Physics Jobs in Virginia

Physics jobs in Virginia are concentrated in defense research, national laboratories, and federal contractor work, with strong demand across Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, and the Richmond corridor. Major employers with deep Virginia roots include Leidos, Northrop Grumman, and the Naval Research Laboratory, all of which maintain substantial physics and applied science workforces in the state. The most sought-after specialties are nuclear physics, optics and photonics, and computational modeling tied to defense and intelligence applications. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

Find Physics Jobs

Overview

Open roles13
Top employerELECTRA
Top cityVirginia
Cities hiring10
Work type50% Remote
Top industryEducation

Showing 5 of 13+ Physics jobs

Coherence Learning
Multi-Subject High School Tutor — Math + Economics / Physics / Chemistry / Biology
We won't show you this job again
Coherence Learning
Added 3d ago
Multi-Subject High School Tutor — Math + Economics / Physics / Chemistry / Biology
Coherence Learning
Ashburn, Virginia
Higher Education
K-12 Teaching
Teaching & Instruction
$30 - $60/hr
On-Site
High school
11-50

Have you applied for this role?

ELECTRA
Senior / Principal Flight Physics Engineer
We won't show you this job again
ELECTRA
Added 6d ago
Senior / Principal Flight Physics Engineer
ELECTRA
Manassas, Virginia
Cloud Architecture
Cloud Engineering
Cybersecurity
$130k - $180k/yr
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
51-200

Have you applied for this role?

ELECTRA
Staff / Senior Flight Physics Engineer
We won't show you this job again
ELECTRA
Added 6d ago
Staff / Senior Flight Physics Engineer
ELECTRA
Manassas, Virginia
Cloud & DevOps
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Program Management
$110k - $160k/yr
Master's degree in aerospace engineering
51-200

Have you applied for this role?

Albemarle County Public Schools
Physics Teacher (Part-time) - Western Albemarle High School - 2026-27 School Year
We won't show you this job again
Albemarle County Public Schools
Added 1w ago
Physics Teacher (Part-time) - Western Albemarle High School - 2026-27 School Year
Albemarle County Public Schools
Crozet, Virginia
Cloud & DevOps
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Program Management
High school
1,001-5,000

Have you applied for this role?

Washington and Lee University
Assistant Professor of Engineering, Physics and Engineering Department
We won't show you this job again
Washington and Lee University
Added 1w ago
Assistant Professor of Engineering, Physics and Engineering Department
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, Virginia
Higher Education
K-12 Teaching
Teaching & Instruction
$94k - $105k/yr
Doctoral degree in engineering
501-1,000

Have you applied for this role?

See All 13 Physics Jobs in Virginia

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

Find Physics Jobs

Physics Jobs by City in Virginia

Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Manassas
2 jobs
Crozet
1 job
Ashburn
1 job
Norfolk
1 job
Richmond
1 job
Lexington
1 job
Chesterfield
1 job
Newport News
1 job
Williamsburg
1 job

Physics Job Market in Virginia

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

Who's Hiring

ELECTRA
ELECTRA2 open roles
William & Mary
William & Mary2 open roles
Sentara
Sentara1 open role

Top Industries Hiring

  • Education

What Virginia Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in physics jobs across Virginia.

  • Bachelor's or advanced degree in physics or a closely related scientific field
  • Active U.S. security clearance or demonstrated eligibility to obtain one
  • Experience with experimental laboratory methods or high-performance computational modeling
  • Proficiency in data analysis tools such as Python, MATLAB, or LabVIEW
  • Familiarity with defense, aerospace, or government research program environments
  • Strong technical writing ability for proposals, reports, and peer review documentation

Physics Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a physicist in Virginia?

Most physics positions in Virginia require at least a bachelor's degree in physics or a closely related field, with research or government roles typically requiring a master's or doctorate. Virginia does not issue a state license for physicists, so hiring is credential-driven rather than board-regulated. Candidates pursuing federal contractor or national laboratory roles should plan for security clearance vetting early, as that process is a de facto gate for the majority of Virginia physics positions.

Which companies hire physicists in Virginia?

Virginia physics roles are posted by ELECTRA, William & Mary, and Sentara and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Virginia's concentration of defense contractors and federal agency satellite offices means large systems integrators and government-sponsored research institutions account for the bulk of consistent openings.

Which Virginia cities have the most physics jobs?

Virginia, Manassas, and Crozet are the cities with the most physics openings in Virginia. Northern Virginia dominates because of its density of defense contractors and federal agency offices, while Hampton Roads draws heavily from Naval Station Norfolk and adjacent research commands, making both regions strong markets even though they serve very different mission areas.

Are there remote physics jobs in Virginia?

Yes, but they're rare. About 50% of physics openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the hands-on and security-clearance requirements that come with most defense and laboratory roles. Computational physics, data analysis, and modeling work are the sub-areas where remote arrangements appear most often.

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

The most realistic entry path is through internships or cooperative education programs at Virginia-based national laboratories and federal contractors such as Leidos, SAIC, or the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. New graduates with strong coursework in optics, nuclear physics, or computational modeling and an ability to begin the security clearance process are competitive for junior research associate and systems analyst roles. Building a portfolio of research projects or publications, even from undergraduate thesis work, meaningfully strengthens applications in this market.

Where can I find and apply to physics jobs in Virginia?

You can find and apply to physics jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings across defense contractors, research institutions, and government-adjacent employers. Search the listings, identify the roles that fit your background and clearance level, and apply directly through each posting.

See All 13 Physics Jobs in Virginia

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

Find Physics Jobs