Principal Engineer Jobs in District of Columbia
Principal Engineer jobs in District of Columbia draw from one of the most active markets in the country, concentrated heavily in federal contracting, cybersecurity, and defense systems integration. Most hiring clusters in the District itself and nearby corridors, with major employers including Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, and General Dynamics Information Technology maintaining a substantial presence here. Cloud architecture, systems engineering, and software platform development are the specializations in highest demand. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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ASRC Federal is a leading government contractor furthering missions in space, public health and defense. As an Alaska Native owned corporation, our work helps secure an enduring future for our shareholders. Join our team and discover why we are a top veteran employer and Certified Great Place to Work™.
ASRC Federal Technology Solutions, a subsidiary of ASRC Federal, is seeking a Data Architect to remotely support our DHS program that we are bidding on. This position is contingent upon award.
The Full Stack Developer will serve as a key technical resource responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining web applications across the full technology stack under the ICE Law Enforcement Systems and Analysis (LESA) Data Quality Improvement Support Services contract. This role builds and integrates user facing components with robust server side logic, ensuring applications are secure, scalable, and optimized for performance. The developer collaborates closely with law enforcement stakeholders, system owners, and technical teams to define requirements, implement new features, and enhance existing functionality in support of mission critical systems such as EID, EAGLE, and EARM. The Full Stack Developer ensures seamless application behavior, high reliability, and continuous improvement across ICE’s operational environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop, enhance, and maintain full stack applications that support data quality improvement, error remediation, and operational workflows across ICE mission systems.
- Translate operational and technical requirements into secure, scalable front end interfaces and back end services that improve data accessibility, usability, and system performance.
- Collaborate closely with data analysts, data scientists, and system owners to design user centric solutions that strengthen data integrity and streamline mission processes.
- Integrate automation, AI/ML components, and data driven features into existing applications to enhance processing efficiency and decision support capabilities.
- Conduct code reviews, participate in Agile ceremonies, and contribute to continuous integration and deployment activities to maintain alignment with project standards and timelines.
- Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve application issues across the full technology stack, ensuring high availability and minimal disruption to operational users.
- Produce and maintain comprehensive technical documentation, including system design artifacts, development procedures, and user guidance for stakeholders.
- Monitor emerging technologies, frameworks, and best practices to continuously strengthen the technical foundation supporting LESA’s data quality mission.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field. - Advanced degree or specialized training is a plus.
- Experience: At least eight (8) years of experience in full-stack development.
- Proven experience as a Full Stack Developer or similar role, with a strong portfolio of web applications.
- Proficiency in front-end technologies such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and popular frameworks like React or Angular.
- Strong knowledge of back-end languages such as Node.js, Python, or Java, and database management systems like MySQL or MongoDB.
- Familiarity with RESTful APIs and integrating third-party services.
- Excellent debugging and troubleshooting skills with a focus on performance optimization.
- Certified Scrum Developer (CSD) or other relevant agile certifications.
- Required: SECRET Security clearance or ability to obtain one, as required for accessing sensitive data.
We invest in the lives of our employees, both in and out of the workplace, by providing competitive pay and benefits packages. Benefits offered may include health care, dental, vision, life insurance; 401(k); education assistance; paid time off including PTO, holidays, and any other paid leave required by law. The salary offered will depend on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, skills, education, geographic location, internal equity, business needs, and other factors permitted by law. Posted pay ranges are a general guideline only and are not a guarantee of compensation or salary.
EEO Statement
ASRC Federal and its Subsidiaries are Equal Opportunity employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, gender, color, age, sexual orientation, gender identification, national origin, religion, marital status, ancestry, citizenship, disability, protected veteran status, or any other factor prohibited by applicable law.
ASRC Federal is a leading government contractor furthering missions in space, public health and defense. As an Alaska Native owned corporation, our work helps secure an enduring future for our shareholders. Join our team and discover why we are a top veteran employer and Certified Great Place to Work™.
ASRC Federal Technology Solutions, a subsidiary of ASRC Federal, is seeking a Data Architect to remotely support our DHS program that we are bidding on. This position is contingent upon award.
The Full Stack Developer will serve as a key technical resource responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining web applications across the full technology stack under the ICE Law Enforcement Systems and Analysis (LESA) Data Quality Improvement Support Services contract. This role builds and integrates user facing components with robust server side logic, ensuring applications are secure, scalable, and optimized for performance. The developer collaborates closely with law enforcement stakeholders, system owners, and technical teams to define requirements, implement new features, and enhance existing functionality in support of mission critical systems such as EID, EAGLE, and EARM. The Full Stack Developer ensures seamless application behavior, high reliability, and continuous improvement across ICE’s operational environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop, enhance, and maintain full stack applications that support data quality improvement, error remediation, and operational workflows across ICE mission systems.
- Translate operational and technical requirements into secure, scalable front end interfaces and back end services that improve data accessibility, usability, and system performance.
