Network Engineering
What is network engineering? Mark A. Gregory, who developed and led the introduction of Network Engineering at RMIT University, defines network engineering as "The discipline concerned with designing, developing, implementing, operating and supporting digital networks and services"
The future is a converged digital network with network engineering including all aspects of the design, development, implementation, operation and support of the core digital network and services.
An older definition for the term network engineering is provided by the Alliance for Telecommunication Industry Solutions:
In telephony, the discipline concerned with (a) determining internetworking service requirements for switched networks, and (b) developing and implementing hardware and software to meet them.
In computer science, the discipline of hardware and software engineering to accomplish the design goals of a computer network.
In radio communications, the discipline concerned with developing network topologies.
Source US Federal Standard 1037C
Network Engineer
What is a network engineer? Mark A. Gregory defines a network engineer as the accredited person who has significant industry responsibility for the provision of the converged digital network and services.
A network engineer is the accredited engineer responsible for the planning, development, design, and implementation of digital networks and services for all categories of customers including residential, business and government. Network engineers usually design, implement and operate large heterogeneous networks for carriers, service providers and large organisations, and are required to have significant expertise with hardware and software from vendors like Juniper Networks, Cisco Systems, Huawei, Microsoft, Netware and CheckPoint. It is not uncommon for network engineers, who already hold accredited engineering degrees, to also hold certifications such as Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert, or Certified NetWare Engineer or Juniper Networks Certified Internet Expert.