Finding the Right Remote Networking Gig in 2025
Let me be honest - two years ago I was completely burned out working on-site. Long commutes, office politics, and yeah... the whole "sitting in traffic for 2 hours" thing was killing my vibe. So I started hunting for remote networking jobs.
Fast forward to today, and I've worked with several amazing companies that actually let me do my thing from home. In this guide, I'm sharing what I've learned - the companies that actually pay well, treat remote teams right, and won't ghost you after month 2.
Why Remote Networking Actually Works
Networking jobs used to require you to be physically present to troubleshoot infrastructure. Then COVID happened. Now? Most of it can be done from anywhere with a decent internet connection.
The real benefit though? You're not competing just with people in your city anymore. You're competing globally, but you're also getting paid based on experience and skills - not zip code.
Companies Actually Hiring Network Engineers Remotely
1. Cisco (EMEA & US)
They've been offering remote networking roles for a while now. Starting salaries around $75k-$95k depending on experience. The downside? Their hiring process is slow. Real slow. But once you're in, the benefits are solid.
2. IBM & Red Hat
IBM merged with Red Hat a few years back, and honestly? They've improved their remote culture. Network architects are pulling $85k-$110k. They're also good about work-life balance (mostly).
3. Cloudflare
If you're into cloud networking and security, these guys are crushing it. They're seriously remote-first. Salaries are $90k-$130k+ depending on seniority. They hire globally too, which is clutch if you're outside the US.
4. Fastly
Similar vibe to Cloudflare. More niche, but their remote program is legit. $88k-$115k range.
5. DigitalOcean
Great for DevOps + networking roles. They're fully remote. Salary range $70k-$105k. Culture is pretty chill from what I've heard.
What About Salary?
Honestly? Remote network engineer salaries in 2025:
- Junior (0-2 yrs): $60k-$75k
- Mid-level (2-5 yrs): $80k-$110k
- Senior (5+ yrs): $110k-$160k+
But here's the catch - if you're in India or other non-US countries, the salary can be 30-40% lower. It sucks, but that's the reality. Some companies like Shopify and Stripe do try to pay market rates regardless of location though.
Pro Tips I've Learned
1. Your GitHub matters
I can't stress this enough. If you have solid networking automation scripts (Python, Ansible, etc.) on GitHub, companies notice. I landed one gig just because my repo had a popular BGP automation tool.
2. Timing is everything
Q1 (Jan-March) companies usually have fresh budgets. Q4 they're cutting positions. Apply accordingly.
3. Network (pun intended)
LinkedIn is NOT dead. Actually posting about what you're working on gets you noticed. I've had 3 recruiter messages just from commenting on DevOps posts.
4. The interview will be technical
They'll definitely ask you to troubleshoot scenarios. Have your CCNA or equivalent fresh in your mind. Or better yet, keep learning new stuff.
Challenges I've Faced
- Timezone issues - Working with teams across 6 time zones is tough. Your standup might be at 8 AM or 10 PM.
- Isolation - Remote work hits different when you're working solo from a home office. You need to build your own community.
- Internet dependency - One bad ISP and you're done. I've learned to have a backup mobile hotspot always ready.
Where to Look?
- LinkedIn - Seriously, set up job alerts for "Network Engineer Remote"
- GitHub Jobs - Lots of startups post here
- We Work Remotely - Site dedicated to remote jobs
- Stack Overflow Jobs - Tech-focused
- Company careers pages - Cisco, Cloudflare, IBM all have dedicated remote sections
Real Talk
If you're thinking about going remote as a network engineer - do it. The flexibility, the time saved on commute (which you can spend learning new tech or just chilling), and the fact that you can work from a coffee shop in Bali while earning US rates... it's worth the adjustment period.
Just make sure your home setup is solid, your internet is reliable, and you're good with async communication.
Have questions about remote networking jobs? Drop them in the comments. I'm monitoring and happy to share what I know.
Good luck out there! 🚀
Top comments (0)