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Hardware Engineer Contract Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Subject Matter Expert - Hardware Reverse Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$142K - $187K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Contract personnel perform investigations to characterize the severity of breaches, develop ... The Subject Matter Expert Hardware Reverse Engineers will provide specialized expertise in hardware ...

Subject Matter Expert - Hardware Reverse Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$142K - $187K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Contract personnel perform investigations to characterize the severity of breaches, develop ... The Subject Matter Expert Hardware Reverse Engineers will provide specialized expertise in hardware ...

Hardware Reverse Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$134K - $202K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Collaborating closely with top-tier hardware engineers and security researchers, you'll help tackle ... as contract specific affordability and organizational requirements. Salary Range $134,731-$202,096 ...

Lead Hardware Reverse Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$154K - $231K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Collaborating closely with top-tier hardware engineers and security researchers, you'll help tackle ... as contract specific affordability and organizational requirements. Salary Range $154,257-$231,386 ...

Lead Hardware Reverse Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$154K - $231K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Collaborating closely with top-tier hardware engineers and security researchers, you'll help tackle ... as contract specific affordability and organizational requirements. Salary Range $154,257-$231,386 ...

Showing results 41-60

Hardware Engineer Contract information

See Washington salary details

$57.8K

$165.6K

$222.6K

How much do hardware engineer contract jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for hardware engineer contract in Washington is $165,620.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $139,900.00 and $184,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a hardware engineer contract?

A Hardware Engineer Contract job is a temporary or project-based role where engineers design, develop, and test hardware components for various systems. These contracts may last from a few months to a year or more, depending on the project's needs. Contractors often work for tech companies, manufacturers, or consulting firms, bringing specialized expertise without long-term commitments. This role typically involves circuit design, PCB layout, prototyping, and testing. Contract hardware engineers may work on-site or remotely, depending on the employer's requirements.

What kind of projects and work environments can I expect as a hardware engineer contract?

As a contract hardware engineer, you'll often work on short- to mid-term projects such as new product development, system upgrades, or prototype testing for a variety of clients. Environments vary from in-house R&D labs and manufacturing floors to remote collaboration with distributed teams, depending on the client and project scope. You'll typically work alongside firmware engineers, product managers, and test engineers to deliver integrated solutions. This variety offers exposure to different industries and technologies, building both your expertise and professional network.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a hardware engineer contract?

To thrive as a Hardware Engineer Contract, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, circuit design, and prototyping, often supported by a relevant degree and hands-on experience. Familiarity with CAD software, PCB layout tools, and hardware validation systems is typically required, and certifications like IPC-A-610 or CompTIA ITF+ can be advantageous. Strong problem-solving, communication, and project management skills help you excel within cross-functional teams and manage shifting project priorities. These competencies ensure you can deliver robust hardware solutions on time, collaborate effectively, and adapt to the dynamic nature of contract work.

What are the most commonly searched types of Hardware Engineer jobs in Washington?

The most popular types of Hardware Engineer jobs in Washington are:

What are popular job titles related to Hardware Engineer Contract jobs in Washington?

For Hardware Engineer Contract jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Hardware Engineer Contract jobs in Washington look for?

The top searched job categories for Hardware Engineer Contract jobs in Washington are:

What cities in Washington are hiring for Hardware Engineer Contract jobs?

Cities in Washington with the most Hardware Engineer Contract job openings:

Infographic showing various Hardware Engineer Contract job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $165,620 per year, or $79.6 per hour.

