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Senior Hardware Engineer Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Senior Hardware Engineer

Ashburn, VA · On-site

$95 - $130/hr

Senior Hardware Engineer - Onsite position Curtiss-Wright is seeking an experienced Senior Hardware Engineer to join our Defense Solutions Group. This role involves designing and developing complex ...

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Senior Hardware Engineer

Ashburn, VA · On-site

$94K - $130K/yr

Senior Hardware Engineer - Onsite position Curtiss-Wright is seeking an experienced Senior Hardware Engineer to join our Defense Solutions Group. This role involves designing and developing complex ...

Senior Hardware Engineer - Onsite position Curtiss-Wright is seeking an experienced Senior Hardware Engineer to join our Defense Solutions Group. This role involves designing and developing complex ...

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Senior Hardware Engineer

Annapolis, MD · On-site

$100K - $230K/yr

... hardware functionality Requirements: * Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Electrical, Computer Engineering, Physics or equivalent * Strong understanding of electrical and computer engineering ...

Senior Hardware Architect Salary: Competitive base + bonus + equity Location: Washington D.C ... Partner with engineering teams across electrical, mechanical, and embedded software disciplines

Senior Hardware Reverse Engineer Herndon, VA, US 8 days ago Requisition ID: 1017 Join us at GrammaTech and become part of our team of innovative engineers and reverse engineers in Linthicum, Maryland ...

Hardware Engineer II

Alexandria, VA · On-site

$90 - $120/hr

Working alongside senior engineers, you will ensure the highest levels of system availability ... Bring up new hardware, execute system‑level tests, and use debugging tools like oscilloscopes and ...

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Showing results 1-20

Senior Hardware Engineer information

See Washington salary details

$95.1K

$149.4K

$216.9K

How much do senior hardware engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior hardware engineer in Washington is $149,398.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $125,200.00 and $167,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior hardware engineer?

Senior Hardware Engineers are experienced professionals who design, develop, and test computer hardware components such as processors, circuit boards, memory devices, and networks. They lead hardware development projects, oversee junior engineers, and collaborate with software teams to ensure seamless integration. Their responsibilities often include evaluating new technologies, troubleshooting complex issues, and ensuring products meet quality and performance standards. Senior Hardware Engineers typically have several years of experience and a strong background in electrical or computer engineering.

How does a senior hardware engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during a product development cycle?

As a Senior Hardware Engineer, you'll frequently collaborate with software engineers, mechanical designers, project managers, and manufacturing teams throughout the product development process. This collaboration involves regular design reviews, troubleshooting sessions, and integration testing to ensure all components work together seamlessly. Clear communication and problem-solving skills are essential, as you'll often act as a technical liaison between departments to address challenges and meet project milestones. Working closely with diverse teams not only enhances the final product but also provides opportunities for professional growth and learning from other disciplines.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior hardware engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Hardware Engineer, you need strong expertise in electronic circuit design, hardware architecture, and system integration, typically supported by a degree in electrical or computer engineering. Proficiency with CAD tools like Altium Designer or Cadence, as well as experience with simulation, testing equipment, and relevant certifications such as IPC or FCC, is highly valued. Exceptional problem-solving, teamwork, and project management skills help distinguish top performers in this role. These skills ensure reliable hardware development, effective cross-functional collaboration, and the successful delivery of complex engineering projects.

What is the difference between Senior Hardware Engineer vs Hardware Design Engineer?

AspectSenior Hardware EngineerHardware Design Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, certifications like Cisco or IPCBachelor's or Master's in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, relevant certifications
Work EnvironmentDesign labs, manufacturing facilities, R&D teamsDesign studios, prototyping labs, development teams
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, hardware manufacturers, R&D firmsConsumer electronics, embedded systems, hardware startups
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for seniority, responsibilities, and experience levelCompared for design focus, technical skills, and project involvement

The main difference is that a Senior Hardware Engineer oversees complex projects, manages teams, and ensures hardware integration, while a Hardware Design Engineer primarily focuses on designing and developing hardware components. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and certifications but differ in scope and responsibilities within the hardware development process.

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 cities in Washington are hiring for Senior Hardware Engineer jobs?

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

Infographic showing various Senior Hardware Engineer job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 2% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 8% Contract. Highlights an 80% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,398 per year, or $71.8 per hour.

Senior Hardware Engineer

Quality Support, Inc.

Alexandria, VA • On-site

$120 - $150/hr

Other

Posted 2 days ago

New


Job description

Quality Support, Inc., openings for Hardware Engineers with 25+ years of related experience with a background of submarine electronic subsystem requirements, development, testing, building, maintaining, and troubleshooting AI infrastructure as senior staff. In this role, you will analyze networks, computers, and storage processing hardware characteristics and recommend equipment procurement, removals, and modifications, collaborating closely with software, layout and manufacturing teams to support system integration of our rapidly expanding AI infrastructure. Working alongside senior engineers, you will ensure the highest levels of system availability, performance, and security as we bring innovative products from concept to prototype to mass production. Preferred Virginia Class Submarine Program and/or Columbia Class Submarine Program background/experience but not required. Top-Secret clearances required. Must be a US Citizen.

THIS POSITION IS CONTINGENT UPON CONTRACT AWARD.

Security Clearance Required: Top-Secret

Position Type: Full-time

Senior Hardware Engineer Job Responsibilities

Transform AI technology into opportunity as a Hardware Engineer at QSI. Help drive the next-must have dynamic mission-critical government projects while maturing your engineering skills and career.

  • Hardware Engineer(HWE) collaboratively works closely with the Sponsor, and senior staff/teams to identify, understand, and anticipate 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 Lab/SCIF 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 site surveys; assess and document 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 of mission capability, end of life, and redundancy.
    • Prepare reports and studies concerning hardware that provide cost savings, technical efficiencies, and system reliability recommendations.
    • Prepare functional requirements and specifications for hardware acquisitions.
    • Produce 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.
    • Develop and prepare site and hardware installation schedules, supplying subsequent test reports.
    • Prepare drawings documenting configuration changes.
    • Assist in asset and consumable inventory management.
Senior Hardware Engineer Qualifications / 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.
  • Experience with specific hardware and cloud vendors (e.g., HP/Dell, AWS, Azure, GCP).
  • Experience with server virtualization technologies (e.g., VMware, Red Hat Virtualization, Oracle VM), performance analysis tools, managing budgets, and collaborating with hardware manufacturers are also beneficial.
  • Experience working with U.S. Government defense contracts or security clearance eligibility.
  • Teamwork
  • Analyzing information
  • Hardware/AI design
  • System/AI requirements
  • Hardware in an AI architecture setting
  • The desire to be challenged and think out of the box
Education / Experience Required
  • BS or MS degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or closely related field.
  • Twenty-five plus years of experience as a Hardware/AI Engineer.
  • Five plus years of experience with AI would be helpful.
  • 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, AI).
Quality Support, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity / Affim... employer.
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