Entry Level Hardware Engineer

Cornerstone Defense LLC; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Tuition assistance

Paid vacation/leave

Job summary

Cornerstone Defense LLC in Herndon, VA is seeking an entry-level Hardware Engineer to join our IT/Hardware Support team. You will triage help desk tickets, install and decommission desktops, laptops, and peripherals, and provide first- and second-line technical support for Windows and Linux environments.

The role emphasizes strong troubleshooting, customer-service mindset, and adherence to IT security policies; occasional extended hours for deployments are required, with potential growth into

Qualifications

• 0–2 years of professional IT support or desktop/hardware technician experience.
• Basic familiarity with Windows or Linux operating systems and hardware components.

Responsibilities

• Triage help desk tickets and resolve hardware-related issues in a timely manner.
• Install, configure, image, upgrade, and decommission desktops, laptops, monitors, and peripherals.
• Perform hardware diagnostics and basic repairs; escalate complex issues when needed.
• Maintain accurate inventory and asset tagging for hardware lifecycle tracking.
• Apply OS updates, drivers, and firmware as required.
• Assist with cable management, workstation setup, and office moves.
• Create and maintain SOPs and documentation for common tasks.
• Provide courteous, professional support and communicate ticket status clearly.
• Follow IT security and compliance policies when handling equipment and data.

Skills

IT support

Hardware troubleshooting

Windows/Linux familiarity

Tools

Jira

Job description

Hardware Engineer/Help Desk Support

Herndon, VA

Active TS/SCI
Salary Range: $80,000 - $140,000

Company Overview:

Cornerstone Defense is the Employer of Choice within the Intelligence, Defense, and Space communities of the U.S. Government. Realizing early on that our most prized assets are our employees, we continually focus our attention on improving the overall work/life experience they have supporting the mission. Our Team is pushed every day to use their industry leading knowledge to provide end-to-end solutions to combat our nation’s toughest and most secure problems. If you are looking for a place to not only be professionally challenged, but encouraged and supported by a company that cares, don’t look any further than Cornerstone Defense.

Job Responsibilities:

We are seeking an entry-level Hardware Engineer to join our IT/Hardware Support team. This role will focus on triaging help desk tickets, performing hardware installations and removals, and providing first- and second-line technical support for desktop/laptop/workstation systems. The ideal candidate has basic experience with Windows or Linux, strong troubleshooting skills, and a customer-service mindset.

• Respond to and resolve help desk tickets in a timely manner (hardware-related issues, peripheral and connectivity problems, basic OS troubleshooting).
• Install, configure, image, upgrade, and decommission desktops, laptops, monitors, docking stations, printers, and other peripherals.
• Perform hardware diagnostics and basic repairs; elevate complex hardware or firmware issues to senior engineering or vendor support.
• Maintain accurate inventory records and asset tagging for hardware lifecycle tracking.
• Apply operating system updates, drivers, and firmware as required.
• Assist with cable management, workstation setup, and office moves or reconfigurations.
• Create and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and documentation for common tasks.
• Provide courteous and professional support to end users; communicate ticket status and resolution steps clearly.
• Follow IT security and compliance policies when handling equipment and data.
• Strong problem-solving skills and an attention to detail.
• Good verbal and written communication skills; customer-service oriented.
• Ability to lift and move hardware (typically up to 50 lbs.) and work in office or data-center environments.
• Willingness to work occasional extended hours for deployments or hardware refreshes.
• Ability to lift and carry hardware; climb ladders and work in confined spaces if needed.
• Must adhere to safety procedures for handling hardware and batteries.

Required Skills:

• 0–2 years of professional experience in IT support, desktop support, or hardware technician roles.
• Basic familiarity with Windows or Linux operating systems (installation, configuration, troubleshooting).
• Comfortable working with PC hardware components (SATA/SSD/HDD, RAM, power supplies, motherboards) and common peripherals.

Desired Skills:

• Security+ certification required.
• Experience with Jira ticketing systems desired.

Company Benefits:

Cornerstone Defense offers a comprehensive list of benefits, designed to give employees and their families several options to choose from when selecting benefits that best fit their needs.These offerings include not only a full suite of the traditional Medical/Dental/Vision insurances, but also a number of other benefits and perks to include, but not limited to:A 401(K) plan with a company match, tuition and training assistances, paid vacation/leave, a fitness reimbursement program, college savings plan, commuter benefits, financial advisory services, flex spending accounts, health savings accounts, STD/LTD coverage, life and AD&D insurance, employee assistance programs, life financial planning assistance, and legal resources.