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Senior Hardware Engineer - Cross Domain Solutions (SME)

CACI International

Fort Meade, MDFull-time$104–218K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

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At a glance

Compensation
$104–218K/yr
Location
Fort Meade, MD
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

TS/SCI clearance

Job overview

CACI seeks a Senior Hardware Engineer and subject matter expert to design, integrate, deploy, and sustain hardware-based Tactical Cross Domain Solutions in enterprise and intelligence environments. The role guides engineering teams, influences system architecture, evaluates technologies, and supports secure national security missions. It also covers hardware lifecycle management, technical documentation, compliance, logistics coordination, and training.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Tactical Cross Domain SolutionsHardware ArchitectureGuard TechnologiesPhysical Isolation MechanismsSecure Data TransferHardware EngineeringInfrastructure IntegrationRack DesignSystems MaintenanceEnterprise Hardware DeploymentSecurity Tool IntegrationVulnerability AssessmentHardware Lifecycle ManagementTechnical DocumentationCISSPCASP+ CECompTIA Server+CCNA SecurityCCNP SecurityIASAE Level II or IIINCDSMO StandardsAccreditation ProcessesHardware Security ControlsTamper-Resistant TechnologiesSecure DeploymentTactical Computing EnvironmentsRuggedized HardwareField-Deployable CDSSWaP-C OptimizationSecure Facility InfrastructureFiber-Optic IsolationTEMPESTHardware Interface Standards

Qualifications

Active TS/SCI With PolygraphHS+12, Associate+10, Bachelor+8, Master+6 or Doctorate+4 YrsDoD or IC Environment Experience

Benefits

Paid Time Off
401(k) Match
Tuition Assistance

Full job description

Job Title: Senior Hardware Engineer - Cross Domain Solutions (SME)

Job Category: Information Technology

Time Type: Full time

Minimum Clearance Required to Start: TS/SCI with Polygraph

Employee Type: Regular

Percentage of Travel Required: Up to 10%

Type of Travel: Continental US


The Opportunity

Are you passionate about designing and deploying secure, mission-critical technology solutions? CACI is seeking an experienced Application Engineer to support advanced Tactical Cross Domain Solutions (CDS) within enterprise and intelligence environments.

In this role, you will serve as a technical leader responsible for the design, integration, deployment, and sustainment of hardware-based CDS platforms and supporting infrastructure. You will help drive innovation by evaluating emerging technologies, leading hardware integration efforts, conducting technical analyses, and optimizing secure computing environments that support critical national security missions.

As a Subject Matter Expert (SME), you will influence system architecture decisions, guide engineering teams, and collaborate across multiple organizations to deliver secure, scalable, and reliable solutions.

Join a team that is solving complex challenges and advancing the next generation of intelligence and security technologies.

Responsibilities:

Hardware Architecture & Systems Engineering

  • Design, evaluate, and integrate hardware architectures, appliances, rack systems, and supporting infrastructure for secure cross-domain operations.

  • Develop and maintain physical system designs, infrastructure topologies, cable management plans, and engineering documentation.

  • Conduct hardware-focused gap analyses and evaluate system vulnerabilities, risks, and mitigation strategies.

  • Perform Analyses of Alternatives (AoA) for commercial and government hardware solutions.

  • Lead COTS and GOTS hardware integration efforts to support mission requirements.

  • Optimize existing hardware systems to improve performance, reliability, power efficiency, and lifecycle sustainability.

  • Author engineering documentation, including Configuration Plans, Engineering Change Proposals, and technical analysis packages.

Deployment & Lifecycle Support

  • Manage the full hardware lifecycle, including procurement, deployment, sustainment, upgrades, and retirement.

  • Install, configure, test, and troubleshoot servers, appliances, network equipment, and security platforms.

  • Conduct hardware validation, performance testing, fault isolation, and corrective maintenance activities.

  • Estimate equipment, installation, sustainment, space, power, cooling, and scheduling requirements for enterprise and tactical environments.

  • Monitor and maintain physical security tool suites and CDS hardware appliances.

Technical Leadership

  • Provide technical direction and mentorship to engineering and field support personnel.

