The Art of Network Engineering

Andy and Friends

The Art of Network Engineering blends technical insight with real-world stories from engineers, innovators, and IT pros. From data centers on cruise ships to rockets in space, we explore the people, tools, and trends shaping the future of networking, while keeping it authentic, practical, and human. We tell the human stories behind network engineering so every engineer feels seen, supported, and inspired to grow in a rapidly changing industry. For more information, check out https://linktr.ee/artofneteng 

  1. 17 jun ·  Video

    From Network Engineer to Product Marketing: A Career Path for Communicators

    What happens when a network engineer realizes their biggest strength isn’t just technology, it’s communication? In this episode of The Art of Network Engineering, Andy Lapteff sits down with Patrick McCabe to discuss the transition from network engineering into product marketing and other vendor-side technical roles. Pat shares stories from: carrier-scale networking,tier 3 operational support,IPTV deployments at AT&T,systems engineering,sales,and eventually product marketing leadership.Together, they discuss: why some engineers naturally gravitate toward communication-focused roles,how soft skills accelerate technical careers,the realities of outages and operational burnout,the difference between engineering and product marketing mindsets,and why AI is changing how technical professionals work.This episode is especially relevant for engineers who enjoy: teaching,storytelling,customer interaction,content creation,mentoring,or translating technical complexity into business value.If you’ve ever wondered what comes after network operations, this conversation offers an honest look at one possible path forward. Topics discussed: Product marketing, vendor careers, systems engineering, AI, technical communication, networking careers, maintenance windows, IPTV, AT&T networking, soft skills, sales engineering, and career growth in IT. Send us Fan Mail This episode has been sponsored by Meter.  Go to meter.com/aone to book a demo now!  Support the show Find everything AONE right here: https://linktr.ee/artofneteng

    47 min.
  2. 8 apr

    Grow Your Career in 2026

    What does a network engineer actually make in 2025–2026? How do you ask for a raise without making it weird? And what's the single biggest thing holding your career back? We recorded this one live. This episode comes straight from the US Networking User Association PA Network User Group 2026 Spring Career Day — a standing-room-only event organized by USNUA in the Philadelphia area. Five talks. Five perspectives. All of it relevant to where you are right now in your career. Drew Conroy Murray from Packet Pushers kicks things off with highlights from their global salary survey — 418 respondents across 33 countries, with some genuinely surprising numbers around certifications, tools, and geographic salary gaps. Pat follows with a straightforward breakdown of how to build your case, time your ask, and walk out of a raise conversation with something — even if the answer is no. David takes it from there with a hard truth most engineers don't want to hear: being good at your job is the floor, not the ceiling. Visibility, advocacy, and knowing who has influence over your next move matters more than you think. Danny brings the career path conversation — why management isn't the only way up, why passion matters more than a title, and why finding your people changes everything. Andy closes with a personal story about unemployment, cognitive bias, and what it actually took to unlearn a decade of being anti-automation. Fair warning: it gets real. This is the kind of conversation that usually stays in the room. We're glad we got to record it. Topics covered: salary benchmarks, asking for a raise, promotion strategy, career pathing, network automation, cognitive bias, personal brand, soft skills Send us Fan Mail This episode has been sponsored by Meter.  Go to meter.com/aone to book a demo now!  Support the show Find everything AONE right here: https://linktr.ee/artofneteng

    1 u 15 m

Info

The Art of Network Engineering blends technical insight with real-world stories from engineers, innovators, and IT pros. From data centers on cruise ships to rockets in space, we explore the people, tools, and trends shaping the future of networking, while keeping it authentic, practical, and human. We tell the human stories behind network engineering so every engineer feels seen, supported, and inspired to grow in a rapidly changing industry. For more information, check out https://linktr.ee/artofneteng 

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