Six Figure Work

Senior Hardware Engineer - Cross Domain Solutions (SME)

CACI

Company websitecaci.com (CACI, opens in new tab)

Base salary $103,800  to $218,100

Employer-published annual base salary, USD. Advertised base range in Fort Meade, MD

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  • LocationFort Meade, MD
  • WorkplaceOn-site
  • Status at last checkSource accepting applications when checked
  • Last checked (1 h ago) · observed since

About this job

Job Title: Senior Hardware Engineer - Cross Domain Solutions (SME)Job Category: Information TechnologyTime Type: Full timeMinimum Clearance Required to Start: TS/SCI with PolygraphEmployee Type: RegularPercentage 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.
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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.

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

Pay in context

This role's base floor ($103,800) is above 8% of the 4,282 Engineering (non-software) roles nationwide listed on this site; 3 others list the same floor. Their median floor is $136,500; the middle half runs from $116,800 to $160,000.

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 7, 2026.

This range next to 6 other live CACI roles with the nearest advertised base floor
Chart as a table
This range next to 6 other live CACI roles with the nearest advertised base floor
RolePublished base
Senior Hardware Engineer - Cross Domain Solutions (SME) (this listing)$103,800 - $218,100
SAP Functional Consultant – Procure to Pay (PTP) / Materials Management (MM)$105,100 - $231,100
Exploitation Analyst (EA)$105,100 - $231,100
Cloud Infrastructure Systems Administrator- LINUX Admin$105,100 - $231,100
Oracle Fusion Cloud HCM Functional (SME)$105,100 - $231,100
Senior Principal Software Developer$105,100 - $231,100
Momentum Financials Technical Subject Matter Expert$105,100 - $231,100

Same $100K to $400K scale as every card. All CACI 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
2026-11-03
Where this pay comes from

Location as the employer wrote it: Fort Meade, MD, US

$103,800 - $218,100

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.