Principal Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Principal Engineer jobs in Virginia are in high demand, with active hiring concentrated in defense and national security contracting, cloud infrastructure, and systems engineering across a wide seniority range from senior staff to distinguished engineering levels. Northern Virginia, the Richmond metro, and Hampton Roads account for the largest share of openings, with established employers like Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Northrop Grumman among the most consistent hirers in the state. Software architecture, systems integration, and embedded systems are the specializations drawing the most sustained interest from Virginia employers. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

Find Principal Engineer Jobs

Overview

Open roles159+
Top employerNorthrop Grumman
Top cityReston, VA
Cities hiring39
Work type60% On-site
Top industryAerospace

Showing 5 of 159+ Principal Engineer jobs

Applied Information Sciences
Principal AI-Native Engineer
We won't show you this job again
Applied Information Sciences
New 16h ago
Principal AI-Native Engineer
Applied Information Sciences
Reston, Virginia
Business Strategy
Product Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
$195k - $210k/yr
501-1,000

Have you applied for this role?

PenFed Credit Union
Salesforce Principal Engineer
We won't show you this job again
PenFed Credit Union
Added 1d ago
Salesforce Principal Engineer
PenFed Credit Union
McLean, Virginia
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Product & Program Management
Cloud & DevOps
$85k - $167k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

Have you applied for this role?

Leidos
Principal Nuclear Engineer - TS/SCI Polygraph Required
We won't show you this job again
Leidos
Added 1d ago
Principal Nuclear Engineer - TS/SCI Polygraph Required
Leidos
Reston, Virginia
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Mechanical Engineering
$154k - $278k/yr
Doctoral degree
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Fannie Mae
Principal Security Engineer
We won't show you this job again
Fannie Mae
Added 1d ago
Principal Security Engineer
Fannie Mae
Reston, Virginia
Engineering (Non-Software)
Product Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
$200k - $269k/yr
Hybrid
5,001-10,000

Have you applied for this role?

Northrop Grumman
DevOps Engineer/ Principal DevOps Engineer (AHT)
We won't show you this job again
Northrop Grumman
Added 1d ago
DevOps Engineer/ Principal DevOps Engineer (AHT)
Northrop Grumman
Fairfax, Virginia
Business Development
Partnerships & Business Development
Sales
$92k - $171k/yr
Master's degree
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

See All 159+ Principal Engineer Jobs in Virginia

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

Find Principal Engineer Jobs

Principal Engineer Jobs by City in Virginia

Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Reston
20 jobs
Chantilly
18 jobs
Arlington
14 jobs
McLean
9 jobs
Sterling
9 jobs
Fairfax
8 jobs
Richmond
8 jobs
Dulles
7 jobs
Ashburn
6 jobs

Principal Engineer Job Market in Virginia

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

Who's Hiring

  • Northrop Grumman
    Northrop Grumman28
  • SAIC
    SAIC7
  • Electra Aero
    Electra Aero5
  • Collins Aerospace
    Collins Aerospace5
  • MITRE
    MITRE4

Top Industries Hiring

  • Aerospace & Defense
  • Technology & Software
  • Consulting & Professional Services
  • Food & Beverage
  • Telecommunications

What Virginia Employers Look For

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

  • Active Secret or Top Secret clearance required or eligibility to obtain one
  • Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or related engineering discipline
  • Ten or more years of progressive software or systems engineering experience
  • Demonstrated experience leading technical design decisions across large cross-functional teams
  • Deep expertise in cloud platforms, distributed systems, or embedded systems architecture
  • Strong communication skills to present technical direction to senior leadership and stakeholders

Principal Engineer Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a principal engineer in Virginia?

Most principal engineer roles in Virginia are reached through cumulative technical experience rather than a state-issued license, though engineers working on public infrastructure or civil systems may pursue a Professional Engineer license through the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Hiring managers in defense contracting and tech expect a bachelor's or master's in an engineering discipline, deep domain expertise, and a portfolio of architecture or system design decisions that demonstrate technical leadership at scale.

Which companies hire principal engineers in Virginia?

Employers hiring principal engineers in Virginia right now include Northrop Grumman, SAIC, and Electra Aero, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Virginia's concentration of federal contractors and technology firms in the Northern Virginia corridor makes it one of the most active states for senior engineering talent.

Which Virginia cities have the most principal engineer jobs?

Reston, Chantilly, and Arlington have the most principal engineer openings in Virginia. Northern Virginia dominates because of its proximity to federal agencies and the dense cluster of defense and intelligence contractors headquartered there, while Richmond and Hampton Roads draw hiring from state government technology modernization projects and large naval and aerospace employers respectively.

Are there remote principal engineer jobs in Virginia?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 40% of principal engineer openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting how much of the work involves architecture, code review, and system design that travels well. Roles tied to classified government programs or on-site infrastructure are the most likely to require in-person presence in Northern Virginia or Hampton Roads.

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

The most realistic entry path is through a staff or senior engineer role at a large Virginia defense contractor or technology firm, where internal promotion tracks allow engineers to grow into principal-level scope over time. Employers like Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton, and MITRE run new-graduate and rotational programs that place engineers on complex federal programs early. Building a portfolio of system design work, contributing to open-source architecture projects, or earning a cloud certification strengthens candidacy significantly in the Virginia market.

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

You can find and apply to principal engineer jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from Virginia employers. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly from the listings.

See All 159+ Principal Engineer Jobs in Virginia

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

Find Principal Engineer Jobs