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Network Operations Center Lead Jobs (NOW HIRING)

MANAGER, NETWORK OPERATIONS CENTER Work with brilliant, passionate engineers to tackle difficult ... Lead teams of network administrators, engineers, analysts, and technicians to develop, implement ...

MANAGER, NETWORK OPERATIONS CENTER Work with brilliant, passionate engineers to tackle difficult ... Lead teams of network administrators, engineers, analysts, and technicians to develop, implement ...

MANAGER, NETWORK OPERATIONS CENTER Work with brilliant, passionate engineers to tackle difficult ... Lead teams of network administrators, engineers, analysts, and technicians to develop, implement ...

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$50.5K

$119.3K

$161.5K

How much do network operations center lead jobs pay per year?

As of May 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for network operations center lead in the United States is $119,285.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $93,000.00 and $161,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Network Operations Center Lead, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Network Operations Center (NOC) Lead, you need advanced knowledge of networking concepts, troubleshooting, and incident management, typically supported by a degree in information technology or a related field and relevant certifications such as CompTIA Network+ or Cisco CCNA. Expertise in network monitoring tools (like SolarWinds or Nagios), ticketing systems, and security protocols is essential. Strong leadership, effective communication, and problem-solving skills set outstanding NOC Leads apart. These skills are crucial for ensuring network reliability, quickly resolving outages, and guiding teams through critical incidents.

What are some common challenges faced by a Network Operations Center Lead, and how can they be addressed?

As a Network Operations Center Lead, one of the main challenges is managing incidents promptly while coordinating across multiple teams to minimize downtime. Balancing the need for quick resolution with thorough root cause analysis can be demanding, especially during high-pressure situations like outages. Effective communication, strong incident management processes, and regular team training are essential strategies for overcoming these challenges. Additionally, proactively monitoring network health and maintaining up-to-date documentation can help prevent issues and streamline responses when problems arise.

What does a Network Operations Center (NOC) Lead do?

A Network Operations Center (NOC) Lead oversees the team responsible for monitoring, managing, and troubleshooting an organization’s network infrastructure. They coordinate incident response, maintain network performance, and ensure issues are resolved promptly to minimize downtime. The NOC Lead also develops procedures, trains staff, and communicates with other IT teams to ensure network reliability and security. Their role is crucial in maintaining uninterrupted network operations and supporting business continuity.

What is the difference between Network Operations Center Lead vs Network Engineer?

AspectNetwork Operations Center LeadNetwork Engineer
CertificationsCCNA, CompTIA Network+CCNA, CCNP, CompTIA Network+
Work EnvironmentMonitoring centers, 24/7 operations, team oversightDesign, implement, troubleshoot networks
Employer & Industry UsageTelecom, IT services, large enterprisesIT firms, service providers, corporate networks

The Network Operations Center Lead primarily oversees monitoring and managing network operations, ensuring system uptime and coordinating teams. In contrast, the Network Engineer focuses on designing, implementing, and troubleshooting network infrastructure. While both roles require similar certifications and work in related environments, the Lead has a supervisory role, whereas the Engineer is more technical and hands-on.

More about Network Operations Center Lead jobs
Infographic showing various Network Operations Center Lead job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 89% Full Time, 6% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $119,285 per year, or $57.3 per hour.

Job description

The NOC Lead (Network Operations Center Lead / Enterprise Operations Lead) is responsible for leading Network Operations Center activities and services to meet the needs of the company's program. This role manages NOC processes and operations, coordinates with IT and service provider teams, ensures compliance with IT policies and best practices, and works closely with stakeholders to ensure customer satisfaction, continuous improvement, and alignment with program objectives.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead Network Operations Center activities and services
  • Manage NOC processes, workflows, and operational procedures
  • Coordinate with multiple IT teams and service providers
  • Monitor network infrastructure and system performance
  • Ensure adherence to SLAs and performance standards
  • Implement continuous improvement initiatives
  • Provide technical leadership and escalation management
  • Report NOC performance metrics to senior management

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in IT, Business Administration, or Management
  • 8+ years in service delivery management or NOC operations
  • Minimum 3 years in a leadership or supervisory position
  • Deep understanding of service delivery principles and operations
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
  • Proficiency with ITSM platforms and network monitoring tools
  • Demonstrated leadership, organizational, and facilitation skills
  • Experience with federal IT operations and compliance

Job Specific Skills

  • Network Operations Center Management
  • Service Delivery Leadership & Operations
  • Network Performance Monitoring & Analysis
  • Team Leadership & Coordination
  • ITIL Processes & Service Management

Preferred Skills

  • ITIL Foundation certification
  • ServiceNow or similar ITSM platform expertise
  • Network monitoring tools (SolarWinds, Splunk, etc.)
  • Federal IT environment and compliance knowledge
  • Multi-site operations coordination

Compensation Ranges

Compensation ranges for ASM Research positions vary depending on multiple factors; including but not limited to, location, skill set, level of education, certifications, client requirements, contract-specific affordability, government clearance and investigation level, and years of experience. The compensation displayed for this role is a general guideline based on these factors and is unique to each role. Monetary compensation is one component of ASM's overall compensation and benefits package for employees.

EEO Requirements

It is the policy of ASM that an individual's race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation or national origin are not and will not be considered in any personnel or management decisions. We affirm our commitment to these fundamental policies.

All recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting for all job classifications is done without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, or age. All decisions on employment are made to abide by the principle of equal employment.

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements described in "Knowledge, Skills and Abilities" above are representative of those which must be met by an employee to successfully perform the primary functions of this job. (For example, "light office duties' or "lifting up to 50 pounds" or "some travel" required.) Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with qualifying disabilities, who are otherwise qualified, to perform the primary functions.

Disclaimer

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

$94,100 - 154,500

EEO Requirements

It is the policy of ASM that an individual's race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, gender identity, veteran status, sexual orientation or national origin are not and will not be considered in any personnel or management decisions. We affirm our commitment to these fundamental policies.

All recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting for all job classifications is done without regard to race, color, religion, sex, veteran status, disability, gender identity, or age. All decisions on employment are made to abide by the principle of equal employment.