Hardware Rack Specialist / Subject Matter Expert

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Clearance: Active Secret w/TS Capability

Foxhole Technology provides robust cybersecurity and IT support capabilities for federal civilian and defense agencies. A recognized leader in navigating technology and security challenges, Foxhole delivers mission-focused innovations to answer evolving and complex needs. Our talented employee-owners provide agile, scalable services and solutions that solve operational gaps, operate critical systems, and protect and secure the enterprise – across the organization and around the world.

Foxhole Technology is seeking a Hardware Rack Specialist / SME, who will support 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 program. This role provides senior-level expertise in afloat network rack architecture, equipment mounting, cabling, power distribution, cooling, grounding, shock/vibration considerations, configuration control, and installation readiness for shipboard and laboratory environments.

The SME will work with Navy stakeholders, program leadership, systems engineers, cybersecurity engineers, logistics teams, shipboard installation teams, vendors, and test organizations to ensure rack-level hardware designs are operationally effective, maintainable, cyber-resilient, and suitable for deployment across multiple naval platform classes.

KEY 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.
• Support the translation of 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, electromagnetic interference, 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, bill 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.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, information systems, computer science, electronics, logistics, or a related technical discipline preferred. Additional years of relevant experience will be considered in lieu of. 
• Significant experience designing, integrating, installing, or sustaining rack-mounted IT, network, communications, or mission system hardware in Navy, DoD, shipboard, tactical, or other 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 material, 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 test, developmental test, cyber survivability test, or system acceptance test activities.
• Top Secret clearance or SCI eligibility.