Career Path Advice - Moving from a Network Engineer to a Backend Engineer

[@denisleonard1565]

Hi Hussein, I am a Network engineer as weel I have experience as a VMware Data Center consultant, If I switch career into a backend software engineer, is it easy? Should I move to an Enterprise (bank) company or a Startup company? I think work as a software engineer depends on the software they are building. It is very different path if you work as an IT consultant, you need to specialize just one product, go deeeeep into one product without needing to know anything else :)

[@jjames7206]

Thanks Hussein ,you just make my mind so clearly ever .

[@jaimebastida8956]

x2

[@MajedDalain]

I was not a network engineer but I totally agree since I feel how important is it to have the networking knowledge as a backend engineer

[@wealthup2702]

been a network and VoIP engineer for over a decade...this is good to know

[@Shadow44Man]

I’m actually just starting out my career (graduated in Elec Eng) and have been exposed to DevOps and network engineering through certifications like CCNA. And after looking at your videos, I am trying to find out whether to pursue pure layer 7 with backend engineer (coding + sockets), or to stay with DevOps (CI/CD, Kubernetes environments, etc). Any thoughts about which is a better, more sustainable path? Also, is it too late to start learning advanced programming? (i have some python knowledge and built small apps, but it feels overwhelming since everyone seems to be ahead with Computer Science and Software Eng degrees)

[@hnasr]

I think DevOps will give you more diverse skillset. However you will have to niche down at some point and be a specialized in any of those slices. This could be 6 or 13 years. You will find yourself gravitated automatically All the best

[@vinny142]

"Any thoughts about which is a better, more sustainable path?" Nobody can predict the future, but you know what you *like*. Stick towhat you like, don't try to learn something you don't like, you won't learn it and you won't enjoy it. "Also, is it too late to start learning advanced programming?" No it's never too late.. " (i have some python knowledge and built small apps, but it feels overwhelming since everyone seems to be ahead with Computer Science and Software Eng degrees) " Degrees are nice but they only prove that you followed classes, not that you are good at your job. Some companies will want certifications, most want to see proof of experience or at least some indication that you like the work, that you're willing to learn etc. In the end there is no substitute for experience.

[@vinny142]

Perhaps this is a good time to define what a backend engineer is, and what a network engineer is. proxies, loadbalancers etc are network-engineer stuff. A backend engineer is better off knowing about these things, but typically a backend engineer develops software that uses the network that the network engineer built to talk to the apps that the frontend engineers built. There is a lot of overlap, absolutely, and most of it is simply unclear. For example;is CSS a frontend or backend thing?It is rendered by the client so it'sfrontend, but I can write it and serve it fromDjang, which is strictly backend... One thing you cannot get around is taht a backend engineer *must* know how to program in languages like PHP, C,Python (Python is great btw), which is not required by a network engineer. So there is a *HUGE* learning curve there.

[@hnasr]

Agree the titles are usually vague and overlaps must happen. I think of backend engineer is person who builds a system that is being consumed by a frontend. That frontend can be a backend for some other frontend so the line is blurred as you said.

[@DeadlyDragon_]

Hey now us network engineers are familiar with python! Software defined networking is a thing ;)

[@ruinascimento501]

What's up? I've question about programming language. which programming language? I'm new in the backend world!!!

[@sanilkhurana3991]

Can you also make a video about moving from front end engineer to back end engineer? That would be super helpful!

[@vinny142]

Why does everybody want a video about how to move from Xto Y? The story is the same in all cases:learn what you need to know about Y. How much you need to learn depends on how much you already know from your work as X. Any move from one field of expertise to another requires a *LOT* of work, and you will have to start as a junior in that new field because evena senior network engineer has only a junior's level of experience in backend engineering. I repeat: do what you *LIKE* not what you think will give you a job with a big paycheck.

[@sanilkhurana3991]

@@vinny142 For me, backend is what I like. I got a frontend job after college and decided to take it. I am now trying to move to backend

[@_init_innovate29]

Very clear and neat explanation. Thanks!

[@hnasr]

Glad you enjoyed it! thanks Rasheed

[@deigodsavio746]

Thanks

[@jeff_mci_gaming6018]

Whats another name for backend Engineer?

[@MBSH-ol4vy]

imagine if we have that The OSI Adjacent-layer interaction between us as Network and software eng🤓😁

[@hazemabdelalim5189]

How to move from a backend Engineer to Solution Architect Engineer ?

[@usamatahseenulhaque9125]

Can you pls make a video on server less

[@EduardKhiaev]

You're right, but what about actual coding?

[@hnasr]

Coding skills are required for every engineer of course.

[@usamatahseenulhaque9125]

I like your attitude 5:09 You have so mich knowledge but you dont call yourself an expert

[@deshkarabhishek]

Very clear explanation but didn't like the place where you are recording. it is annoying to watch to be honest.

[@hnasr]

Thank you, you can listen to the content on podcast form here husseinnasser.com/podcast

[@deigodsavio746]

@@hnasr not annoying at all.. great !! I have been watching most of your videos.. learning lot of new stuff. thanks. /// Which programming language would you recommend to build a SSH client.. like putty, secureCRT .

[@elmehdisaniss2731]

I loove the higher levels and I hate the layer 2

[@hnasr]

But layer 2 likes you :( It is interesting what happens on that layer if you think about it I wonder if we can redesign a new whole system without it

[@elmehdisaniss2731]

@@hnasr I think as a systems and networking engineer I understand quit well the layer 2 and I see it as limiting and dependant to the physical constructs of the present protocols that we have today in the switches and in physical networking interfaces in general.

[@vinny142]

@@elmehdisaniss2731 So you see the current layer2 implemention as a limitation of the current layer2?

[@elmehdisaniss2731]

@@vinny142 No, what I see i just that you can't a lot in layer 2, you can just use it as it is not like the higher layer espcially layer 7.

[@vinny142]

@@elmehdisaniss2731 Sure but that's comparing apples to oranges.