Design Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Design Engineer jobs in Virginia are concentrated in the Northern Virginia technology corridor, Hampton Roads defense hub, and Richmond manufacturing belt, with openings at every level from junior associate to principal engineer. Employers like Northrop Grumman, Leidos, and General Dynamics rely heavily on design engineers to support defense systems, aerospace structures, and advanced electronics programs that define the state's engineering economy. The most in-demand specialties are mechanical systems design, electrical and PCB layout engineering, and systems integration for defense and government applications. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.

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Overview

Open roles96
Top employerAmazon
Top cityHerndon, VA
Cities hiring27
Work type71% On-site
Top industryEnergy

Showing 5 of 96+ Design Engineer jobs

L3Harris
Tool Design Engineer
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L3Harris
Added 2d ago
Tool Design Engineer
L3Harris
Orange, Virginia
Customer Support
IT Support
Technical Program Management
$73k - $135k/yr
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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Iridium Satellite, LLC
Principal Security Design Engineer
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Iridium Satellite, LLC
Added 2d ago
Principal Security Design Engineer
Iridium Satellite, LLC
McLean, Virginia
Cloud & DevOps
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Program Management
Hybrid

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TYLin
Stormwater Design Engineer
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TYLin
Added 2d ago
Stormwater Design Engineer
TYLin
Richmond, Virginia
Compliance & Risk
Environmental & Physical Sciences
Environmental Science
Hybrid
5,001-10,000

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Hitachi Rail
Sr. Project Engineer - Design to Value
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Hitachi Rail
Added 2d ago
Sr. Project Engineer - Design to Value
Hitachi Rail
South Boston, Virginia
Program Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
On-Site
Bachelor's degree in engineering
10,000+

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Northrop Grumman
2026 Associate Design Engineer
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Northrop Grumman
Added 2d ago
2026 Associate Design Engineer
Northrop Grumman
Dulles, Virginia
Compliance & Risk
Cybersecurity
Security Engineering
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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See All 96 Design Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Design Engineer Jobs by City in Virginia

Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Herndon
19 jobs
Virginia Beach
12 jobs
Dulles
7 jobs
Richmond
7 jobs
Lynchburg
6 jobs
Chantilly
5 jobs
Reston
4 jobs
Sterling
4 jobs
Blacksburg
4 jobs

Design Engineer Job Market in Virginia

A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • Amazon
    Amazon16
  • BWX Technologies
    BWX Technologies4
  • Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson
    Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson4
  • S
    SubSea Craft3
  • Amazon Web Services
    Amazon Web Services3

Top Industries Hiring

  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Sports & Recreation
  • Chemicals & Materials
  • Electronics & Hardware

What Virginia Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in design engineer jobs across Virginia.

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering from an accredited program
  • Proficiency in CAD software such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or CATIA for design and modeling work
  • Experience with engineering design lifecycle processes including design review and change control
  • Ability to obtain or active possession of a U.S. security clearance for defense and government roles
  • Knowledge of GD&T, engineering tolerances, and manufacturing processes relevant to the design output
  • Familiarity with industry standards such as MIL-SPEC, ISO, or ASME applicable to Virginia defense and manufacturing sectors

Design Engineer Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a design engineer in Virginia?

Most design engineer roles in Virginia require a bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, or a related engineering discipline from an accredited program. Virginia does not mandate a state license to work as a design engineer in a private-sector or defense contractor role, but engineers who sign and seal public-works documents must hold a Professional Engineer license issued by the Virginia Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects. Many employers in Northern Virginia also expect candidates to be eligible for a federal security clearance.

Which companies hire design engineers in Virginia?

Virginia design engineer roles are posted by Amazon, BWX Technologies, and Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Northern Virginia's dense concentration of defense primes and federal contractors makes it one of the most active hiring markets for design engineers in the country.

Which Virginia cities have the most design engineer jobs?

Herndon, Virginia Beach, and Dulles account for the largest share of design engineer openings in Virginia right now. Northern Virginia cities dominate because of the region's unmatched density of defense contractors and federal agencies, while Hampton Roads openings are driven by naval shipbuilding and aerospace programs, and Richmond draws hiring from industrial manufacturing and civil infrastructure firms headquartered in the metro.

Are there remote design engineer jobs in Virginia?

Yes, but they're less common than in purely desk-based fields because design engineers frequently need access to labs, prototypes, and hardware. About 29% of design engineer openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, and those arrangements are most often available for roles focused on CAD modeling, simulation, and technical documentation rather than hands-on testing or manufacturing-floor work.

How can I get hired as a design engineer in Virginia with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is applying directly to co-op and new-graduate programs run by large Virginia defense contractors such as Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, and Leidos, which recruit from Virginia Tech, George Mason University, and Old Dominion University each year. Titles like junior design engineer, design engineering technician, and CAD designer are common stepping stones that require less experience. Building a portfolio of SolidWorks or AutoCAD projects and beginning the clearance eligibility process early will give candidates a meaningful edge over others at the same experience level.

Where can I find and apply to design engineer jobs in Virginia?

You can find and apply to design engineer jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond, and other parts of the state. Search the listings, identify the roles that match your background and interests, and apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 96 Design Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Design Engineer Jobs