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L1 Network Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

... network automation - Nexus switches line -the ability to perform large skill data center plan ... L1, L2 and L3 troubleshooting to determine root cause of software or hardware failure issues ...

Network Security Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$122K - $167K/yr

Mentor and provide technical guidance to L1 and L2 engineers, supporting skill development and ... Strong understanding of network protocols: TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF, VLANs, VPNs (IPSec/SSL), DNS, HTTP/S

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Showing results 1-20

L1 Network Engineer information

See California salary details

$30.6K

$107.6K

$155.9K

How much do l1 network engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for l1 network engineer in California is $107,612.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $87,800.00 and $131,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a typical workday look like for an L1 Network Engineer?

A typical day for an L1 Network Engineer involves monitoring network performance, responding to user-reported issues via a ticketing system, and performing initial troubleshooting steps to resolve connectivity or performance problems. You’ll frequently interact with both end-users and more senior network team members to escalate complex issues as needed. The role may also involve routine maintenance tasks, documenting incidents, and assisting with hardware setups or basic configuration changes. Working in a collaborative IT environment, L1 Network Engineers play a vital part in maintaining network reliability and helping other IT staff ensure seamless operations.

What is an L1 Network Engineer job?

An L1 Network Engineer is an entry-level IT professional responsible for monitoring, troubleshooting, and maintaining an organization's network infrastructure. They handle basic network issues, escalate complex problems to higher-level engineers, and ensure smooth network operations. Their tasks include diagnosing connectivity problems, configuring network devices, and assisting end-users. Strong problem-solving skills and a basic understanding of networking protocols are essential for this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the L1 Network Engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as an L1 Network Engineer, you need a solid understanding of basic networking concepts, troubleshooting skills, and a relevant degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with network monitoring tools, ticketing systems, and fundamental certifications such as CompTIA Network+ or Cisco CCNA is highly beneficial. Strong communication skills, attention to detail, and a customer-focused attitude are valuable soft skills for this role. These capabilities ensure efficient diagnosis and resolution of network issues, minimize downtime, and support effective teamwork in dynamic IT environments.

What are popular job titles related to L1 Network Engineer jobs in California? For L1 Network Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching L1 Network Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for L1 Network Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for L1 Network Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most L1 Network Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various L1 Network Engineer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $107,612 per year, or $51.7 per hour.

Full-time

Re-posted 5 days ago


Job description

Hello All,
Greetings from Rootshell Inc,
Role: Network Engineer,
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Duration: Long Term
Required 10+ Years of Experience
Design and build and test automation frameworks to test optical network engineering lab configurations and automation SW (in-house developed or from vendors), test proof of concept (POC) and deployment configurations for multi-vendor high capacity optical switching and DWDM transport (100Gbps/200Gbps/400Gbps/600Gbps/800G/1+ Tbps) network architectures and engineering solutions in San Jose POC/certification lab. Testing includes HW, SW (system SW, EMS etc.) from vendors and any in-house built SW. Document and review the test results with the global teams and resolve issues with vendors. Support evaluation of new optical NW product HW and SW.
Work with senior level Optical Network Architects and other members of the Equinix Engineering and operations and external vendors (Ciena, Infinera, Cisco, Fujitsu, Adva etc.) to perform the duties.
Skills:
10 + years of testing/certification or deployment of optical DWDM transport systems and networks HW or SW; Understanding of DWDM/photonic/L0, L1, L2/L3 from the OSI layer; Proficient in UNIX/LINUX based operating systems like Redhat, CentOS, Ubuntu, etc.; Desire understanding of Software Defined Networks (SDN) for Datacenter Networking including one or more of the of the following controllers/orchestrators: Cisco/Tail-f/NSO, NOKIA/NUAGE, Fujitsu Virtuora, NEC/NETCRACKER, or ONOS; Require experience with developing scripts (Python etc.) and lab automation; Desire experience in new ways of optical service provisioning and managing with transport SDN, OpenConfig, Streaming Telemetry, zero touch provisioning; Require experience working on optical transport systems (DWDM/fixed and flex-grid ROADM/Optical Switches etc.) including EMS and SDN based EMS; Understand how L0 Optical Control Plane (ASON/WSON, GMPLS) works; Test Equipment Familiarity: Ixia/IxNetwork/IxExplorer, Spirent, or Exfo/Viavi, Optical Spectrum Analyzer (OSA), OTDR, Optical Power Meter (OPM)