Hiring outlook, remote working rates, and which companies are actively recruiting.
Traditional network engineering demand is stable but not growing. The discipline is being reshaped by SD-WAN and cloud networking. Engineers who adapt to software-defined approaches are well-positioned, while those who focus exclusively on physical infrastructure face a gradually narrowing market over the next five years.
of UK Network Engineer roles advertise remote or hybrid working
Year-on-year salary movement in UK. Positive movement signals active market competition.
Strongest in: Enterprises with hybrid cloud and on-premises networking complexity
Traditional network engineering demand is stable but not growing. The discipline is being reshaped by SD-WAN and cloud networking. Engineers who adapt to software-defined approaches are well-positioned, while those who focus exclusively on physical infrastructure face a gradually narrowing market over the next five years.
Who companies hire: CCNA certification and practical hands-on networking experience are the standard entry path. The discipline is increasingly converging with cloud engineering as on-premises infrastructure declines.
Salary premium over the UK median for Network Engineers who list these skills.
Companies with consistent or active Network Engineer hiring in UK.
Demand is stable but evolving. Traditional network engineering roles are not growing, but the discipline has not contracted either. The clearest demand signal is for engineers who can manage software-defined networks and cloud connectivity rather than physical hardware.
Vodafone, Three Ireland, and Eircom are the largest telecoms employers. Enterprise and financial services companies including AIB and Bank of Ireland maintain internal network engineering functions. Accenture and DHL hire network engineers at volume for client infrastructure programmes.
AWS or Azure networking expertise commands the highest premium at around 19%. SD-WAN experience, Zero Trust networking, and CCNP certification follow. Engineers who can design cloud-native network security architectures are in the strongest position in the current market.
Around 46% of active listings advertise hybrid working. Physical hardware configuration, on-site troubleshooting, and data centre work require regular on-site presence. Network engineering is one of the less remote-friendly roles in the infrastructure discipline.