NOC Engineer Job Description

Network Operations Center (NOC) engineers monitor computer networks and large servers for problems from a central location. They analyze problems, perform troubleshooting and incident response in the system, communicate with site engineers, and follow up on issues until resolution.

The job market for NOC engineers is strong, as the telecommunications and IT sectors continue to grow and become more complex. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 12% job growth by 2024 for all IT support specialists, including NOC engineers.

NOC Engineer Duties and Responsibilities

To achieve their primary goal of monitoring and troubleshooting computer and telecommunications systems and networks, NOC engineers perform many tasks. We have analyzed various job postings to identify these core NOC Engineer tasks and responsibilities.

Monitoring systems

NOC engineers monitor the performance and capacity of computer systems using a variety of tools. They look for hardware, software and environmental alarms or faults. When a problem is identified, NOC engineers work to determine the cause of the problem.

Solve problems

When a problem affects IT services, the NOC engineer works to assess or fix the problem if possible. NOCs generally have standard operating procedures that the NOC engineer will follow closely. This may include coordinating with external vendors, customer contacts, or other IT teams.

Keep a record of all problems

When responding to incidents, the NOC engineer must closely monitor and document all issues and resolutions in detail. This increases the knowledge base of the NOC and is a record of the health of the system. Often the NOC has a ticketing system that the NOC engineer is responsible for updating.

Report incidents

When problems are too large or complex for quick problem resolution, NOC engineers should refer the problem to management, other IT resources, or outside vendors for help in reaching a resolution. NOC engineers maintain continuous communication inside and outside the team, to keep all interested parties aware of known and relevant issues and actions that need to be taken.

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