Principal Jobs in California
Principal jobs in California are among the most active in the nation, concentrated in K-12 public school districts, charter networks, and private schools across a state with one of the largest student populations in the country, with openings ranging from assistant principal to district-level leadership. Los Angeles, San Diego, and the San Francisco Bay Area generate the greatest volume of postings, where large employers such as Los Angeles Unified School District, San Francisco Unified School District, and Aspire Public Schools maintain ongoing hiring needs. The most in-demand specialties are instructional leadership, special education administration, and Title I school leadership. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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What We're Looking For
At HNTB, you can create a career that leaves a lasting mark on the communities we serve and the industry we help shape. For more than 100 years, HNTB has delivered some of the nation's most complex infrastructure programs, and our continued growth creates an exciting opportunity for leaders who want to drive what's next. As an employee-owned firm, we invest in people who are passionate about innovation, collaboration, and building a legacy.We are seeking a Managing Principal to lead and advance our Building Structures practice. This highly visible leadership role combines operational excellence, technical leadership, business development, and strategic growth. The successful candidate will guide multidisciplinary structural engineering teams delivering complex projects while positioning the practice for expansion into new clients, geographies, and opportunities.
As the leader of the practice, you will be responsible for overall business performance, including project delivery, financial results, talent development, and client satisfaction. Working closely with office, division, and national leadership, you will help define growth strategies, strengthen key client relationships, and pursue opportunities that expand HNTB's presence in both established and emerging markets.
This role extends beyond project execution. You will build and mentor high-performing teams, develop future leaders, and create an environment where technical excellence and innovation thrive. Managing Principals typically lead organizations of 25 or more professionals through direct and indirect reporting relationships, making this an opportunity to influence people, projects, and business outcomes at a meaningful scale.
If you are energized by growing a practice, developing talent, and shaping the future of structural engineering within one of the industry's most respected firms, we invite you to join us and help define the next chapter of our Building Structures practice.
What You'll Do:
- Directs and supervises multiple studio locations within specialty market (Sports, Aviation, Transit, etc.).
- Leads project pursuits and responsible for delivery priorities, staffing schedules, and staff assignments to ensure clients are provided the best design capabilities to meet their needs.
- Implements and executes the firm's processed throughout the project lifecycle such as the Sophisticated Sales Approach (SSA), Sophisticated Contracting Approach (SCA), Sophisticated Delivery Approach (SDA) and Sophisticated Approach to People (SAP).
- Manages group resources and is accountable for the group’s sales, contributions, and earning goals, growth and hiring targets, and the success of each studio within their scope.
- Recruits, hires, develops, and retains staff including performance and compensation reviews and succession planning.
- Partners with or acts as Project Manager to ensure 4for4 delivery on every project – quality work, on time, on schedule, and to the client’s satisfaction.
- Serves as primary client liaison in developing, marketing, and maintaining key executive client relationships in accordance with office strategic plans.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
What You'll Need:
- Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Interior Architecture, Interior Design, Engineering, or related field and 15 years of relevant experience
What You'll Bring:
Demonstrated leadership and business development skills
Ability to develop, grow, and lead high-performing teams
Strong organizational abilities and ability to establish delivery and quality control processes
Ability to successfully manage client relationships and deliver projects
Strong communication skills
What We Prefer:
SE and/or PE (multi-state licensure a plus)
Strong record of mentoring and developing senior technical staff
Experience in complex and signature building structures projects, such as commercial, institutional, aviation, transit or public facilities
Proven ability to originate, pursue, and win work beyond an existing client base
Demonstrated success in business development and growing a building structures practice, including expansion into new markets and client sectors
Established relationships with architects, developers, owners and public agencies, with the ability to open doors and create new client partnerships
Demonstrated ability to build and scale teams, including recruiting senior talent in competitive markets
Experience collaborating across disciplines (architecture, construction, transportation, aviation, etc.) to deliver quality solutions for clients
Experience working within a large, multi-office AEC organization while maintaining an entrepreneurial, growth-oriented mindset
Additional Information
Click here for benefits information: HNTB Total Rewards
Click here to learn more about Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. #EL #LI-EL1.
Locations:
Bellevue, WA (Seattle), Kansas City, MO, Los Angeles, CA (Figueroa Street), Overland Park, KS (Sprint Parkway).
The approximate pay range for Los Angeles Metro Area and Orange County, CA is $207,686.38 - $331,758.78. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state..
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The approximate pay range for Washington is $216,716.23 - $346,183.07. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position based on all selected locations within the state at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state..
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NOTICE TO THIRD-PARTY AGENCIES:
HNTB does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or agencies. Any staffing/employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume to this site does so with the understanding that the applicant's resume will become the property of HNTB. HNTB will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion and without any fee owed to the submitting staffing/employment agency, person or entity. Staffing/employment agencies who have fee agreements with HNTB must submit applicants to the designated HNTB recruiter to be eligible for placement fees.
See All 776+ Principal Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Principal JobsPrincipal Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Principal Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Northrop Grumman151

- Intuit45

- Palo Alto Networks17

- Baker Tilly Canada16

- Oracle14

Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software21
- Education7
- Electronics & Hardware6
- Accounting & Auditing5
- Banking & Financial Services4
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in principal jobs across California.
- Valid California Administrative Services Credential issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing
- Master's degree in educational leadership, administration, or a closely related field
- Minimum five years of certificated teaching experience in a K-12 setting
- Demonstrated experience leading curriculum development and instructional coaching
- Strong knowledge of California Education Code and state accountability frameworks
- Experience managing school budgets, staff evaluations, and community stakeholder engagement
Principal Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a principal in California?
To become a principal in California, you must earn a California Administrative Services Credential through the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The path requires a master's degree in educational leadership or administration, completion of a CTC-approved school administration preparation program, and a valid California teaching credential with teaching experience. Many candidates complete their preparation through California State University programs or university-based administrative credential programs before applying to open positions.
Which companies hire principals in California?
Employers hiring principals in California right now include Northrop Grumman, Intuit, and Palo Alto Networks, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's large urban school districts, charter management organizations, and independent private schools are among the most consistent sources of principal openings throughout the year.
Which California cities have the most principal jobs?
San Diego, San Francisco, and Santa Clara have the most principal openings in California. Los Angeles dominates due to the sheer size of LAUSD and the dense concentration of charter schools, while San Diego and the Bay Area see steady demand driven by large unified school districts and growing charter networks anchored in those metros.
Are there remote principal jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. About 60% of principal openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting the fundamentally on-site nature of school leadership. The portions of the role most amenable to remote work include district-level administrative roles, online school leadership positions, and education consulting or program director roles that fall under the principal title.
How can I get hired as a principal in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing an assistant principal role while completing a California Administrative Services Credential program. Large California unified districts such as Sacramento City Unified and Long Beach Unified regularly hire assistant principals from current teacher-leader and department chair pipelines. Serving as an instructional coach, dean of students, or curriculum coordinator within a California district builds the administrative record that hiring committees look for when filling a first-time principal opening.
Where can I find and apply to principal jobs in California?
You can find and apply to principal jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings from school districts, charter networks, and private schools across the state. Search the listings for roles that match your credential level and preferred region, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 776+ Principal Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Principal Jobs