Hardware Rack Specialist / Subject Matter Expert

SC Works Trident; Charleston (SC); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Foxhole Technology, LLC in Charleston, SC is seeking a Hardware Rack Specialist / SME to support CANES hardware rack configurations, including design, integration, modernization, installation, testing, and sustainment for Navy systems.

The role is full-time with a hybrid work arrangement, requiring an active Secret clearance with TS capability, ability to collaborate across teams, perform installation drawings and BOMs, and mentor junior staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical field.
• Experience designing, integrating, installing, or sustaining rack-mounted IT hardware in Navy/DoD environments.
• Understanding of shipboard IT infrastructure including racks, power, grounding, cabling, and installation docs.
• Experience with rack elevation drawings, cable management, and BOMs.
• Active DoD Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical authority for rack-level hardware planning, design, integration, and installation support for CANES systems.
• Develop, review, and validate hardware rack layouts, equipment placement, cable routing, power distribution, labeling, grounding, and cooling strategies.
• Translate system architecture and cybersecurity requirements into deployable hardware configurations.
• Evaluate rack designs for shipboard suitability, including space, weight, power, cooling, EMI, and lifecycle supportability.
• Support integration of servers, switches, routers, storage, and other shipboard IT components.
• Develop and review installation drawings, rack elevations, wiring diagrams, BOMs, and installation work packages.
• Conduct reviews of vendor hardware and mounting hardware for compliance and performance.
• Support lab builds, shipboard installations, testing, and acceptance.
• Provide SME input during design reviews and fleet modernization activities.
• Mentor junior engineers and technicians on rack integration best practices.

Skills

Rack hardware design

Shipboard IT

System integration

Troubleshooting

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Tools

Rack elevation drawings

Installation work packages

BOMs

Job description

Overview

Hardware Rack Specialist / Subject Matter Expert at Foxhole Technology, LLC. Location: Charleston, SC. Job Type: Full Time (30 Hours or More). Clearance: Active Secret with Top Secret (TS) capability. Hybrid work arrangement with some on-site requirements. The role supports the design, integration, modernization, installation, testing, and sustainment of shipboard hardware rack configurations for the Navy’s Next Generation Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) program.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical authority for rack-level hardware planning, design, integration, and installation support for Next Generation CANES systems.
• Develop, review, and validate hardware rack layouts, equipment placement, cable routing, patching strategies, power distribution, labeling, grounding, bonding, cooling, access, maintainability, and safety considerations.
• Translate system architecture, network design, cybersecurity requirements, and platform constraints into deployable hardware rack configurations.
• Evaluate rack designs for shipboard suitability, including space, weight, power, cooling, shock, vibration, EMI, human factors, maintenance access, and lifecycle supportability.
• Support integration of servers, switches, routers, storage devices, cross-domain solution components, power equipment, KVMs, patch panels, UPS systems, environmental monitoring, and other shipboard IT infrastructure components.
• Develop and review installation drawings, rack elevation diagrams, wiring diagrams, cable run sheets, bills of materials, configuration documentation, and installation work packages.
• Conduct technical reviews of vendor hardware, rack kits, mounting hardware, cabling, connectors, power components, and environmental support equipment.
• Support lab-based buildout, staging, integration, troubleshooting, and acceptance testing of rack configurations prior to fleet installation.
• Provide technical support during shipboard installation, system checkout, deficiency resolution, test events, and post-installation verification.
• Identify risks, issues, and corrective actions related to hardware fit, installation feasibility, cooling, power, cabling complexity, maintainability, supply chain availability, and configuration drift.
• Support configuration management, technical data package updates, as-built documentation, engineering change proposals, deviation requests, and field change implementation.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity, systems engineering, network engineering, logistics, test, and fleet support teams to ensure rack-level design decisions align with operational, security, and sustainment requirements.
• Provide SME-level input to design reviews, technical interchange meetings, integration events, readiness reviews, test planning sessions, and fleet modernization planning activities.
• Mentor junior engineers, installers, technicians, and logistics personnel on shipboard rack integration best practices.

Qualifications

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, information systems, computer science, electronics, logistics, or related technical discipline preferred; additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu.
• Significant experience designing, integrating, installing, or sustaining rack-mounted IT, network, communications, or mission system hardware in Navy, DoD, shipboard, tactical, or ruggedized environments.
• Demonstrated understanding of shipboard IT infrastructure, including equipment racks, power distribution, grounding/bonding, cabling, environmental constraints, and installation documentation.
• Experience with rack elevation drawings, cable management, equipment mounting, installation work packages, configuration baselines, bills of materials, and as-built documentation.
• Familiarity with Navy afloat networks, enterprise IT systems, tactical communications systems, or CANES-related environments.
• Ability to interpret system architecture diagrams, network diagrams, installation drawings, equipment specifications, technical manuals, and engineering change documentation.
• Experience supporting integration labs, shipboard installations, modernization availabilities, test events, or fleet deployment activities.
• Strong troubleshooting skills for hardware integration issues involving cabling, power, environmental conditions, rack layout, equipment compatibility, and configuration control.
• Ability to coordinate across government, contractor, vendor, shipyard, and fleet stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to brief technical findings, risks, and recommendations to government and contractor leadership.
• Active DoD Secret clearance.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience supporting CANES, ADNS, ISNS, Navy C4I systems, afloat networks, submarine networks, carrier networks, or large-deck amphibious ship networks.
• Experience with Navy installation processes, ship alteration packages, shipboard modernization planning, or fleet integration activities.
• Knowledge of MIL-STD, NAVSEA, SPAWAR/NAVWAR, cybersecurity, IA, RMF, or Navy shipboard installation requirements.
• Experience with virtualization infrastructure, hyperconverged systems, tactical edge computing, ruggedized servers, storage arrays, network switches, routers, cross-domain solutions, or enterprise services hardware.
• Familiarity with logistics products, sparing, provisioning, technical manuals, training materials, and lifecycle sustainment planning.
• Experience supporting operational, developmental, cyber survivability, or system acceptance test activities.
• Top Secret clearance or SCI eligibility.

General Information

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Location: Charleston, SC

Company: Foxhole Technology, LLC – Equal Opportunity Employer. Foxhole hires without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected class.