  • Review engineering designs, implementation plans, and technical deliverables to ensure quality and compliance.

  • Lead technical evaluations of existing and emerging hardware technologies.

  • Support hardware accreditation, compliance, and security requirements across mission environments.

Logistics, Coordination & Training

  • Coordinate with logistics and supply organizations to procure, track, stage, deploy, and dispose of hardware assets.

  • Support enterprise-wide deployment of validated security hardware and tactical CDS capabilities.

  • Develop and deliver technical training and operational guidance for administrators and support personnel as directed by the Government.

Qualifications:

Required:

  • Active TS/SCI w/ Polygraph

  • Minimum experience requirements: All experience and education must be directly related to the position and obtained through accredited institutions.

  • High School Diploma/GED and 12 years of relevant experience, OR

  • Associate's Degree and 10 years of relevant experience, OR

  • Bachelor's Degree and 8 years of relevant experience, OR

  • Master's Degree and 6 years of relevant experience, OR

  • Doctorate Degree and 4 years of relevant experience.

  • Subject Matter Expert (SME)-level knowledge of Tactical Cross Domain Solutions (CDS), including hardware architectures, guard technologies, physical isolation mechanisms, and secure data transfer solutions.

  • Extensive experience in hardware engineering, infrastructure integration, rack design, and systems maintenance within Department of Defense (DoD) or Intelligence Community (IC) environments.

  • Experience deploying enterprise hardware solutions, integrating security and vulnerability-assessment tools, and managing hardware lifecycles.

  • Proven ability to develop formal technical documentation, including Configuration Plans, Engineering Change Proposals, and technical analysis reports.

Desired:

Certifications:

One or more of the following certifications are highly desired:

  • CISSP

  • CASP+ CE

  • CompTIA Server+ CCNA Security

  • CCNP Security

  • IASAE Level II or III certification

Specialized Experience

  • Knowledge of National Cross Domain Strategy and Management Office (NCDSMO) standards and accreditation processes.

  • Experience with hardware security controls, tamper-resistant technologies, and secure deployment practices.

  • Familiarity with tactical and expeditionary computing environments, including ruggedized hardware and field-deployable CDS capabilities.

  • Experience optimizing SWaP-C (Size, Weight, Power, and Cost) requirements for operational systems.

  • Understanding of secure facility infrastructure requirements, including fiber-optic isolation, TEMPEST considerations, and hardware interface standards.

What You Can Expect:

A culture of integrity.

At CACI, we place character and innovation at the center of everything we do. As a valued team member, you’ll be part of a high-performing group dedicated to our customer’s missions and driven by a higher purpose – to ensure the safety of our nation.

An environment of trust.

CACI values the unique contributions that every employee brings to our company and our customers - every day. You’ll have the autonomy to take the time you need through a unique flexible time off benefit and have access to robust learning resources to make your ambitions a reality.

A focus on continuous growth.

Together, we will advance our nation's most critical missions, build on our lengthy track record of business success, and find opportunities to break new ground — in your career and in our legacy.

Pay Range :

There are a host of factors that can influence final salary including, but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education, and certifications. Our employees value the flexibility at CACI that allows them to balance quality work and their personal lives. We offer competitive compensation, benefits and learning and development opportunities. Our broad and competitive mix of benefits options is designed to support and protect employees and their families. At CACI, you will receive comprehensive benefits such as; healthcare, wellness, financial, retirement, family support, continuing education, and time off benefits.

The proposed salary range for this position is:

$103,800 - $218,100

CACI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected characteristic.

How this job compares

Set against the 3,162 open Hardware Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 6, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$104–218K/yr
  • Maryland median$116–204K/yr32 salary ranges
  • US median$133–207K/yr2,367 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $161K, is 4% below the Maryland median midpoint ($168K) — in the middle half of Hardware Engineer salary ranges in Maryland.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 40 open Hardware Engineer jobs in Maryland and 3,162 across the US. Under 1% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Maryland
Experience
This posting asks for at least 4 years of experience; Hardware Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years at the median (2,637 postings).
Education
1,744 of the 3,162 open Hardware Engineer jobs (55%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 6, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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