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How to Hire a Network Engineer in the UK (2026)

Designing and maintaining reliable, secure networks. Hiring a Network Engineer.
By Mark Wilkinson, Managing Director of Coburg Banks
Charles leads Coburg Banks IT, placing technology professionals from helpdesk to CTO for businesses across the UK.
Mark's Linkedin Profile

A Network Engineer keeps data moving reliably and securely - the connectivity everything depends on. When the network fails, the business stops, so reliability and calm troubleshooting are the core of the role.

⚡ In short

A UK Network Engineer typically earns £35k-£60k. Expect a placement in 4-8 weeks. Coburg Banks recruits them with no fee until your hire starts.

£35k-£60k

Typical base salary

4-8 weeks

Time to hire

48 hrs

To first shortlist

12 wks

Replacement guarantee

What to look for in a Network Engineer

1

Troubleshooting under pressure

Ask about a serious network issue they diagnosed and fixed.

2

Relevant certifications and kit

Match experience with your vendors and technologies.

3

Security mindset

Networks are a security frontline. Probe how they think about it.

How to run the hire

1. Define the environment
Be clear on the kit, scale and whether it's design, run or both.

2. Score for troubleshooting
Weight real diagnostic ability over certifications alone.

3. Source and screen
Approach candidates with relevant vendor experience.

4. Test with a fault scenario
Give a network problem and hear how they'd isolate it.

5. Reference reliability
Confirm they kept the network stable and secure.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to hire a Network Engineer?

Fees typically run 15-20% of first-year salary, capped and agreed upfront.

Nothing is due until your hire starts.

How long does it take to hire a Network Engineer?

Usually 4-8 weeks.

Vendor and certification requirements are the main variables.

What does a Network Engineer do?

A Network Engineer designs, builds and maintains the networks that carry a business's data - switches, routers, firewalls, connectivity and security.

They keep everything connected and are central to diagnosing and fixing outages.

Do certifications matter for a Network Engineer?

They help, especially vendor certifications matched to your kit, but real troubleshooting ability matters more.

We weight both, and won't let a certification list mask weak hands-on skill.

What should I ask a Network Engineer at interview?

Try: Walk me through diagnosing a network that's slow but not down.
How do you approach network security?
Tell me about a change that went wrong. and How do you document your network?

Do you recruit across network vendors?

Yes, across the common vendors and technologies.

We match experience to your kit while valuing engineers whose fundamentals transfer.

External citations

Ready to hire your next Network Engineer?

Tell us about your role and a specialist IT recruiter will call you. No fee until your hire starts.