Junior Hardware Engineer & Help Desk Tech

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

Benefits offered by this job

401(K) plan with company match

tuition and training assistances

paid vacation/leave

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

legal resources

Job summary

Cornerstone Defense in Herndon, VA is seeking an entry-level Hardware Engineer to join our IT/Hardware Support team. The role focuses on triaging help desk tickets, performing hardware installations and removals, and providing first- and second-line support for desktops, laptops, and workstations.

The ideal candidate has 0-2 years of IT support experience, basic familiarity with Windows or Linux, and strong problem-solving and customer-service skills; security-conscious and willing to work

Qualifications

• 0-2 years of professional IT support or hardware technician experience.
• 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 peripherals.

Responsibilities

• Respond to and resolve help desk tickets (hardware issues, peripherals, connectivity, basic OS).
• Install, configure, image, upgrade, and decommission desktops, laptops, monitors, docking stations, printers, and peripherals.
• Perform hardware diagnostics and basic repairs; escalate complex issues to senior engineering or vendor support.
• Maintain accurate inventory records and asset tagging for hardware lifecycle tracking.
• Apply OS updates, drivers, and firmware as required.
• Assist with cable management, workstation setup, and office moves or reconfigurations.
• Create and maintain SOPs and documentation for common tasks.
• Provide courteous technical support to end users; communicate status and resolutions clearly.
• Follow IT security and compliance policies when handling equipment and data.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail; good verbal and written communication.
• Ability to lift and move hardware up to 50 lbs and work in office or data-center environments.
• Willingness to work occasional extended hours for deployments or hardware refreshes.

Skills

Customer-service mindset

Windows/Linux basics

Hardware familiarity

Tools

Jira

Job description

Cornerstone Defense in Herndon, VA is seeking an entry-level Hardware Engineer to join our IT/Hardware Support team. The role focuses on triaging help desk tickets, performing hardware installations and removals, and providing first- and second-line support for desktops, laptops, and workstations.

The ideal candidate has 0-2 years of IT support experience, basic familiarity with Windows or Linux, and strong problem-solving and customer-service skills; security-conscious and willing to work