Principal Engineer Jobs in Maryland
Principal Engineer jobs in Maryland are concentrated in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, Annapolis, and the suburban technology hubs of Montgomery and Howard Counties, where defense, cybersecurity, and systems engineering anchor demand at the senior and staff levels. Employers such as Northrop Grumman, Leidos, and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory maintain a lasting presence and consistently recruit principal engineers across software, systems, and hardware disciplines. The market is among the most active in the Mid-Atlantic, with openings at every seniority tier from recently promoted senior engineer to distinguished principal. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Description
At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer / Principal Process Engineer for the Advanced Interconnects and Multilayer Solutions (AIMS) manufacturing cell.
AIMS is committed to the rapid development, manufacture and delivery of leading-edge discriminating products, utilizing advances in organic materials, technology and processing to meet or exceed customer expectations.
The Manufacturing Engineer / Principal Manufacturing Process Engineer will provide manufacturing technical expertise and direction to fabricate printed wiring boards, manifolds, and backplanes for next generation RF hardware. This position will be responsible for the drilling/routing processes in AIMS/ACF.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the tasks outlined below:
Process Development
- Developing new and maintaining or improving existing manufacturing processes with a focus on affordability
- Creating and managing project plans (tasks, resources, schedules) for process development activities
- Providing ROI justification for process improvements
- Specifying, identifying and procuring new manufacturing equipment for production readiness and preparing equipment for production
- Developing and optimizing process parameters
- Developing/revising process documentation and work instruction
Factory Support
- Monitoring process yields, cost, and process stability and capability
- Recommending and implementing quality improvements based on the above metrics
- Creating, validating and maintaining automatic equipment programs
- Solving of manufacturing problems (related to materials, designs, equipment, people) in a timely manner
- Assisting with the training of new personnel and participating in the design of operator training materials
- Supporting factory maintenance personnel with the troubleshooting and repair of process equipment
Design Support
- Recommending product design improvements required to produce advanced microelectronics products
- Documenting state-of-the-art process capabilities and guidelines for product designers
- Participating in design producibility reviews for new products
The chosen candidate must have excellent verbal and written communication skills; be able to multi-task in a fast-paced, dynamic, and high visibility environment; and work well as part of a team.
This requisition may be filled as a Manufacturing Engineer or a Principal Manufacturing Engineer based on the qualifications below.
Basic Qualifications for a Manufacturing Engineer:
- Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or related STEM area with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience (or minimum of 1 year with an MS); Candidates with a High School diploma/GED and a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience or a minimum of 4 years with an Associate's degree will also be considered.
- Process Engineering experience.
- Experience with multi-layered circuit boards
- Experience with drilling, CMM, and routing processes
- Experience with Design of Experiment (DOE), Statistical Process Control (SPC), 6 sigma concepts for process development, and control.
- Experience with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
- Fluency in MS Office software applications.
- The ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Clearance
- US Citizenship is required.
Basic Qualifications for a Principal Engineer:
- Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or related STEM area with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience (or minimum of 3 years with a MS or 1 year with a PhD); Candidates with a High School diploma/GED and a minimum of 9 years of relevant experience or a minimum of 7 years with an Associate's degree will also be considered.
- Process Engineering experience.
- Experience with multi-layered circuit boards
- Experience with drilling, CMM, and routing processes
- Experience with Design of Experiment (DOE), Statistical Process Control (SPC), 6 sigma concepts for process development, and control.
- Experience with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
- Fluency in MS Office software applications.
- The ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Clearance
- US Citizenship is required.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with on equipment repairs and troubleshooting
- Experience with creating drill/rout programs with CATIA / SolidWorks, etc.
See All 138+ Principal Engineer Jobs in Maryland
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Find Principal Engineer JobsPrincipal Engineer Jobs by City in Maryland
Where Maryland roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Principal Engineer Job Market in Maryland
A snapshot from current Maryland openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Northrop Grumman69

- Nyla Technology Solutions9

- Leidos6

- Leonardo DRS5

- Collins Aerospace4

Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing
What Maryland Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in principal engineer jobs across Maryland.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in engineering, computer science, or a closely related technical discipline
- Ten or more years of progressive engineering experience with demonstrated technical leadership
- Active or current eligibility for a U.S. security clearance, required by many Maryland defense and federal contractors
- Deep expertise in a primary discipline such as software architecture, systems engineering, or embedded systems
- Proven record of defining technical direction and mentoring engineers across multiple project teams
- Experience collaborating with government or federal agency stakeholders, common in Maryland's contractor ecosystem
Principal Engineer Jobs in Maryland: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a principal engineer in Maryland?
Principal engineer is a seniority designation rather than a state-licensed title in Maryland, so there is no Maryland-specific engineering license required for software or systems principal engineer roles. Candidates pursuing roles at defense contractors or federal agencies typically hold a bachelor's or master's in engineering or computer science and accumulate deep technical experience over many years. Those working in licensed professional engineering domains can obtain a Professional Engineer license through the Maryland State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, which adds credibility for infrastructure and civil disciplines.
Which companies hire principal engineers in Maryland?
Employers hiring principal engineers in Maryland right now include Northrop Grumman, Nyla Technology Solutions, and Leidos, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Maryland's dense concentration of defense contractors, federal agencies, and research institutions means hiring is especially active among large government-adjacent employers anchored in the Baltimore-Washington corridor.
Which Maryland cities have the most principal engineer jobs?
Baltimore, Annapolis Junction, and Annapolis hold the most principal engineer openings in Maryland. The concentration reflects the dominance of defense contractors, federal agency partners, and technology firms clustered along the I-270 technology corridor and around Annapolis Junction, with Baltimore's anchor institutions and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory driving demand in the eastern part of the state.
Are there remote principal engineer jobs in Maryland?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 30% of principal engineer openings tied to Maryland are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting the strong software and systems architecture emphasis in the state's tech sector. The roles most likely to offer full remote flexibility are those in software architecture and cloud platform engineering, while positions requiring access to classified facilities or laboratory hardware tend to remain on-site.
How can I get hired as a principal engineer in Maryland with little or no experience?
The most realistic path is to enter through an associate or mid-level engineering role at one of Maryland's large defense or technology employers and build toward the principal level over time. Employers such as Northrop Grumman and Leidos run structured new-graduate programs that place candidates into team-based rotations with mentorship tracks. Lateral moves from senior software engineer, systems engineer, or lead developer roles are the most common door into principal-level consideration. Pursuing a Professional Engineer license from the Maryland State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors strengthens candidacy in regulated engineering disciplines.
Where can I find and apply to principal engineer jobs in Maryland?
You can find and apply to principal engineer jobs in Maryland on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings tied to the state. Search the listings to find roles that match your discipline and experience level, then apply directly to the ones that fit. No sign-up is required to see and apply to the openings.
See All 138+ Principal Engineer Jobs in Maryland
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