Computer Network Architects
Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning, including analysis of capacity needs for network infrastructures. May also design network and computer security measures. May research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software.
What education do people in this job actually have?
O*NET incumbent survey (2024)How EWU courses prepare you for this work (11 of 33 O*NET tasks have course evidence)
- Implement a program that uses an array to solve a problem.
- Write, compile and execute a complete program for a given problem.
- Explain the relationship between matroids and different algorithms for solving problems
- Identify the complexity class of a problem
Analyze a communication system and measure a performance in terms of probability of
use numerical schemes to find approximate solutions to initial value problems utilizing mathematical software such as Matlab or Mathematica.
Implement an iterative method to solve a problem (e.g. matrix decomposition, solution of a linear system of equations, determining eigenpairs of a matrix)
Apply basic linear algebra to economic problems.
Apply group theoretic concepts to solve mathematical problems
Employ the appropriate numerical technique to approximate a solution of an initial value problem, boundary value problem, or partial differential equation, with careful consideration of initial or boundary data.
Analyze a communication system and measure a performance in terms of probability of
Implement an iterative method to solve a problem (e.g. matrix decomposition, solution of a linear system of equations, determining eigenpairs of a matrix)
Write, compile and execute a complete program for a given problem.
Analyze a communication system and measure a performance in terms of probability of
set up and solve second order, constant coefficient differential equations that arise from physical systems such as mass-spring systems and RLC circuits. In addition, students will have a strong intuition of the phenomenon of resonance.
Analyze a communication system and measure a performance in terms of probability of
Analyze a communication system and measure a performance in terms of probability of
Analyze a communication system and measure a performance in terms of probability of
Understand effects of noise in communication systems including Shannon’s capacity
Analyze a communication system and measure a performance in terms of probability of
Identify the complexity class of a problem
Recent regional postings for this occupation
View all 446 postings from the last year →5 most recent CareerOneStop listings for this occupation. "Live" in Quick Facts counts only postings the scraper re-confirmed in the last 7 days; older real postings still appear here until they age out.
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Cloud Engineer2026-06-05Cardinal Health · Olympia, WA
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Dedicated Cloud Engineer, ADC Faraday2026-06-05Amazon · Seattle, WA4 requirements 5 responsibilities 4 nice-to-have1+ years of systems administration (Linux/Windows) experience
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Software Infrastructure Engineer (Starlink)2026-06-05SpaceX · Redmond, WA
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Software Infrastructure Engineer (Starlink)2026-06-05SpaceX · Redmond, WA
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Sr Cloud Engineer2026-06-02Fujifilm · Olympia, WA30 requirements 19 responsibilitiesAWS Certified SysOps Administrator- Associate, or equivalent certification
Where to focus your applied learning (22 taskes without course evidence yet)
These O*NET tasks don't have direct course-objective evidence in the Math BS catalog yet. Each is an opportunity to gain hands-on preparation through an applied project, MAA-sponsored partnership, elective, or internship. The Math BS applied-projects page has examples of project-driven learning that could close these kinds of gaps.
- Develop disaster recovery plans. (importance 4.4/5)
- Develop or recommend network security measures, such as firewalls, network security audits, or automated security probes. (importance 4.3/5)
- Maintain networks by performing activities such as file addition, deletion, or backup. (importance 4.2/5)
- Coordinate network operations, maintenance, repairs, or upgrades. (importance 4.2/5)
- Coordinate installation of new equipment. (importance 4.0/5)
- Develop network-related documentation. (importance 3.9/5)
- Participate in network technology upgrade or expansion projects, including installation of hardware and software and integration testing. (importance 3.8/5)
- Design, build, or operate equipment configuration prototypes, including network hardware, software, servers, or server operation systems. (importance 3.8/5)
- Communicate with system users to ensure accounts are set up properly or to diagnose and solve operational problems. (importance 3.8/5)
- Communicate with vendors to gather information about products, alert them to future needs, resolve problems, or address system maintenance issues. (importance 3.7/5)
- Develop plans or budgets for network equipment replacement. (importance 3.7/5)
- Communicate with customers, sales staff, or marketing staff to determine customer needs. (importance 3.6/5)
- Supervise engineers or other staff in the design or implementation of network solutions. (importance 3.6/5)
- Design, organize, and deliver product awareness, skills transfer, or product education sessions for staff or suppliers. (importance 3.4/5)
- Explain design specifications to integration or test engineers. (importance 3.3/5)
- Coordinate network or design activities with designers of associated networks. (importance 3.1/5)
- Prepare or monitor project schedules, budgets, or cost control systems. (importance 3.1/5)
- Prepare design presentations and proposals for staff or customers. (importance 3.1/5)
- Use network computer-aided design (CAD) software packages to optimize network designs. (importance 3.1/5)
- Visit vendors, attend conferences or training sessions, or study technical journals to keep up with changes in technology. (importance 2.8/5)
- Develop or maintain project reporting systems. (importance 2.7/5)
- Maintain or coordinate the maintenance of network peripherals, such as printers. (importance 2.6/5)
More O*NET details for this occupation (skills, knowledge, tools & technology)
O*NET's tools-and-technology list aggregates software encountered across the occupation's many sub-roles, so the list can be broad. Treat it as a directory of what people in this job might use, not a checklist of what every job requires.
Where this data comes from. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills, and education-incumbents survey come from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 30.2. Washington-state pay and employment projections come from WA Employment Security Department and the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Live job postings come from CareerOneStop, refreshed nightly from a scrape that tracks the original posting date and the date our system last saw each posting live.
How we connect courses to occupations. Course catalog descriptions and program-level learning outcomes are indexed alongside O*NET task statements. Where a course's language aligns with a task an occupation requires, we mark it as evidence of preparation. Faculty review each candidate match and either confirm or veto it; only confirmed matches surface in totals.