Six Figure Work

Hardware Engineer

Nightwing

Company websitenightwing.com (Nightwing, opens in new tab)

Base salary $122K  to $253K

Employer-published annual base salary, USD. Advertised base range in Sterling, VA

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  • LocationSterling, VA
  • WorkplaceWorkplace not stated
  • Status at last checkSource accepting applications when checked
  • Last checked (31 min ago) · observed since

About this job

Nightwing provides technically advanced full-spectrum cyber, data operations, systems integration and intelligence mission support services to meet our customers’ most demanding challenges. Our capabilities include cyber space operations, cyber defense and resiliency, vulnerability research, ubiquitous technical surveillance, data intelligence, lifecycle mission enablement, and software modernization. Nightwing brings disruptive technologies, agility, and competitive offerings to customers in the intelligence community, defense, civil, and commercial markets.


Job Title: Hardware Engineer
Location: Sterling, VA
Clearance: TS/SCI Poly

**This position is CONTINGENT upon contract award**

The Hardware Engineer (HWE) collaboratively works closely with the Sponsor, OM, and PO Teams to identify, understand, and anticipate Mission Partner and system requirements. The HWE analyzes network, compute, and storage processing hardware characteristics and recommends equipment procurement, removals, and modifications. The HWE reviews system inventory, in-bound shipments, and ongoing demand to ensure that proper hardware stock and sparing levels are maintained to support build and repair activities. The HWE works with the ITAM/Lab Manager to optimize the flow of parts through their lifecycle; tracking inventory location, movement, age, and turns. The HWE performs daily system data center rounds to monitor the data center infrastructure, coordinate response to operational incidents, and partner with other providers to rapidly resolve issues that impact service availability. The HWE supports system infrastructure build-outs (cage builds, overhead installations, rack and stack), cable termination and testing, maintenance work, monitoring and responding to mechanical, electrical, fire protection, telecom, and security systems. Daily tasks include, but are not limited to:

  • Conduct sites surveys; assesses and documents current site network configuration and user requirements.

  • Analyze existing requirements and prepare specifications for hardware acquisitions.

  • Review system compute, storage, and networking systems in terms mission capability, end of life, and redundancy

  • Prepares reports and studies concerning hardware that provide to cost savings, technical efficiencies, and system reliability recommendations.

  • Prepares functional requirements and specifications for hardware acquisitions.

  • Produces Test Plans by preparing engineering plans and site installation Technical Design Packages.

  • Manage or assist in Infrastructure projects (Internal/Sponsor) to include Cage and Cabinet Build-Outs, Overhead Installations, Rack and Stack

  • Develops and prepares site and hardware installation schedules, supplying subsequent test reports.

  • Prepares drawings documenting configuration changes.

  • Assist in asset and consumable inventory management

Required Skills:

  • Essential skills include experience in configuring, deploying, and managing hardware infrastructure, along with expert knowledge of hardware itself.

  • Experience with workflow orchestration/automation tools, virtualizing platforms, and configuration/infrastructure management tools are also necessary.

  • Experience in data center environments, engineering hardware and network designs for large-scale applications, automating issue detection, and operating cloud-based platforms are key requirements.

  • Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, the ability to troubleshoot complex issues, and collaboration skills are also important.

  • Understanding hardware, lifecycle management and optimization is also required.

Desired Skills:

  • Experience with specific hardware and cloud vendors (e.g., HP/Dell, AWS, Azure, GCP).

  • Experience with server visualization technologies (e.g., VMware, Red Hat Virtualization, Oracle VM), performance analysis tools, managing budgets, and collaborating with hardware manufacturers are also beneficial.

Desired Certs:

  • CompTIA Hardware Certification (e.g., A+, Network+, Server+).

  • Cisco Certifications (e.g., CCNA, CCDP).

  • Microsoft Certifications (e.g., MCSA, MCSE).

  • Specialized certifications related to specific hardware technologies (e.g., embedded systems, networking).


Salary & Benefits

The salary associated with this position ($122,000-$253,000) is commensurate with the selected candidate’s qualifications, years of relevant experience, and demonstrated level of expertise. Compensation will be determined based on these factors to ensure alignment with skills, responsibilities, and market standards.


Nightwing offers medical, vision and dental insurance coverage in addition to a 401k plan, PTO, Holidays, and additional insurances.


Nightwing is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.

 

Source: Nightwing on Workday · View original posting (opens in new tab)

Pay in context

This role's base floor ($122,000) is above 50% of the 140 Engineering (non-software) roles in Virginia listed on this site; 1 other lists the same floor. Their median floor is $120,400; the middle half runs from $111,300 to $136,600.

Only jobs on this site count, and each one publishes a base salary of $100,000 or more, so this compares six-figure jobs with each other, not with the whole market. Computed Nov 6, 2026.

This range next to 6 other live Nightwing roles with the nearest advertised base floor
Chart as a table
This range next to 6 other live Nightwing roles with the nearest advertised base floor
RolePublished base
Hardware Engineer (this listing)$122K - $253K
Windows Kernel Developer$122K - $253K
Software Engineer 3$122K - $253K
Windows Vulnerability Research$122K - $253K
Senior Program / Product Manager$122K - $253K
Systems Engineer/Technical Project Manager$122K - $253K
Cyber Host Forensic Analyst IV$122K - $253K

Same $100K to $400K scale as every card. All Nightwing roles · How to read the bar

Observed changes

  1. First observed on the employer's board
  2. Began meeting the published-salary criteria
Observed since
Employer-stated posting date
2026-07-13
Where this pay comes from

Location as the employer wrote it: Sterling, VA

The salary associated with this position ($122,000-$253,000) is commensurate with the selected candidate’s qualificatio

Method
Employer text, read with fixed rules and re-verified
Checked
Rule set
us-base-v2

The pay passage appears in the employer's own job text. Fixed, deterministic rules located it, and the passage below was checked against the stored copy of the posting.

What we verified

  • The pay figures come from the employer's own listing, quoted exactly above.
  • The pay is an annual base salary in US dollars with a minimum of at least $100,000.
  • The role was publicly listed on the employer's job board when last checked.

We do not verify what the employer will actually offer, whether the employer is still recruiting for the role, or anything beyond what the employer published. Full methodology.