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Junior Network Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Mentor and train junior network engineers BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: * Bachelor's degree in a technical or engineering discipline AND 5+ years of professional networking experience deploying enterprise ...

The successful candidate will be responsible for providing high-level technical expertise and leadership to junior network engineers. Develop and implement network support processes for CAN/LAN/WAN ...

Network Engineer II

Irvine, CA · On-site

$114K - $134K/yr

Network Engineer II Location: Irvine, CA Work Type: Full-time Department: IT Infrastructure ... Mentor and guide junior and mid-level engineers, providing technical leadership and fostering ...

Network Engineer II

Irvine, CA · On-site

$114K - $134K/yr

The Network Engineer II will serve as a member of the Network Engineering team, responsible for ... Mentor and guide junior and mid-level engineers, providing technical leadership and fostering ...

Network Engineer II

Irvine, CA · On-site

$114.20 - $134/hr

The Network Engineer II will serve as a member of the Network Engineering team, responsible for ... Mentor and guide junior and mid-level engineers, providing technical leadership and fostering ...

Senior Network Engineer

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

$106K - $146K/yr

... junior staff, and creation and maintenance of network documentation. Qualifications: * Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or relevant experience * 6+ years of ...

Senior Network Engineer

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

$106K - $146K/yr

... junior staff, and creation and maintenance of network documentation. Qualifications: * Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or relevant experience * 6+ years of ...

Interfaces with Network Architecture and Engineering to provide requirements for network ... Act as an advisor or mentor to junior colleagues. Work independently with minimal guidance.

We are looking for passionate software engineers (both Jr. and Sr.), SDE managers, UX designers ... Help the company engineers network, plan and lead LAN, WAN, and network security infrastructure ...

Showing results 21-40

Junior Network Engineer information

See California salary details

$33.1K

$64.3K

$91.8K

How much do junior network engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for junior network engineer in California is $64,283.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $50,800.00 and $76,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a junior network engineer do?

As a junior network engineer, your job is to manage connectivity and infrastructure in a company's network. This includes ensuring the company has internet access at all times, testing each new connection when you add hardware, and generally helping to maintain the network. This is a junior position, so you work under the direct supervision of a senior network engineer. Many people use this position to gain additional leadership and engineering skills, with the goal being a promotion to a senior engineering position. Despite not having leadership responsibilities, you may be asked to supervise a project from inception to completion.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a junior network engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Junior Network Engineer, you need a solid understanding of networking fundamentals, IP addressing, and troubleshooting, often supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with networking hardware, Cisco or CompTIA Network+ certifications, and experience using network monitoring tools are typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you excel in this role. These competencies are critical for maintaining reliable network operations and supporting the technical needs of organizations.

What are some common challenges a junior network engineer may face in their first year, and how can they overcome them?

As a Junior Network Engineer, one common challenge is adapting to the fast-paced environment where quick troubleshooting and learning new technologies are essential. You may also encounter difficulties in understanding complex network architectures or managing multiple priorities under tight deadlines. To overcome these challenges, it's helpful to proactively seek mentorship from senior engineers, participate in hands-on training, and utilize documentation and online resources. Regular communication with your team and asking questions will accelerate your learning and build your confidence.

What are the most commonly searched types of Network Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Network Engineer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Junior Network Engineer jobs in California?

For Junior Network Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Junior Network Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Junior Network Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Junior Network Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Junior Network Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Junior Network Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $64,283 per year, or $30.9 per hour.

Sr. Network Engineer (Starshield)

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP

Hawthorne, CA • On-site

$165 - $230/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 17 days ago


SpaceX rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 151 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

16th of 72 rated aerospace companies


Job description

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

SR. NETWORK ENGINEER (STARSHIELD)

Starshield leverages SpaceX’s Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use, Starshield is designed for government use, with an initial focus on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads. The Starshield team is building highly reliable in‑space mesh networks, designing secure systems to guarantee access to space, designing next‑generation communication and sensing software, and more.

As a Sr. Network Engineer you will drive the operation, build and deployment of the Starshield service provider network, which supports critical national security missions. You and your teammates will own the network design and be responsible for proposing and implementing continual improvements to add more capabilities and customers. You will also be responsible for monitoring and improving network security, improving network performance and reliability, and optimizing network deployments.

RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Manage and expand network interconnections, network co‑location sites and points of presence (POPs)
  • Manage network infrastructure and deployments to Top Secret datacenters
  • Improve network performance and reliability based upon system performance metrics, including capacity planning, failure detection and remediation
  • Assist in capacity augmentation and network optimization deployments
  • Lead network integration and troubleshooting efforts
  • Collaborate with hardware, software, and network engineers to improve the Starshield network design
  • Assist in updating system configuration and firmware
  • Build automation for network devices, operational and deployment tools
  • Mentor and train junior network engineers
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
  • Bachelor’s degree in a technical or engineering discipline AND 5+ years of professional networking experience deploying enterprise network solutions or cloud and web‑scale networks; OR 7+ years of professional networking experience deploying enterprise network solutions or cloud and web‑scale networks in lieu of a degree
  • Hands‑on experience with the build‑out and deployment of hardware at datacenters and interacting with datacenters (e.g., remote hands, cross‑connect execution, etc.)
  • Experience bringing up switches, routers, firewalls and servers
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
  • Master’s degree in a technical or engineering discipline
  • Experience with physical troubleshooting of fiber & circuits
  • Deep understanding of service provider networks including but not limited to:
    • Connectivity (Ethernet, IPv4, IPv6 and MPLS)
    • Routing (BGP, OSPF, IS‑IS)
    • Switching and routing
    • Internet services (subscriber provisioning, BRAS, DNS, DHCP, NTP)
  • Experience implementing network security functions
  • Cisco, Juniper, Arista or other industry certification
  • Ability to work independently and in a team, take initiative, and communicate effectively
  • Active Top Secret or Top Secret SCI clearance
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
  • This position requires successfully obtaining and maintaining a Top Secret Security Clearance as a condition of employment. While the clearance may not be immediately necessary upon hire, we encourage you to initiate the application process promptly upon accepting this offer. Your ability to secure the necessary clearance is essential for fulfilling key responsibilities of the role. Should you be unable to obtain it, SpaceX reserves the right to modify or terminate your employment to align with operational needs.
  • Must be willing to travel domestically and globally in the future when needed
  • Must be available for on‑call rotations
  • Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Pay Range: Level 3: $165,000.00 - $230,000.00
Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long‑term incentives, in the form of company stock or long‑term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, a 401(k) retirement plan, short‑ and long‑term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. Employees accrue three weeks of paid vacation and are eligible for ten or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

  • To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

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About SpaceX

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Aerospace product and parts manufacturing, data services, guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing and satellite telecommunications

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Hawthorne, CA, US