HSDE jobs in Fort Meade, MD
Hardware and Software Design Engineer (HSDE)
Electronic hardware design, software processing components, subsystem integration, interface planning, and mission platforms where physical implementation and code have to work together.
Apply for this RoleGS Consulting Environment
Where Hardware Decisions and Software Decisions Meet
At GS Consulting, hardware and software design cannot live in separate worlds. Mission subsystems have to collect, process, communicate, and analyze under real constraints. That means physical implementation, software logic, interfaces, and test results all have to line up.
This role is built for engineers who are comfortable crossing that boundary. You will help design electronic hardware, develop software processing components, integrate subsystems, and prove that the resulting capability works in the customer environment.
The Work
What the Role Looks Like Day to Day
HSDE work often starts with a mission problem that cannot be solved by software alone or hardware alone. What signal, data, or process needs to move? Which component handles it? Which interface creates risk? What test proves the subsystem is ready?
A typical day may include designing components, writing software processing logic, reviewing interfaces, debugging hardware and software interactions, testing subsystem behavior, documenting decisions, and coordinating with software, hardware, systems, and mission stakeholders.
Mission and Responsibilities
Core Responsibilities
Our Hardware and Software Design Engineers build across hardware and software boundaries. Depending on your LCAT level, you will be expected to:
- Design, develop, construct, and rigorously test electronic hardware and software processing components for mission systems.
- Integrate hardware and software into functional subsystems for communication, collection, processing, and analysis platforms.
- Work backward from operational intelligence problems to engineer custom hardware and software capabilities that solve real mission constraints.
- Validate subsystem behavior through test planning, debugging, performance checks, interface review, and engineering documentation.
- For senior levels, lead systems planning and interface planning while managing complex technical projects and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Technical Domains
Required Technical Domains
Successful HSDEs at GS Consulting need practical experience across several of the following technical domains:
- Electronic hardware design, development, construction, and testing
- Software processing component design and development
- Subsystem integration for communication, collection, processing, and analysis platforms
- System planning, interface planning, and component integration
- Hardware and software debugging, validation, and performance testing
- Engineering documentation, technical demonstrations, and stakeholder communication
- Multidisciplinary coordination across hardware, software, systems, and mission teams
Preferred Degree Fields and Certifications
Preferred degree fields include Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related accredited technical field.
Engineer in Training, Cisco certifications, Microsoft engineering credentials, electronics training, embedded systems training, or related hardware and software engineering credentials can strengthen a candidate profile.
Tools and Mission Context
Subsystems Fail at the Interface
HSDE professionals work across hardware design tools, software development environments, test equipment, debugging workflows, interface documentation, performance data, and mission platform constraints. The important skill is knowing how the pieces affect each other.
Strong candidates can explain how a design should behave, where hardware and software assumptions can break, what needs to be tested, and how to turn debugging evidence into a better subsystem.
Compensation
Estimated Compensation Range
Estimated compensation for Hardware and Software Design Engineer roles ranges from $100,000 to $200,000 per year. Final compensation depends on HSDE level, years of relevant experience, clearance status, technical depth, customer requirements, contract fit, and location expectations.
The range is intentionally broad because this posting covers Levels 1 through 4. Senior HSDEs are trusted with more complex subsystem design, interface planning, technical leadership, and multidisciplinary engineering decisions.
Qualification Paths
LCAT Qualification Paths
We are actively staffing billets across all four HSDE levels. Relevant experience should connect to hardware design, software processing components, subsystem integration, interface planning, testing, debugging, validation, technical leadership, or mission platform delivery.
Level 1
- Bachelor Degree plus 2 years of experience
- Master Degree plus 0 years of experience
Level 2
- Bachelor Degree plus 5 years of experience
- Master Degree plus 3 years of experience
- Doctorate plus 0 years of experience
Level 3
- Bachelor Degree plus 8 years of experience
- Master Degree plus 6 years of experience
- Doctorate plus 4 years of experience
Level 4
- Bachelor Degree plus 11 years of experience
- Master Degree plus 9 years of experience
- Doctorate plus 7 years of experience
Career Growth
How HSDEs Grow Across Levels
Growth in this role comes from stronger design judgment, better interface thinking, deeper debugging skill, clearer documentation, and the ability to lead complex hardware and software integration decisions.
At GS Consulting, HSDE growth can lead deeper into subsystem architecture, hardware and software integration, systems engineering, mission platform development, digital circuit design, technical leadership, or broader mission engineering roles.
Why GS Consulting
A Smaller Team Close to the Build
GS Consulting takes a direct approach to cleared mission support. We care whether the person in the seat can understand the hardware, reason through the software, test the interface, and help the customer field a capability that works.
HSDE work is not generic engineering support. It takes discipline, cross domain judgment, hands on debugging, and the ability to connect design decisions to real mission outcomes.
Role Questions
Hardware and Software Design Engineer FAQ
What does a Hardware and Software Design Engineer do?
A Hardware and Software Design Engineer designs, develops, constructs, tests, and integrates electronic hardware and software processing components. The role connects physical devices, software logic, interfaces, subsystem behavior, debugging, validation, and mission requirements so communication, collection, processing, and analysis platforms work as intended.
What clearance is required for GS Consulting HSDE roles?
GS Consulting Hardware and Software Design Engineer roles require an active TS/SCI clearance. Candidates must also be able to meet customer, contract, and site access requirements for the specific billet. If additional customer screening is required, that will be handled during recruiting rather than posted as public qualification language.
What are the HSDE levels 1, 2, 3, and 4?
HSDE levels reflect increasing experience with hardware design, software processing components, subsystem integration, test planning, debugging, and technical leadership. Level 1 starts at 0 to 2 years depending on education path. Level 2 ranges from 0 to 5 years. Level 3 ranges from 4 to 8 years. Level 4 ranges from 7 to 11 years.
How is HSDE different from a Software Engineer?
A Software Engineer focuses primarily on software systems. A Hardware and Software Design Engineer works across the boundary between electronic hardware and software processing components. HSDE work usually includes physical subsystem design, integration, testing, debugging, interface planning, and making hardware and software operate together in mission environments.
What degree fields are preferred for HSDE roles?
Preferred degree fields include Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related accredited technical field. The role benefits from candidates who can reason across hardware behavior, software logic, interfaces, and subsystem performance.
What skills make a strong Hardware and Software Design Engineer candidate?
Strong candidates can design hardware, develop software processing components, debug subsystem behavior, test interfaces, document engineering decisions, and coordinate across software, hardware, systems, and mission stakeholders. The best candidates are comfortable moving between physical implementation details and software level logic.
What does a Hardware and Software Design Engineer earn?
Estimated compensation for GS Consulting Hardware and Software Design Engineer roles ranges from $100,000 to $200,000 per year. Final compensation depends on HSDE level, years of relevant experience, clearance status, technical depth, customer requirements, contract fit, and location expectations.
Are these Hardware and Software Design Engineer jobs onsite?
Yes. These HSDE positions support work in the Fort Meade, MD and Annapolis Junction area. Because the work is tied to cleared facilities, sensitive systems, mission hardware, software components, and customer requirements, candidates should expect onsite work rather than a remote arrangement.
How do I apply for GS Consulting HSDE roles?
Use the Apply for this Role button on this page or email your resume directly to info@gsconsultingllc.com. Include your active clearance level, hardware and software design experience, subsystem integration background, technical domains, and the HSDE level you believe matches your experience.
Ready to build the subsystems?
Send us your resume. Please include your active clearance level, hardware and software design experience, subsystem integration background, technical domains, and the specific HSDE level you are targeting.