Senior Network Engineer interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view 5 answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.
1. Can you tell me what routing protocols you prefer and why?
How to Answer
The interviewer will ask you this question for two reasons. The first is to determine your knowledge of routing protocols and that you understand each of the options available. The second reason is to learn if your preferences match the ones currently used by their organization. Your research before the interview should enable you to provide an answer that matches their current protocols. However, the question also allows you to recommend more efficient protocols to improve their network's efficiency. This demonstrates your ability to improve their operations and reduce their IT costs.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"There are three types of routing protocols. They are distance-vector, link-state, and path vector. Within these primary categories or specific routing protocols such as EIGRP, RTP, and IGRP. Of these, I prefer RTP, which stands for reliable transport protocol. This is the most basic of protocols and is easy to use. It requires setting up routing tables that predetermine all the routing paths and destinations on the network. The tables are easy to maintain and updated as user behavior changes and additional nodes are added to the network. The other protocols may be more efficient but are more difficult to maintain."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
2. Can you describe what each part of a UDP datagram represents and its contents?
How to Answer
Any network engineer and most sophisticated users know the network protocol known as TCP/IP, which stands for Transportation Configuration Protocol/Internet Protocol. However, only experienced network engineers have encountered UDP protocol. UDP stands for User Datagram Protocol. It is similar to TCP/IP but is simpler and does not require established communication channels or data paths. Being aware of UDP and breaking down the components of a UDP address is a skill that any senior network engineer should have. This demonstrates your qualifications for the role and differentiates you from junior-level network engineers.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
" The UDP Datagram has four different parts. These are similar to the four parts of a TCP/IP address. The first segment of the address is the source port, the second is the destination port, the next segment describes the packet's length, and the final segment is the checksum, used to verify the integrity of the packet. Each of these numbers is made up of 16 bits."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
3. How would you use a Cisco ios exec command trace?
How to Answer
It is common for interviewers to ask you about specific technologies used in their data centers. Since Cisco is the predominant manufacturer for network hardware and software, you should be intimately familiar with their products and technologies, and Cisco commands used to manage the network. As a senior network engineer, you likely have several different Cisco certifications. Interviewers will be familiar with these and will ask you questions which you should know related to the certifications you list in your resume.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"The Cisco ios exec command 'trace [protocol] [destination]' is used to discover routes that packets will travel to their destination hosts. The protocol sets the protocol used by the router and is optional. Also optional is the destination, which refers to the host or intended destination of the packet being sent. When run, the command returns the time for a roundtrip to each node in milliseconds, a P indicating that the protocol can't be reached, or an N indicating that the network can't be reached."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
4. When specifying DNS servers, how many can be specified with a single command?
How to Answer
During an interview for a senior network engineer's position, you'll be asked a wide variety of questions. Some of these to be very complex and require a detailed explanation or answer. Others will be quite simple and can be answered in a single sentence. When answering any question, the interviewer presents you, keep your answers brief and to the point. Providing additional details, using jargon, or providing long-winded examples may not be beneficial. Long answers may make the interviewer question your communication skills and ability to describe technical concepts in simple and easy-to-understand language.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"You can specify up to six domain name servers, or DNS with a single command."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
5. What hardware troubleshooting tools do you use to determine the routing of a cable?
How to Answer
Interviewers will be interested in the processes, procedures, and tools you use to diagnose and resolve network issues. They hope to learn if the processes and tools you use are unique and can be implemented in their organization or if your processes currently align with theirs. Alignment is good but may not bring incremental benefits to the organization. Having different processes or tools can be beneficial unless they conflict with those currently used by the organization. Performing due diligence before the interview and understanding what operations, processes, and tools the organization uses will help you decide how to answer this question.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"The easiest way I have found to determine the routing of a cable is to use a tone generator and tone locator. These are sometimes called fox and hound devices. I've used these when the cables on a network are not labeled properly, or the cable is not providing connectivity between the two designated devices. Once I identify the route of a cable, I label both ends to avoid having to replicate this task."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
