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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Showing 5 of 99+ Design Engineer jobs
DESCRIPTION
Amazon Web Services is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to become part of a global engineering team, responsible for the design and continuous innovation of our rapidly expanding data center foot print.
Engineers at Amazon work to design resilient, cost effective mechanical distribution systems. As engineers at Amazon we are responsible for achieving a world class uptime for our customers. We justify and communicate the technical decisions we make to Sr. Management and work hard to drive continuous advancements and improvements with our designs. As an engineer at Amazon you have the ability to drive change and define/design the systems our customers rely on.
Amazon offers a fast paced, fun, and exciting work environment. We continue to grow at exponential rates and are looking for individuals that can support our speed to market, enjoy a challenge, and have a desire for professional growth and continuous learning experiences. Amazon’s work environment is unique in every aspect and offers an exceptional opportunity for the right candidate.
We are looking for engineers with hands on mechanical design experience. If you can design a mechanical system, have an understanding of the critical equipment needs for a data center, and understand the constructability of varying designs you may be a good fit. As we grow we are structuring our team to own more of our engineering in house. Engineers will be responsible for taking designs from concept to the permit and construction document set. You must be capable of defining critical equipment specifications and approving equipment submittals. Engineers will directly support construction and be a part of the process from site selection review through commissioning and ultimately turnover. You will be relied on as a subject matter expert in the mechanical engineering field. At Amazon we do highly support continued learning opportunities and focus on continued employee development.
At Amazon team work is absolutely necessary for us to accomplish our goals. You must be able to work within a team and depend on others to accomplish the required work. As a mechanical engineer at Amazon you will be working with other internal groups as well as external groups including utilities, manufacturers, vendors, and contractors.
Amazon has a global presence. Travel will occasionally be necessary but shouldn’t be more than 20%. International support will be part of the job, some international travel may be necessary. Support could consist of working on international teams and could require developing detailed schematic design packages. An understanding of international mechanical design requirements is helpful but not necessary.
Key job responsibilities:
- Work with internal teams to understand user requirements.
- Data center mechanical designs and collaboration with other disciplines to create a construction document set.
- Creation of designs which meet or exceed our quality requirements and fall within our budgetary requirements.
- Work with regional vendors and manufactures to specify the appropriate mechanical equipment.
- Work with local utilities to understand and define site utility requirements.
- Work with local agencies having jurisdiction to ensure compliance with city/county requirements and building codes.
- Review and approval of equipment submittals.
- Define project scopes and provide technical support for information requests during construction phases.
- Work with commissioning teams to properly validate installation, operation, and performance of mechanical systems.
- Ability to work on concurrent projects in multiple geographical regions.
- Travel to sites for site review and work with onsite field engineers, engineering evaluations, mechanical systems audits, and startup as needed.
- Having fun and offering creative, out of the box solutions.
Here at AWS, we embrace our differences. We are committed to furthering our culture of inclusion. We have ten employee-led affinity groups, reaching 40,000 employees in over 190 chapters globally. We have innovative benefit offerings, and we host annual and ongoing learning experiences, including our Conversations on Race and Ethnicity (CORE) and AmazeCon (gender diversity) conferences. Amazon’s culture of inclusion is reinforced within our 14 Leadership Principles, which remind team members to seek diverse perspectives, learn and be curious, and earn trust.
Our team also puts a high value on work-life balance. Striking a healthy balance between your personal and professional life is crucial to your happiness and success here, which is why we aren’t focused on how many hours you spend at work or online. Instead, we’re happy to offer a flexible schedule so you can have a more productive and well-balanced life—both in and outside of work.
This position will be available in Herndon, VA or Seattle, WA
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience researching new designs, technologies, and construction methods of data center equipment and facilities
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office including Outlook, Word, and Excel
- Experience in industrial or commercial engineering in mission critical facilities including but not limited to: data centers, power generation or oil and gas facilities
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or an equivalent engineering degree in a related field with at least 4 years of additional qualifying experience.
- 6+ years of experience in engineering design or the construction industry, related to all aspects of Mechanical , including hydronics, air side duct design, and plumbing design.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Professional Engineer License
- Experience with building codes and regulations for your region
- Experience carrying design concepts through exploration, development, and into deployment or mass production
- Experience reading, interpreting, and creating construction drawings, specifications, and submittal documents
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
USA, TX, Austin - 116,800.00 - 160,000.00 USD annually
USA, VA, Herndon - 116,800.00 - 160,000.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Seattle - 116,800.00 - 160,000.00 USD annually
DESCRIPTION
Amazon Web Services is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to become part of a global engineering team, responsible for the design and continuous innovation of our rapidly expanding data center foot print.
