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Lead Network Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Lead Network Engineer, Network

Hollywood, CA · On-site

$112K - $155K/yr

Lead Network Engineer *This role is on-site at our Hollywood, CA work location. Job Summary The Lead Network Engineer is a seasoned professional who provides advanced expertise for planning ...

Lead Network Engineer, Network

Hollywood, CA

$112K - $155K/yr

Lead Network Engineer*This role is on-site at our Hollywood, CA work location.Job Summary The Lead Network Engineer is a seasoned professional who provides advanced expertise for planning ...

Lead Network Engineer (R51237) (San Jose)

San Jose, CA · On-site

$120K - $165K/yr

Lead Network Engineer (R51237) role at Cadence Responsibilities * Campus Network Architecture: Lead the end-to-end design and deployment of campus network solutions, leveraging Cisco, HPE, and Aruba ...

... environments. • Lead network provisioning, device configuration, connectivity validation ... across engineering and infrastructure teams. • Take ownership of problems end-to-end and are ...

Senior Network Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$110K - $151K/yr

Responsibilities : • Lead network design process, manage existing networks. • Work in collaboration with the US Government network engineers, US Government Cyber/IA engineers, and other ...

Lead, Network Engineering

San Diego, CA · On-site

$180K - $240K/yr

... engineers with proven track records in the networking and satellite industries. Position Summary & Responsibilities We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Networking Technology Lead to ...

The Lead Network Operations Engineer guides and supports a team of Network Operations Engineers and Administrators, serving as the primary escalation point and ensuring that all shift activity, from ...

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Showing results 1-20

Lead Network Engineer information

See California salary details

$44.9K

$118.1K

$164.3K

How much do lead network engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for lead network engineer in California is $118,094.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $100,200.00 and $138,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Lead Network Engineer vs Network Administrator?

AspectLead Network EngineerNetwork Administrator
CertificationsCCNP, CCIE, Cisco certificationsCompTIA Network+, Cisco CCNA
Work EnvironmentDesign, implement, and oversee network infrastructureMaintain and support existing networks
ResponsibilitiesLead network projects, troubleshoot complex issues, plan network upgradesConfigure devices, monitor network performance, perform routine maintenance

The Lead Network Engineer typically has advanced certifications and focuses on designing and leading network projects, while the Network Administrator manages daily network operations and maintenance. Both roles require networking knowledge but differ in scope and seniority.

What is a lead network engineer?

A Lead Network Engineer is a senior-level IT professional responsible for designing, implementing, and managing complex computer networks within an organization. They oversee network infrastructure, troubleshoot high-level issues, and often lead a team of network engineers or administrators. Their duties also include ensuring network security, optimizing performance, and planning for future network growth. Lead Network Engineers play a key role in maintaining reliable and secure connectivity for businesses. They typically collaborate with other IT staff and management to align network solutions with organizational goals.

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

To thrive as a Lead Network Engineer, you need deep expertise in network design, troubleshooting, and security, typically supported by a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field and relevant certifications like CCNP or CCIE. Familiarity with tools such as Cisco IOS, network monitoring systems (e.g., SolarWinds), and virtualization platforms is crucial. Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills help you manage teams and coordinate complex projects effectively. These skills and qualities ensure reliable, secure, and scalable network infrastructure, which is vital for organizational operations.

How does a lead network engineer typically collaborate with other IT teams during large-scale network projects?

A Lead Network Engineer often acts as a bridge between network engineering and other IT teams, such as security, systems administration, and application development. During large-scale network projects, you will regularly coordinate with these groups to align technical requirements, resolve dependencies, and ensure seamless integration. Effective communication and project management skills are essential, as you may lead meetings, delegate tasks, and provide guidance to both network engineers and cross-functional team members. This collaborative environment fosters innovation, reduces downtime, and ensures the network infrastructure supports overall business objectives.
What are popular job titles related to Lead Network Engineer jobs in California? For Lead Network Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Lead Network Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Lead Network Engineer jobs in California are:
Infographic showing various Lead Network Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $118,094 per year, or $56.8 per hour.

$108K - $149K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 21 days ago


Job description

Position: Lead Network Engineer
Location: Sacramento, CA
Duration: 12 Months
Minimum Skills:
  • Minimum of five (5) years of experience, at a Technical level, designing, supporting and maintaining a high-performance, high-availability Enterprise Network.
  • Minimum of five (5) years of experience of IP networking, LAN/WAN, routing and switching, VLAN, VPN, and Firewall.
  • Minimum of one (1) year of experience working on Aruba CX-OS systems.
  • Minimum of five (5) years of experience working with HP ProCurve, Aruba Switching, Virtual Local Area Networks, and wireless technologies.
  • Minimum of five (5) years of experience working with IP addressing schemes, DNS and DHCP.
  • Minimum of three (3) years of experience implementing Aruba wireless systems.
  • Minimum of three (3) years of experience configuring, tuning and troubleshooting Open Shortest Path First (OSPF).
  • Minimum of three (3) years of experience working with Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) implementations.

Desirable Skills:
  • Ability to quickly analyze problems and to implement standard and extensible solutions
  • Knowledge of Aruba Airwave
  • Knowledge of Aruba Clearpass

1. Objectives
a. Perform configuration, troubleshooting, and support remote deployment of Aruba CX-OS based switching/routing systems to the CDCR standards.
b. Perform configuration, troubleshooting, and support remote deployment of Aruba wireless systems to the CDCR standards.
c. Perform evaluation, architecting, implementation, and configuration efforts on Aruba Clearpass, Airwave, Mobility Controllers, and Wireless Controllers (WLC).
d. Evaluate configurations against vendors best practices.
e. Provide technology training to EIS Infrastructure staff as needed.
f. Perform root cause analysis for service interruption recovery, creating preventative measures to deploy in the enterprise.
g. Perform capacity planning and application analysis for network performance and sizing.
h. Plan, design, and implement changes necessary to control traffic type and volume by means of network prioritization.
i. Conduct analysis, prepare reports, and work on project implementation. May serve as technical liaison with vendors.
j. Coordinate with external WAN vendor to perform changes to circuits
k. Create and maintain support documentation and technical drawings of the enter
Rajeev
West Advanced Technologies, Inc
E: rajeev.g@wati.com
C:9162095915 | T: 5072292946