6. Please give me an example of how you would prioritize issues requiring assistance for your network support team.
How to Answer
Effectively prioritizing network-related issues quickly and efficiently is a key trait a senior network engineer must possess. Triaging network issues and assigning them to the appropriate team member to resolve will ensure that the end-user issues are addressed and that the network team's resources are used effectively. When answering this question, you should describe the issues you consider to be both serious and trivial in a hierarchical order and the rationale behind your decision.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"My team and I rarely have a single network issue to address. Typically issues occur concurrently or in clusters, and we need to prioritize which are more serious and have a greater impact on the organization. Criteria I use to do this include the degree of impact the issue has on the organization, the amount of time and resources it will take to resolve it, and how postponing addressing the issue would either increase its severity or require additional resources. Here is a list of issues my team and I commonly encounter in the order of their priority:
Total network failure - this impacts the entire organization -Severe
Partial network failure - impacts only select users - Severe, but less so
Small network failure - impacts even fewer users - Critical
Single Node failure - impacts a single user - Important
Partial Node loss of connectivity - impacts a single user, but not completely - Routine
Minor issues - recur frequently, but small impacts - Address when time permits"
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
7. As a senior network engineer, what do you consider more important, customer service or technical skills?
How to Answer
As a senior network engineer, you have two primary responsibilities. The first is maintaining the functionality of the network and optimizing its performance. The second is to provide customer support to the network users. Both aim to ensure that the network users have access to the resources they need to do their jobs. The interviewer will ask this question to understand these responsibilities and learn about how you prioritize your daily activities.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"I consider technical skills and customer service to be equally important components of my job. I recognize that the purpose behind the IT organization is to provide the business users with the resources they need to achieve their objectives. Maintaining an active network and optimizing its performance using my technical skills is only half the job. The other half is ensuring that the users are trained, can access the network effectively and efficiently, and have their issues resolved quickly by my team when they can't access the resources they need to do their jobs. It is not uncommon for my team or me to interrupt a technical task we're working on to deal with an end-user issue."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
8. Would you please discuss the difference between "Ëœstandard' and "Ëœextended' Access Control Lists or ACLs?
How to Answer
The use of access control lists, or ACLs, is another common practice among network engineers. However, entry-level engineers will not be familiar with extended ACLs. The interviewer uses this question to differentiate you from an entry-level engineer and confirm your expertise which qualifies you as a senior network engineer. Before the interview, it would be helpful to review common practices, procedures, terminology, and technology used in network engineering. Hence, you will be familiar with the terms used and can respond to questions like these.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"Access Control Lists, or ACLs, are used within windows to allow authorized users to access resources on the network. The standard ACL can prioritize network traffic using the source IP address. Extended ACLs also allow you to prioritize traffic, however, at a more granular level. In addition to the source IP address, extended ACLs allow prioritization based on the destination IP address, the TCP/UDP source and destination ports, and the protocol ID. Having this control over traffic enables network engineers to prioritize traffic and balance loads across the network."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
9. What type of IP address is assigned to a network node when the DHCP server is not available?
How to Answer
The DHCP server, which stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, assigns IP addresses to each node on the network. This enables the nodes to communicate with each other using network devices such as routers and switches. Any network engineer should be familiar with this. However, when a DHCP server is unavailable, only seasoned network engineers will know that computers can establish an IP address to communicate with other devices on the network. The interviewer wants to establish that you have advanced knowledge of network operations since you are interviewing for a senior role.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"When a DHCP server is not available on the network, a Windows client computer can still assign its own IP address and subnet mask to enable it to communicate with other devices on the network. This IP address is called APIPA, which stands for Automatic Private IP Address, and will be in the range of 169.254.X.X. This operation occurs automatically if the computer cannot locate the DHCP server within a few seconds. You can also initiate APIPA using the command ipconfig/all."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
