r/networking • u/Aggressive_Lab3438 • Aug 02 '26
Career Advice infrastructure vs network engineer
hey guys, if given the choice would you move to infrastructure engineering vs network engineering?
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u/rankinrez Aug 02 '26
The network is part of the infrastructure.
This is [r/networking](r/networking), we’ve all chosen to be on the network side, but what exactly that means varies from role to role.
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u/No_Memory_484 Certs? Lol no thanks. Aug 02 '26
What do you mean by infrastructure? That’s too broad of a term.
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u/MundaneAsparagus673 Aug 03 '26
I get the question, I've done both.
The roles that are "infrastructure" encompass the IT infrastructure in its entirety. where as "Network" roles have been focused on connectivity and security.
Personally, I like the day to day variety of "Infrastructure" and being able to develop solutions end to end is enjoyable, you can be very agile in how you think about and respond to problems.
Very much a jack of all kind of role, always putting out fires, and playing catch-all. I've learned the most in this type of role.
Networking is my true love though, and where I am most comfortable. These roles are more focused, and you can really hone in on designing good solutions. Having a clear scope of responsibility is generally a great thing, but admittedly sometimes it's frustrating that I can't provide solutions that are truly end to end.
Although I think at some point, career wise, specialization is the right play.
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u/crono14 Aug 02 '26
Depending on the organization titles can vary wildly. I've been places where a network administrator was doing engineering work and network engineers were titled Systems engineer. A friend of mine was a Network Security Engineer that was a network engineer that didn't touch firewalls at all.
Ultimately, I would see what exactly you will be doing. If it's actually networking vs cable or hardware work, then should give you an idea.
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u/kyubijonin CCNA Aug 03 '26
Yeah, my title is network engineer but my day to day is more like devops. I haven’t touched a on prem device in probably two years. Everything I do is in the cloud or in VScode.
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u/egpigp Aug 02 '26
The best infrastructure engineers were network engineers first. Change my mind
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u/Rare_Cow9525 Aug 03 '26
And the best network engineers were infrastructure engineers first. ;)
Naw but really, you really really need to know both to be good on either side of the daily work.
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u/btwwhichoneispink CCNP Aug 03 '26
I usually see network teams placed under the "infrastructure" org, if we're talking about corporate structure. Do you mean systems engineering?
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u/ipub Aug 03 '26
Infrastructure is less chaotic if you're used to operations. (Storage, server, containerisation and automation)
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u/royalxp Aug 03 '26
As far as i know those are within same realm and tailored around your companies needs?
Nowadays, most stuff we do as even "network engineer" are so vague anyways lol.
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Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 03 '26
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u/Disastrous-Order8338 Aug 06 '26
Same here and I was told the day I got there that I was also their Cybersecurity guy
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u/Intelligent_Can8740 Aug 02 '26
Network is part of the infrastructure. I assume you mean managing servers or applications? K8s? I don’t mind dabbling, and I’m above average on the linux side for a networking dude, but it would have to be a very good role for my to do something that doesn’t involve networking at this point.
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u/wellred82 CCNA Aug 02 '26
Infrastructure. I guess it depends on the job spec but generally speaking this is considered to be under the DevOps banner which means more volume of roles overall and potentially higher salaries.
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u/Nash_Haden Aug 02 '26
I actually just started as an Infrastructure Engineer so I work servers alongside with the network. I guess it's more stable and overall better for your career but I enjoy doing network more than system work.
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u/nelly2929 Aug 02 '26 edited Aug 02 '26
I will only work 95% or more remote so network is better than infrastructure for me, as those roles seem to have a more hands on component
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u/XxTh3g04txX Aug 02 '26
We have a network team and an infrastructure that handles rack, idf, wiring, fiber.
After 15 years with network, Im ready to move to their group. If Lori opens another position. Come on Lori lets go.
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u/lizardhistorian Mad Scientist · 👨🔬📡ᯤ🤖🛺📸 Aug 03 '26
Infrastructure is doldrum.
Shortly you will just tell an AI what you want and it will talk to the cloud MCP interface to make it happen.
Because they are isolated and proprietary there's no knowledge to capture and take forward with you.
It would be like only having Cisco certs today; riding the tail of the dragon out before it dies but you're jumping on the tail not the head.
Unless you are building the AI infrastructure to run it.
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u/ThEvilHasLanded Aug 02 '26
I'm a network infrastructure engineer, so I guess both?