- Collaborate closely with data analysts, data scientists, and system owners to design user centric solutions that strengthen data integrity and streamline mission processes.
- Integrate automation, AI/ML components, and data driven features into existing applications to enhance processing efficiency and decision support capabilities.
- Conduct code reviews, participate in Agile ceremonies, and contribute to continuous integration and deployment activities to maintain alignment with project standards and timelines.
- Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve application issues across the full technology stack, ensuring high availability and minimal disruption to operational users.
- Produce and maintain comprehensive technical documentation, including system design artifacts, development procedures, and user guidance for stakeholders.
- Monitor emerging technologies, frameworks, and best practices to continuously strengthen the technical foundation supporting LESA’s data quality mission.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field. - Advanced degree or specialized training is a plus.
- Experience: At least eight (8) years of experience in full-stack development.
- Proven experience as a Full Stack Developer or similar role, with a strong portfolio of web applications.
- Proficiency in front-end technologies such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and popular frameworks like React or Angular.
- Strong knowledge of back-end languages such as Node.js, Python, or Java, and database management systems like MySQL or MongoDB.
- Familiarity with RESTful APIs and integrating third-party services.
- Excellent debugging and troubleshooting skills with a focus on performance optimization.
- Certified Scrum Developer (CSD) or other relevant agile certifications.
- Required: SECRET Security clearance or ability to obtain one, as required for accessing sensitive data.
We invest in the lives of our employees, both in and out of the workplace, by providing competitive pay and benefits packages. Benefits offered may include health care, dental, vision, life insurance; 401(k); education assistance; paid time off including PTO, holidays, and any other paid leave required by law. The salary offered will depend on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, skills, education, geographic location, internal equity, business needs, and other factors permitted by law. Posted pay ranges are a general guideline only and are not a guarantee of compensation or salary.
EEO Statement
ASRC Federal and its Subsidiaries are Equal Opportunity employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, gender, color, age, sexual orientation, gender identification, national origin, religion, marital status, ancestry, citizenship, disability, protected veteran status, or any other factor prohibited by applicable law.
See All 22 Principal Engineer Jobs in District of Columbia
Find roles in District of Columbia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Principal Engineer JobsPrincipal Engineer Jobs by City in District of Columbia
Where District of Columbia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Principal Engineer Job Market in District of Columbia
A snapshot from current District of Columbia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What District of Columbia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in principal engineer jobs across District of Columbia.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, engineering, or a closely related technical field
- Ten or more years of progressive software or systems engineering experience in relevant domains
- Active or obtainable security clearance, with many District of Columbia roles requiring Secret or Top Secret
- Demonstrated experience leading technical architecture decisions across large, cross-functional engineering teams
- Proficiency in cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud in an enterprise or government context
- Strong background in agile delivery, CI/CD pipelines, and modern DevSecOps practices
Principal Engineer Jobs in District of Columbia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a principal engineer in District of Columbia?
Becoming a principal engineer in District of Columbia typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science, systems engineering, or a related field, followed by years of progressively senior engineering roles. The District has no state-issued engineering license specific to software principal engineers, but many roles in the federal contracting sector require a government security clearance, which candidates initiate through their sponsoring employer. Demonstrating technical leadership on large-scale, complex systems is the most decisive factor for advancement here.
Which companies hire principal engineers in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia principal engineer roles are posted by Microsoft, Amtrak, and Arcfield and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. The District's deep federal contracting ecosystem means large systems integrators and defense technology firms account for a significant share of these openings.
Which District of Columbia cities have the most principal engineer jobs?
Washington account for the most principal engineer openings in District of Columbia. The concentration in the District itself reflects the density of federal agencies and the headquarters or major offices of large contractors, while adjacent suburban areas benefit from the same ecosystem of government-facing technology work and cleared-facility campuses.
Are there remote principal engineer jobs in District of Columbia?
Yes, though they are less common than in other tech markets. About 82% of principal engineer openings tied to District of Columbia are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, with the share limited partly by security clearance requirements and classified program work that mandates on-site presence. Roles focused on cloud architecture, platform engineering, and unclassified software development are the most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements.
How can I get hired as a principal engineer in District of Columbia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a mid-level software or systems engineer role with a federal contractor, which provides exposure to the cleared, government-facing work that principal engineer titles in this market require. Large District of Columbia employers such as Booz Allen Hamilton and Leidos run associate and new-grad programs that bring in engineers at earlier career stages. Building toward a security clearance, earning a cloud certification, and contributing to technically complex projects are the credentials that accelerate the path to principal-level consideration here.
Where can I find and apply to principal engineer jobs in District of Columbia?
You can find and apply to principal engineer jobs in District of Columbia on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings in the District. Search the listings, find roles that fit your background and interests, and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 22 Principal Engineer Jobs in District of Columbia
Find roles in District of Columbia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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