10. What are the different types of LAN cables used in a typical network, and what is a cross cable?
How to Answer
This question may seem a little basic when interviewing for a senior network engineer's position. Interviewers are likely to ask a wide range of technical questions, including very basic ones to very complex ones. They are either using a predefined interview script or are using a wide range of questions to test your technical knowledge. No matter how easy or difficult the question is, you should always answer directly and briefly, addressing the interviewer's questions with as few details as possible. The interviewer will ask a follow-up question if they need additional information.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"The two main types of LAN cables used in networks are Cat5 and Cat6. These types of cables can be either copper or fiberglass, which is sometimes referred to as fiber. The main difference between a Cat5 and a Cat6 cable is their bandwidth. Cat5 cables typically support 100 Megabits of speed, while a Cat6 cable can easily support 1 Gigabit. Cat5 copper cable can also support 1 Gigabit, but it is not recommended since its peak is not sustained capacity. A cross cable can be either Cat5 or 6 and is used to connect the same type of devices, such as laptop computers without using a switch or a hub so that they can communicate directly with each other."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
11. What are the reasons you would use a secondary router within a network?
How to Answer
Most network engineers are familiar with standard networking technologies, practices, and procedures. However, only the more advanced senior networking engineers will know of unique techniques used to improve the performance or efficiency of a network. Using a secondary router falls into this latter category. As the interview progresses, you will be asked more challenging questions. This indicates that the interviewer is gaining confidence in your capabilities and is willing to explore your background more. Continue to answer these technical questions directly and to the point. As always, the interviewer will ask a follow-up question if they need additional information.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"The main reason a network engineer will add a secondary router to a network is to support a large number of wireless devices. The secondary router extends the wireless range of the main network. It allows them to reach areas where the signal strength is low or barriers interfering with the wireless transmissions. Another advantage of having a second router is improving the wireless network's performance by routing data through two different sources."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
12. Can you describe what bridging VPNs means and why you would recommend doing this?
How to Answer
Most network engineers will have a basic knowledge about a variety of technologies used within their profession. However, only senior network engineers will know how to take this technology to the next level. Using a VPN is common among network engineers and even knowledgeable users. However, bridging VPNs is an advanced technology that only the most skilled network engineers will use. The interviewer is asking this question to differentiate your skills from those of an entry or mid-level engineer.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"The purpose of a VPN is to connect a remote computer to the main computer on the company's network. The VPN acts as a tunnel and masks the computer's IP address, providing secure access to the main computer so they can communicate securely. The main computer then provides access to other company resources to the remote computer. A VPN bridge connects a remote computer directly to the office network with the use of the internet. The remote computer appears as though it is directly connected to the main company network and has access to all the other nodes, resources, and files across the network that it is authorized for. A VPN bridge is more expensive and reduces the network bandwidth but can be more useful in certain circumstances."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
13. What firewall technology do you feel is the most secure?
How to Answer
As with any other technical question, the interviewer will ask you about firewalls to determine your knowledge of the technology and your preferences in deploying it. Before every interview, you should thoroughly research the company, its network operations group, the job posting, and, if possible, the interviewer. This will provide you with the information you can use during the interview, anticipate the questions you will be asked, and make the interview more successful. Sources for your research can include the job posting, the company's web page, the interviewer's LinkedIn profile, and speaking with current and former employees of the organization's network team.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"There are five basic types of firewalls. These are a packet filtering firewall, circuit-level gateway, application-level gateway, known as a proxy firewall, a stateful inspection firewall, and the next-generation firewall. Of these, I prefer the next-generation firewall or NGFW. This incorporates all the technology and security features of the other four firewalls, is easier to manage, and can address evolving security threats. They have also been designed with upgrade paths which will enable them to take advantage of future developments in firewall technology and threat prevention."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
14. It is well known that Cisco has the biggest market share in networking. Why do you think this is, and what advantages do they have compared to their competitors?
