Retained Recruitment for Network Engineers

Most Network Engineer searches through our retained model are completed within 21 to 35 business days. Network engineers with SD-WAN deployment experience and cloud networking knowledge (AWS Direct Connect, Azure ExpressRoute) are significantly more scarce than those with pure on-premises skills — and increasingly critical as organisations adopt hybrid architectures. We provide a realistic timeline at the start of every engagement.

Cisco CCNA or CCNP certification (or equivalent Juniper/Aruba experience), hands-on switching and routing experience, firewall management (Palo Alto, Fortinet, or Cisco ASA), and familiarity with SD-WAN and network monitoring tools.

The best Network Engineers are almost always employed and not browsing job boards. Network engineers with SD-WAN deployment experience and cloud networking knowledge (AWS Direct Connect, Azure ExpressRoute) are significantly more scarce than those with pure on-premises skills — and increasingly critical as organisations adopt hybrid architectures. A retained search means one dedicated recruiter works your role exclusively — conducting passive candidate outreach, pre-screening technically, and presenting only candidates who genuinely match your brief.

Every permanent retained placement includes a 90-day guarantee. If the placed professional departs or is released within 90 days for reasons covered under our guarantee terms, we conduct a full replacement search at no additional fee.

Compensation for Network Engineer roles typically ranges from $75,000 – $130,000. CCNP-level network engineers with cloud networking and SD-WAN experience command the top of this range. We include real-time compensation benchmarking in every retained search.