Knowledge and skills for software-defined networks maintenance engineer

In this article we analyze the Russian developments in the field of software-defined networks and software-defined wide area networks, professional standards and job vacancies in order to determine knowledge and skills required of specialists. We conclude that there is a lack of practical manuals for training network engineers, and suggest possible topics for laboratory exercises for educational textbooks. This article can be useful for teachers of educational institutions of vocational secondary education, higher education, supplementary education in the development of work programs of disciplines, lecture material and laboratory workshops in the field of software-defined networks, as well as for students of the educational institutions and for junior network engineers.