How to Answer
Within the information technology industry, there is always a leader within each market segment. In networking, the leader is Cisco. They generate the most revenue, have the largest footprint within data centers, and have established many standards IT networks use. Additionally, Cisco has created many different certifications for network engineers. Acknowledging this during the interview will demonstrate your knowledge of the network industry. It also provides you the opportunity to discuss your experience working with Cisco technologies and your relationship with this vendor.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"By far, Cisco is the market leader within the IT network industry. They were one of the first vendors in this market segment. They were able to create a dominant market share, establish many of the networking standards, and develop hardware and software solutions used around the globe. They also established certifications for network engineers, which help provide them with the skills they need to manage complex IT Networks. These factors provide Cisco with superior operating efficiencies and develop networking technologies that take advantage of their existing global footprint. Utilizing Cisco hardware, software, and certified engineers provides an organization with the confidence that their network is operating efficiently and effectively."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
15. When conducting a routine network analysis maintenance check, what issues are you looking for?
How to Answer
During an interview for a senior network engineer's position, the interviewer seeks to expand what they know about you from your resume and learn more about your experience and skills. You'll be asked some questions about the technology used in networks and the procedures for maintaining them. When asked about maintaining networks, keep your answers at a high level, describing the fundamentals of network maintenance. The interviewer will ask you a follow-up question if they need more information or want to explore the topic in more detail.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"When conducting routine network analysis, the issues I focus on are related to fault identification, performance, provisioning, and maintaining the quality of service. I first examine the network performance metrics for the period of time to determine how many packets were lost or dropped, the speed of transmission, if there's any latency within the network, and other issues impacting its performance. I also review the hardware and software across the network to ensure it is up to date, has the latest patches, and that all the licenses are appropriate. Finally, I determine the network uptime, the average time it took to resolve an issue, and how well we supported the users. I compare these metrics to previous periods peers to determine if my team's and the network's performance is getting better, degrading, or stable."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
16. What steps would you take to scale a network to accommodate an organization's evolving needs?
How to Answer
As a senior network engineer, you are expected to have extensive knowledge about a network's limitations and the techniques to expand it. The interviewer will ask you this question to confirm this and to learn about how you go about scaling networks. They want to ensure that you are prepared to do this and that your techniques are efficient and economical. Senior network engineers are expected to be able to manage the organization's budget as well as its technology.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"I always anticipate that networks I manage will eventually grow and scale as the organization expands. One of the strategies I employ to accommodate this is planning for it and building additional capacity when installing a network. I'm careful to ensure that the additional capacity needed to scale has a minimal cost impact. Techniques I use include buying switching equipment with additional ports, running dark fiber which can be activated later with minimal disruption, and keeping some rack space empty and ready to accept additional networking hardware."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
17. When managing a network, what measures do you put in place to mitigate a virus or cyber-attack threat?
How to Answer
One of the worst things that can happen to an organization related to information technology is its computer network being infected by a virus or subjected to a cyber-attack. This can either cause the network to fail or render it unavailable to the users for some time. Both of these events are difficult to resolve and cost the organization a lot of money. One of the key responsibilities of a senior network engineer is to address these threats and prevent them from occurring. The interviewer will be very interested in how you go about achieving this and the specific methodologies you use. Start by describing these at a very high level and be prepared for the interviewer to ask follow-up questions and explore this topic and a great amount of detail.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"One of my top priorities when managing an organization's IT network is to prevent viruses and cyber-attacks. These are much easier to prevent than they are to resolve. Specific ways I do this include educating the users about cybersecurity, not sharing their login information, and avoiding suspicious Internet websites. I also use firewalls and other network security devices to block access or detect intrusions. Finally, I work hard to stay aware of evolving threats and update my security procedures to address them, using more stringent authentication, software updates, and other measures."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
18. Would you mind discussing the different types of sockets used in networks?
How to Answer
As a senior network engineer, you are expected to know a great deal about networking technology. Although the Hud has your primary responsibility is to architect and maintain the computer network, the interviewer will expect you to have in-depth knowledge about a full range of network technologies. This will enable you to implement the appropriate technology for their operations. Since this is a technical question, you should first define the terminology, answer the interviewer's question, and possibly give an example to illustrate your answer.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"In the context of networking technology, a socket is an endpoint of two-way communication over the network. The socket is bound to a port number, enabling the TCP layer to determine where to send the data packet. The socket is identified by an IP address and a port number. There are three types of sockets used in networks. They are a stream socket, which allows processes to communicate using TC, Datagram sockets which used UDP to communicate, and raw sockets which use ICMP communication protocols."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