Subject Matter Expert Hardware Reverse Engineer

NewGen Technologies

Arlington, VA • On-site

$142K - $187K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted yesterday


Job description

Our Partner is supporting a U.S. Government customer to provide support for onsite incident response to civilian Government agencies and critical asset owners who experience cyber-attacks, providing immediate investigation and resolution. Contract personnel perform investigations to characterize the severity of breaches, develop mitigation plans, and assist with the restoration of services. They are seeking a Subject Matter Expert with hardware reverse engineering to support this critical customer mission.  
The Subject Matter Expert Hardware Reverse Engineer will provide specialized expertise in hardware reverse engineering focused on operational technology (OT) and industrial control systems. This position requires deep technical knowledge of proprietary hardware systems, exploitation methodologies, and defensive strategies to support forensic investigations of compromised edge devices and systems where threat actors have embedded malware deeply within hardware components. 
This position focuses on the analytical and investigative aspects of hardware forensics, with particular emphasis on operational technology and industrial control systems. The ideal candidates will have strong reverse engineering skills and deep understanding of threat actor methodologies targeting critical infrastructure. 
Responsibilities
  • Conduct comprehensive hardware reverse engineering of OT and ICS devices 
  • Analyze network-edge devices and embedded systems compromised by advanced threats 
  • Perform deep-dive analysis of proprietary hardware targeted by adversaries 
  • Conduct reverse engineering, failure analysis, vulnerability analysis, and other research techniques to understand complex hardware systems, assess the functionality of components, and identify exploitation risks
  • Identify and extract deeply embedded malware from hardware components 
  • Reverse engineer firmware and low-level software on embedded devices 
  • Collaborate with Partner research teams to leverage cutting-edge analytical capabilities 
  • Utilize and enhance KI2 system emulation capabilities for hardware analysis 
  • Document exploitation methodologies and defensive countermeasures 
  • Develop standard operating procedures for hardware forensics workflows 
  • Train CSD analysts on hardware reverse engineering techniques 
  • Provide expert consultation on edge device security and vulnerabilities 
  • Support forensic investigations in environments lacking EDR visibility 
  • Analyze proprietary communication protocols and embedded systems functions 
  • Identify hardware backdoors, implants, and malicious modifications 
  • Collaborate with electrical engineers on chip-off forensics procedures 
  • Provide reach-back support to operational analysts during active investigations 
  • Contribute to research initiatives on emerging hardware threats 
  • Document technical findings and intelligence for stakeholder dissemination 
Requirements
  • U.S. Citizenship
  • Active TS/SCI Clearance
  • Must be able to obtain DHS Suitability
  • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or related discipline; Master’s degree or PhD preferred
  • 10+ years of experience in hardware reverse engineering or embedded systems analysis
  • Deep expertise in OT/ICS hardware platforms and vulnerabilities 
  • Ability to analyze novel or proprietary systems with limited documentation 
  • Strong communication skills for explaining complex technical findings 
  • Experience working collaboratively in research-oriented environments 
  • Strong experience with firmware reverse engineering and analysis 
  • Proficiency with reverse engineering tools (IDA Pro, Ghidra, Binary Ninja) 
  • Deep understanding of ARM, MIPS, PowerPC, and other embedded processor architectures 
  • Experience analyzing network-edge devices (routers, switches, firewalls, IoT devices) 
  • Knowledge of hardware debugging interfaces (JTAG, SWD, UART) 
  • Strong programming and scripting skills (Python, C, Assembly) 
  • Understanding of exploitation techniques targeting embedded systems 
  • Experience with malware analysis in hardware/firmware contexts 
  • Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities 
Desired Skills
  • Experience supporting federal cybersecurity or critical infrastructure protection programs 
  • Experience performing inspection, imaging, decapsulation, deprocessing, and other activities related to hardware reverse engineering and exploitation in a state-of-the-art microelectronics exploitation laboratory
  • Background in offensive security or penetration testing of OT environments 
  • Advanced certifications in reverse engineering (GREM, GXPN, or similar) 
  • Experience with SCADA, PLC, RTU, and other industrial control components 
  • Knowledge of critical infrastructure sector technologies (energy, utilities, manufacturing) 
  • Familiarity with supply chain security and hardware implant detection 
  • Experience with system emulation platforms and virtual hardware analysis 
  • Understanding of threat actor TTPs targeting OT and edge devices 
  • Background in electronics manufacturing or hardware security research 
  • Experience with chip decapsulation and invasive hardware analysis techniques 
Desired Certifications
  • DoD 8140.01 IAT Level III
  • PMP

About Us
For more than 20 years, NewGen Technologies has solved our clients’ toughest IT challenges with integrity, security, and outstanding service by delivering both technology and talent. We have helped secure borders, have used artificial intelligence (AI) to fight terror, aided the identification of criminals, and have helped to prevent crime through the introduction of biometrics. Our team of Highly Cleared Specialists have hard-to-find skills and expertise in a wide spectrum of technologies to provide solutions that transform business processes and solve problems of national significance. #CJ