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Network Design Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

DC network design, implementation and migration compromising Cisco Nexus (ACI & NXOS), Cisco 6500 VSS, 4500 VSS solution components. * Certification: CCIE (Lab cleared) in Routing & Switching or Data ...

Senior Network Engineer

San Carlos, CA · On-site

$125K - $172K/yr

Design and implement network solutions on a siloed network, ensuring seamless integration and functionality. * Work closely with security engineers on SDWAN and Firewall configurations, providing ...

New

Senior Network Engineer

San Carlos, CA · On-site

$125K - $172K/yr

Design and implement network solutions on a siloed network, ensuring seamless integration and functionality. * Work closely with security engineers on SDWAN and Firewall configurations, providing ...

New

FPGA Design Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · Hybrid

$132K - $182K/yr

FPGA Design Engineers are responsible for the efficient implementation of novel signal processing algorithms for Silvus' MIMO wireless networking products. In addition, they participate in the ...

Senior Network Engineer

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

$106K - $146K/yr

... include network design, configuration and installation of network hardware and software ... Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or relevant experience ...

Senior Network Engineer

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

$106K - $146K/yr

Operations, the Senior Network Engineer is responsible for designing, managing, and supporting all ... include network design, configuration and installation of network hardware and software ...

Mechanical Design Engineer This role focuses on designing and delivering next-generation networking products, including routers, switches, firewalls, and servers, that meet demanding system product ...

Showing results 21-40

Network Design Engineer information

See California salary details

$30.6K

$107.6K

$155.9K

How much do network design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for network design 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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a network design engineer?

To thrive as a Network Design Engineer, you need a solid understanding of networking protocols, routing and switching, and network architecture, often backed by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with tools such as Cisco IOS, Juniper Junos, network simulation software, and certifications like CCNP or CCIE are typically required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and effective communication help network engineers collaborate with teams and clearly explain design choices. These skills ensure robust, scalable, and secure network infrastructures that support organizational needs.

What does a network design engineer do?

A network design engineer plans, develops, and implements network infrastructure to ensure reliable data communication within organizations. They analyze requirements, design network layouts, select appropriate hardware and protocols, and often use tools like Cisco or Juniper for configuration. Strong knowledge of networking principles, security, and certifications such as CCNA or CCNP are typically required.

What are the common challenges faced by network design engineers during large-scale infrastructure projects?

Network Design Engineers often encounter challenges such as integrating new technologies with legacy systems, ensuring network scalability, and addressing evolving security requirements. Coordinating with multiple stakeholders—including IT, security teams, and vendors—can add complexity to project timelines. Effective communication and thorough documentation are key to overcoming these hurdles and ensuring that the final design meets both technical and business objectives.

What is the difference between Network Design Engineer vs Network Engineer?

AspectNetwork Design EngineerNetwork Engineer
CertificationsCCNA, CCNP, Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE)CCNA, CCNP, CompTIA Network+
Work EnvironmentDesigning network architectures, planning infrastructure, collaborating with architectsImplementing, configuring, maintaining existing networks
Employer & Industry UsageTelecommunications, large enterprises, consulting firmsIT departments, service providers, corporate networks

While both roles involve networking, the Network Design Engineer focuses on planning and designing network systems, whereas the Network Engineer handles the implementation and maintenance of those networks. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or job search focus.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Infographic showing various Network Design Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 85% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,612 per year, or $51.7 per hour.

Network Production Engineer, Infrastructure

Meta

Menlo Park, CA

$122K/yr

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago


Meta rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 45 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

136th of 244 rated software companies


Job description

The Network Infrastructure team is responsible for designing, building, and operating one of the largest networks in the world. Networking is at the core of all Meta products and experiences, and we are looking for Network Production Engineers who are interested in solving complex technical challenges in the Backbone, Datacenter, and AI Network domains. The scale of the network and its continuous expansion presents an opportunity to work on and solve interesting engineering challenges in the datacenter network domain. We create new and innovative ways of designing and operating our global datacenter networks and do it at scale with efficiency. Network Production Engineers at Meta are hybrid software and network engineers who design, build, and operate our worldwide network. This team owns the complete lifecycle of the network, which includes areas of planning, design, product definition, QA, deployment, and monitoring. Simple, elegant, and scalable network design, automation, and data analytics are the keys to meeting our demands. In this role, you will be part of a team that is responsible for conceiving design solutions, developing and deploying network software, systems, and tools that keep the network operating at maximum reliability, scalability, and efficiency.This role offers an opportunity to solve the scaling challenges of supporting billions of people using our family of apps; to cutting-edge challenges in AI workloads that power new Meta products.
Network Production Engineer, Infrastructure Responsibilities:
  • Conceptualize, build, and maintain automation and tools to support New Product Introductions, network deployment, release engineering and operations
  • Conduct thorough investigations into complex technical issues across networks, ranging from automated tooling to hardware failures and network issues
  • Help increase operational efficiency between peers and cross-functional teams by identifying roadblocks, designing and delivering automation solutions, and driving change
  • Proactively find gaps that impact multiple teams, come up with the execution plan and drive the project and influence other teams to reach there
  • Design and develop solutions that scale across a variety of hardware platforms of network equipment
  • Lead enhancements of automation for continuous integration, validations, testing infrastructure, release, and configuration management across our global backbone, data center, and edge networks
  • Develop operational process improvements and implement them in scalable, automated workflows to enhance operational efficiency
  • Participate in an on-call rotation with the rest of the team
  • Hardware evaluation and vendor management

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Currently has, or is in the process of obtaining a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, relevant technical field, or equivalent practical experience. Degree must be completed prior to joining Meta
  • 2+ years of experience with planning, designing, building and/or operating scalable systems/networks
  • 2+ years of coding experience in at least one programming language (e.g. Python, Go, C++, or Java), and rapidly learning new development languages
  • Demonstrated knowledge of TCP, IPv4/6, Routing Protocols (one or more of BGP, MPLS, ISIS, or similar), and related network services (e.g. DHCP and DNS)
  • Experience developing and understanding network device configuration in multi vendor environments (Juniper, Cisco, Arista, Brocade, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications:
  • 2+ years experience in network automation software leveraging software defined networking principles
  • Network design experience and capacity planning in multifaceted networks
  • Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously and delivering against deadlines
  • Experience with modern data center architectures (spine-leaf, fabric)
  • Experience working in global team environments to solve problems
  • Experience adhering to and implementing responsible, ethical AI practices (e.g., risk assessment, bias mitigation, quality and accuracy reviews)
  • Demonstrated ongoing AI skill development (e.g., prompt/context engineering, agent orchestration) and staying current with emerging AI technologies
  • Demonstrated ability to integrate AI tools to optimize/redesign workflows and drive measurable impact (e.g., efficiency gains, quality improvements)

About Meta:
Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. People who choose to build their careers by building with us at Meta help shape a future that will take us beyond what digital connection makes possible today—beyond the constraints of screens, the limits of distance, and even the rules of physics.
Meta is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Meta participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law. Please note that Meta may leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies in connection with applications for employment.
Meta is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at accommodations-ext@meta.com.
$122,000/year to $181,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits
Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base compensation, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta.

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