19. What steps would you take to identify the cause of an issue with networking data planes and control planes?
How to Answer
In addition to architecting networks, maintaining their functionality, and managing teams of network engineers, senior network engineers must identify root causes of network issues and quickly resolve them. The interviewer will ask a question like this to determine your ability to do this. You may be presented with several specific problem scenarios during an interview that you will need to solve. Reviewing the more common network issues and their solutions before the interview will help you be prepared for this.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"In routing, a control plane describes all the functions and processes that determine the path a data packet will be routed over. On the other hand, the data plane refers to all the functions and processes that move packets across the network based on the control plane's settings and logic. When experiencing a problem with packets not being routed properly, I would first analyze whether the packets were being dropped during transmission or routed incorrectly. I would then review the functions of the data plane elements to see if they accurately followed the protocols established by the control plane. If this checked out, I would begin to analyze the control plan to determine if the routing tables were set up properly or other issues were causing the packets not to reach their destination."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
20. Can you discuss how routing protocols work and in what situations they fail?
How to Answer
During the interview, you will be asked many different technical questions about topics relevant to the role of a senior network engineer. You should be able to respond to the interviewer's question with a simple, straightforward definition of the technology, a brief description of how it is used, and perhaps an example to demonstrate your answer. Always be prepared for a follow-up question if the interviewer needs more information to explore the topic in more detail.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"There are several different routing protocols. However, they all perform three basic functions. The first is discovery, which identifies other routers on the network. Next, it manages routing destinations and pathways. The final function is to determine where to send the data packets and the most effective route to send them by. Different routing protocols add additional features to these three basic functions such as preconfiguring links to increase the efficiency of the network."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
21. What networking strategy do you use to reduce the watts per bit, ensuring that the network operates at its highest efficiency?
How to Answer
Effective senior network engineers are keenly aware of the energy impacts of equipment, services, power, and cooling, and they are always striving to reduce costs within a network operations group. Since energy rates will continue to rise, this is an area you can focus on and should have a strategy for when looking to reduce cost. The interviewer will be curious about how you do this and will be impressed if you have a specific strategy already in mind.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"One of my key responsibilities as a senior network engineer is to help minimize the cost of operating the network. I look at each component of cost, including personnel, equipment, power, and cooling. There are several ways you can reduce the watts per bit in a network. The primary one has to look at how many devices remain on even when not in use. This is a key cost that can be easily reduced through the use of a SmartNIC. These devices sense when a computer or other device is no longer used and put it into sleep mode. When another device is trying to access the node, the NIC senses it automatically establishes a connection with the device and puts it back in full power mode. Another technology you can use is adaptive link rates. Both of these are easy to implement and will have a significant impact on the costs of managing the network."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
22. What in your previous experience has prepared you for a senior network engineer position?
How to Answer
When interviewing for a senior network engineer's role, the interviewer assumes that you started in an entry-level position within the network organization and advanced through the organization based on your experience and acquisition of new skills. They will ask this question to allow you to describe what you learned during this process, even though they may already be aware of this at a high level, having read your resume. This is the opportunity to highlight your skills and experience, which will directly benefit their organization. Make sure to emphasize your team leadership skills, which are important to this role.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"During my career as a network engineer, I've had a wide range of experiences which have helped me to continue to move to the next level. I was fortunate to work for managers who took the time to mentor me and help me develop new technical skills. As I advanced within the organization, I was given additional responsibilities, including leading a team. Having had the responsibility for large networks and the opportunity to direct a team has helped me develop my network engineering and team leadership skills. I am confident I can now manage complex networks while directing and developing a team of qualified and skilled network engineers."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