Engineers at Amazon work to design resilient, cost effective mechanical distribution systems. As engineers at Amazon we are responsible for achieving a world class uptime for our customers. We justify and communicate the technical decisions we make to Sr. Management and work hard to drive continuous advancements and improvements with our designs. As an engineer at Amazon you have the ability to drive change and define/design the systems our customers rely on.
Amazon offers a fast paced, fun, and exciting work environment. We continue to grow at exponential rates and are looking for individuals that can support our speed to market, enjoy a challenge, and have a desire for professional growth and continuous learning experiences. Amazon’s work environment is unique in every aspect and offers an exceptional opportunity for the right candidate.
We are looking for engineers with hands on mechanical design experience. If you can design a mechanical system, have an understanding of the critical equipment needs for a data center, and understand the constructability of varying designs you may be a good fit. As we grow we are structuring our team to own more of our engineering in house. Engineers will be responsible for taking designs from concept to the permit and construction document set. You must be capable of defining critical equipment specifications and approving equipment submittals. Engineers will directly support construction and be a part of the process from site selection review through commissioning and ultimately turnover. You will be relied on as a subject matter expert in the mechanical engineering field. At Amazon we do highly support continued learning opportunities and focus on continued employee development.
At Amazon team work is absolutely necessary for us to accomplish our goals. You must be able to work within a team and depend on others to accomplish the required work. As a mechanical engineer at Amazon you will be working with other internal groups as well as external groups including utilities, manufacturers, vendors, and contractors.
Amazon has a global presence. Travel will occasionally be necessary but shouldn’t be more than 20%. International support will be part of the job, some international travel may be necessary. Support could consist of working on international teams and could require developing detailed schematic design packages. An understanding of international mechanical design requirements is helpful but not necessary.
Key job responsibilities:
- Work with internal teams to understand user requirements.
- Data center mechanical designs and collaboration with other disciplines to create a construction document set.
- Creation of designs which meet or exceed our quality requirements and fall within our budgetary requirements.
- Work with regional vendors and manufactures to specify the appropriate mechanical equipment.
- Work with local utilities to understand and define site utility requirements.
- Work with local agencies having jurisdiction to ensure compliance with city/county requirements and building codes.
- Review and approval of equipment submittals.
- Define project scopes and provide technical support for information requests during construction phases.
- Work with commissioning teams to properly validate installation, operation, and performance of mechanical systems.
- Ability to work on concurrent projects in multiple geographical regions.
- Travel to sites for site review and work with onsite field engineers, engineering evaluations, mechanical systems audits, and startup as needed.
- Having fun and offering creative, out of the box solutions.
Here at AWS, we embrace our differences. We are committed to furthering our culture of inclusion. We have ten employee-led affinity groups, reaching 40,000 employees in over 190 chapters globally. We have innovative benefit offerings, and we host annual and ongoing learning experiences, including our Conversations on Race and Ethnicity (CORE) and AmazeCon (gender diversity) conferences. Amazon’s culture of inclusion is reinforced within our 14 Leadership Principles, which remind team members to seek diverse perspectives, learn and be curious, and earn trust.
Our team also puts a high value on work-life balance. Striking a healthy balance between your personal and professional life is crucial to your happiness and success here, which is why we aren’t focused on how many hours you spend at work or online. Instead, we’re happy to offer a flexible schedule so you can have a more productive and well-balanced life—both in and outside of work.
This position will be available in Herndon, VA or Seattle, WA
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience researching new designs, technologies, and construction methods of data center equipment and facilities
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office including Outlook, Word, and Excel
- Experience in industrial or commercial engineering in mission critical facilities including but not limited to: data centers, power generation or oil and gas facilities
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or an equivalent engineering degree in a related field with at least 4 years of additional qualifying experience.
- 6+ years of experience in engineering design or the construction industry, related to all aspects of Mechanical , including hydronics, air side duct design, and plumbing design.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Professional Engineer License
- Experience with building codes and regulations for your region
- Experience carrying design concepts through exploration, development, and into deployment or mass production
- Experience reading, interpreting, and creating construction drawings, specifications, and submittal documents
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
USA, TX, Austin - 116,800.00 - 160,000.00 USD annually
USA, VA, Herndon - 116,800.00 - 160,000.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Seattle - 116,800.00 - 160,000.00 USD annually
See All 99 Design Engineer Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Design Engineer JobsDesign Engineer Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Design Engineer Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- DSI Tech14
- Amazon13
- Innovative Refrigeration Systems4
- Munters3
- Renesas3
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 DSI Tech, Amazon, and Innovative Refrigeration Systems and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 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, Arlington, and Reston 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 66% of design engineer openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of November 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 99 Design Engineer Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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