Principal Jobs in Iowa

Principal jobs in Iowa are concentrated in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City, where large public school districts, charter networks, and private institutions drive consistent demand for school leaders at every career stage. Iowa Department of Education-licensed principals are hired by districts such as Des Moines Public Schools, Cedar Rapids Community School District, and the University of Iowa's affiliated schools. The most in-demand specialties are elementary building leadership, secondary curriculum oversight, and special education administration. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.

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Overview

Open roles43
Top employerCollins Aerospace
Top cityCedar Rapids, IA
Cities hiring8
Work type55% On-site
Top credentialBachelor's degree

Showing 5 of 43+ Principal jobs

Principal Engineer, Software Engineering (Onsite)
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Added 1d ago
Principal Engineer, Software Engineering (Onsite)
Collins Aerospace
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Program Management
Project Management
$108k - $205k/yr
On-Site
10,000+

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Principal Software Engineer, DevSecOps (Hybrid)
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Added 2d ago
Principal Software Engineer, DevSecOps (Hybrid)
Collins Aerospace
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Project Management
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Product & Program Management
$108k - $205k/yr
Hybrid
10,000+

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Principal Technical Program Manager
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Added 3d ago
Principal Technical Program Manager
OpenLoop Health
Des Moines, Iowa
Business Development
Business Strategy
Customer Success
Partnerships & Business Development
Remote (US)
Certified Scrum Master

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Principal Procurement Specialist
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Added 3d ago
Principal Procurement Specialist
Raytheon
Des Moines, Iowa
Engineering (Non-Software)
Manufacturing Operations
$87k - $165k/yr
Remote (US)
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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Principal Built-in Test (BIT) Engineer
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Added 5d ago
Principal Built-in Test (BIT) Engineer
BAE Systems USA
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Customer Support
Technical Product & Program Management
Technical Program Management
$107k - $183k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
10,000+

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See All 43 Principal Jobs in Iowa

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Principal Jobs by City in Iowa

Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Cedar Rapids
32 jobs
Des Moines
5 jobs
Pella
1 job
Dubuque
1 job
Hiawatha
1 job
Coralville
1 job
Charles City
1 job
North Liberty
1 job

Principal Job Market in Iowa

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

Who's Hiring

  • Collins Aerospace24
  • BAE Systems USA5
  • Raytheon2
  • Quest Defense2
  • Pella1

What Iowa Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in principal jobs across Iowa.

  • Active Iowa Board of Educational Examiners administrator license with a principal endorsement
  • Master's degree in educational leadership, administration, or a closely related field
  • Minimum of three to five years of licensed classroom teaching experience in K-12 settings
  • Demonstrated experience with curriculum development, instructional coaching, and teacher evaluation
  • Proven ability to manage school budgets, staffing, and district compliance requirements
  • Strong record of family and community engagement within Iowa school communities

Principal Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a principal in Iowa?

To become a principal in Iowa, you must earn an administrator license with a principal endorsement from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners. That requires completing an approved educational leadership master's program at an Iowa or accredited out-of-state university, accumulating the required years of licensed teaching experience, and passing the Iowa-required administrator preparation program. The Board of Educational Examiners processes all applications and sets current endorsement requirements.

Which companies hire principals in Iowa?

Iowa principal roles are posted by Collins Aerospace, BAE Systems USA, and Raytheon and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Iowa's largest public school districts, area education agencies, and private school networks are consistently among the most active employers for building-level and district leadership positions.

Which Iowa cities have the most principal jobs?

Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, and Pella have the most principal openings in Iowa right now. Des Moines anchors demand as the state's largest district and home to several charter networks, while Cedar Rapids and Iowa City benefit from large unified school systems and proximity to the University of Iowa, which drives additional administrative and academic leadership hiring in the surrounding region.

Are there remote principal jobs in Iowa?

Yes, but they're rare. Building-level principals are expected to be on-site daily to lead staff, support students, and manage operations, so most roles are in-person. About 45% of principal openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those tend to be district-level curriculum, assessment, or policy roles rather than traditional building principal positions.

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

The most realistic entry path is an assistant principal or dean of students role, which Iowa districts routinely use to develop first-time administrators. Des Moines Public Schools and Cedar Rapids Community School District run internal leadership pipelines and regularly promote from teacher leader, instructional coach, and department head positions. Completing an Iowa Board of Educational Examiners-approved principal preparation program and holding a provisional administrator license before you apply gives you a clear competitive edge over candidates still mid-program.

Where can I find and apply to principal jobs in Iowa?

You can find and apply to principal jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings from districts and schools across the state. Search the listings, find the roles that match your endorsement level and preferred region, and apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 43 Principal Jobs in Iowa

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

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