23. Can you describe what each component of the sub-net mask 255.255.254.0 represents?
How to Answer
Knowing and describing the components of a subnet mask provided by the interviewer will demonstrate your qualifications in managing networks, IP addresses, and the number of nodes the network can contain. When responding to this question, start by defining a subnet mask and discuss each of the four fields. The interviewer may ask you a follow-up question to clarify your response or explore it in more detail. Try to keep your answers as non-technical as possible, avoiding acronyms and jargon.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"A subnet mask is a 32-bit number which separates the IP address into the network and host addresses. The first 255 in the subnet mask is assigned to a broadcast address, the second 255 is assigned to a network address, while the 254 and 0 are assigned to host addresses. In this address, the last nine bits designated by the 254 and 0 define the number of hosts. Therefore the subnet can contain up to 510 nodes plus the network and broadcast servers."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
24. Can you describe the largest networking topography you designed and managed?
How to Answer
An interviewer will ask you this question to determine the scope of your previous work and whether you have the experience necessary to manage a network similar in scale to theirs. While companies recognize that you can develop your skills and grow into the responsibility the job requires, they prefer to hire candidates who have already performed work similar to what they will be doing for their organization. When responding to the size of the networks you have managed, be honest and describe them accurately. If the networks were smaller than those of this organization, describe what you learned in your previous roles that will contribute to your ability to manage the company's network. Suppose the size of the networks you previously managed exceed that of the company's. In that case, you can discuss techniques you learned which would help improve the company's network operations and save them money.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"As described in my resume, I have managed many different networks ranging in size from small to medium businesses up to large Fortune 500 companies. The largest network topology I was responsible for had over 5000 nodes spread across three different campuses, including 12 individual buildings. I managed this with a team of six network engineers. I collaborated with other organizations in the company's IT department, including the infrastructure team, the applications team, and an offshore help center. During my time managing this network, we experienced a 99.999 uptime and stayed within our allocated budget three years in a row. Based on my research, I believe your organization has a network topology similar in size to the one I described."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
25. What actions would you take if a junior staff member failed to implement proper networking protocols?
How to Answer
This question addresses your team leadership and managerial skills. One of the key elements of these skills is how you react when a junior team member makes a mistake. Qualified leaders will recognize this as a teaching opportunity. Rather than discipline the team member, they will point out the mistake, train them on how not to repeat it, and then continue to provide the team member with the same responsibility in this area. When responding to this question, you should follow this or a similar protocol for dealing with the issue. Be prepared for a follow-up question that asks what you would do if the staff member continued to commit the same or similar mistakes. This may require disciplinary action or reassignment of the engineer to other duties.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"No one is perfect, and we all make mistakes. I recognize this both in myself and in my staff. If a staff member were to fail to implement proper network protocol, the first thing I would do would be to have a conversation with them and determine why this occurred. If it were due to a lack of knowledge or understanding of network protocols, I would take time to educate them about this topic or send them to a training course. If it were due to lack of attention or some other cause not related to their knowledge of protocols, I would reinforce the need to concentrate and be attentive to details. In both cases, I would continue to allow the junior staff member to perform the same duties. If this problem were to recur, I would need to take additional actions appropriate for the cause of the issue. These may include additional education, disciplinary actions, or reassignment."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
26. At what stage of a company's growth and expansion of its IT network would you request that a team be hired to work under you?
How to Answer
This is a tricky question during an interview for a senior network engineering job. Many people would be inclined to respond that they can handle the load themselves. However, this would not be appropriate. Hiring managers recognize that it is necessary to bring on additional staff when a company grows to a certain size. As a senior network engineer, you are expected to understand this. The key is knowing when the workload exceeds your ability to do it effectively and to have a plan to expand the staff economically and efficiently, maintaining a balance between the capacity of the staff and the workload they are responsible for.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"I have worked for both large and small organizations. In the small organizations, I was the only network engineer or had a small team. I managed teams of many network engineers in the larger organizations, and our team was but one within the larger network operations organization. This provided me the experience of monitoring my team's activity and recognizing when the workload was about to exceed the team's capacity. It's hard to define a specific stage of a company's growth at which this occurs. Indicators I depend on include the amount of network traffic and the number of users and nodes on the network, including internal users, partners, suppliers, customers, and others. Criteria I use for expanding my team include the number of hours we are currently working, any failures we experience on the network due to a lack of maintenance or planning, and the company's projected growth during the next 6 to 12 months. I always maintain a pipeline of qualified network engineering candidates which I can bring on board quickly when necessary."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
27. What is your strategy to stay updated on current innovations in AI, cloud, network automation, and related technologies?
How to Answer
Information technology and networking are fast-moving and ever-changing industries. Keeping up with the technology, news, and developments is a daunting task. As a senior network engineer, it is your responsibility to accomplish this efficiently and share your knowledge and information with the rest of the team. It would help if you had a defined strategy for keeping up on current events within the network industry, using specific actions which take as little time as possible so you're not distracted from your primary responsibilities.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"There is an overwhelming amount of information about developments in the network industry, and keeping up with it is almost impossible. I manage to do this by identifying reliable sources of current developments within the network community, reading summaries of the information, and investigating the details of what is relevant to my organization's operations. These sources for information include industry publications, blogs, vendor websites, industry conferences, and meeting with my team and peers regularly to share what we each have learned."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
28. As a senior network engineer, we expect you to manage a team of network engineers. Can you describe your leadership style?
How to Answer
A senior network engineer may or may not be designated as a manager within the organization. However, they are expected to lead the team of network engineers and provide direction in either case. This includes assigning them tasks, answering questions the team may have, helping to develop and improve their skill set, and ensuring that they advance within the organization. All this requires leadership skills. It would be best to describe your leadership philosophy and how you go about accomplishing the duties required of either a formal manager or team leader.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"As a senior network engineer, I am more than prepared to take on a leadership role, either formally as a manager or as a designated team leader. My leadership style starts with leading by example, being willing to do the same tasks I expect of my team. When delegating tasks, I make sure that each team member understands the project, their individual responsibility, and what we're trying to accomplish. I provide them with all the resources they need to get the job done and make myself available if they have questions or need support. I then allow them to accomplish the task while monitoring their progress. I also believe it is my responsibility to advocate for the team when interfacing with stakeholders outside the network organization."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
29. What safeguards do you have your team implement in the networks you manage to limit data loss?
How to Answer
One of the key functions a senior network engineer provides is to protect the company's data and proprietary information. This requires a great deal of planning, monitoring protocols, and vigilance against lost or dropped packets. During the interview, you should describe your strategy for accomplishing this and the techniques you use to limit the data loss an organization may experience. Be prepared for the interviewer to ask follow-up questions about this since it is such an important topic.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"Data loss occurs when one or more packets traveling across the network fails to reach its destination. There are several reasons this happens, especially on wireless networks. My strategy to prevent data loss includes architecting the network to handle peak traffic loads, monitoring traffic to detect any dropped or lost packets, and implementing the most current transmission control protocols. I also work closely with my network vendors to ensure that their routers, switches, and other network hardware are not prone to dropping packets during times of high congestion on the network. Dropped packets on wireless networks are more common due to radio frequency interference, or RFI. This can be addressed by segmenting the network, using filters and other transmission boosting devices, and eliminating sources of RFI."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
30. Please discuss the layers in a TCP/IP protocol.
How to Answer
Knowing about the individual lawyers of a TCP/IP protocol, their functions, and how they interact demonstrates your qualifications as a senior network engineer. An interviewer will ask you about this to confirm your knowledge in this area. It also provides them the opportunity to learn about your communication style. This requires you to describe these layers in easy-to-understand and non-technical language. You should never assume that someone you're speaking with outside of the IT organization has an in-depth understanding of technology.
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021
Answer Example
"There are seven layers to the TCP/IP protocol architecture. The first is the physical layer, consisting of the cables, switches, and other network hardware. The second layer is the data link which connects the physical to the protocol layers. The third layer is the network and internet layer, which transports the information outside of the intranet. The fourth layer is called the transport layer and defines the protocol used to move the data across a network. The final three layers, five, six, and seven, are the application, session, and presentation layers. This is where the logic and protocols reside, which ensures the information can flow across the network, interact with the applications, and be presented to the users in a manner that makes sense."
Written by William Swansen on August 3rd, 2021