Principal Jobs in Virginia

Principal jobs in Virginia are in strong demand, concentrated in K-12 public school systems, private and charter schools, and higher education administration, with openings at every level from assistant principal through district-level leadership. The heaviest hiring activity runs through Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Hampton Roads, where large employers such as Fairfax County Public Schools, Virginia Beach City Public Schools, and Loudoun County Public Schools maintain consistent openings. Instructional leadership, special education administration, and Title I school leadership are among the most sought-after specializations across the state. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles186+
Top employerCapital One
Top cityMcLean, VA
Cities hiring39
Work type47% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 186+ Principal jobs

Principal Maintenance Worker - Trails Crew
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New 17h ago
Principal Maintenance Worker - Trails Crew
Chesterfield County
Chesterfield, Virginia
Health & Safety
Maintenance & Repair
Skilled Trades
High school diploma or GED
1,001-5,000

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Principal Technical Program Manager
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Added 2d ago
Principal Technical Program Manager
Oracle
Reston, Virginia
Program Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
10,000+

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Principal Azure and M365 Cloud Architect - TS/SCI with Polygraph
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Added 2d ago
Principal Azure and M365 Cloud Architect - TS/SCI with Polygraph
General Dynamics Information Technology
Chantilly, Virginia
Business Operations
Product Management
Project Management
$164k - $213k/yr
Bachelor's degree in information technology
10,000+

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Contracts Administrator Principal
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Added 2d ago
Contracts Administrator Principal
General Dynamics Information Technology
Falls Church, Virginia
Business Operations
Data Analytics
Project Management
$96k - $129k/yr
Bachelor's degree in finance
10,000+

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Principal Software Engineer - CTJ - Poly
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Added 2d ago
Principal Software Engineer - CTJ - Poly
Microsoft
Reston, Virginia
Automation QA
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Specialized Engineering
$143k - $304k/yr
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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See All 186+ Principal Jobs in Virginia

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

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Principal Jobs by City in Virginia

Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Reston
18 jobs
Richmond
14 jobs
Herndon
10 jobs
Sterling
7 jobs
Vienna
5 jobs
Chesterfield
5 jobs

Principal Job Market in Virginia

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

Who's Hiring

  • Capital One19
  • SAIC12
  • Northrop Grumman12
  • Amazon8
  • General Dynamics Information Technology8

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software

What Virginia Employers Look For

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

  • Active Virginia postgraduate professional license in administration and supervision required
  • Master's degree in educational leadership, administration, or a closely related field required
  • Minimum of five years of licensed classroom teaching experience in an accredited school setting
  • Demonstrated experience leading school improvement initiatives and managing instructional staff
  • Proficiency with Virginia state standards, SOL assessments, and school performance reporting frameworks
  • Strong record of family and community engagement within diverse Virginia school communities

Principal Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a principal in Virginia?

To become a principal in Virginia, you must hold a postgraduate professional license with an endorsement in administration and supervision, issued by the Virginia Department of Education. This requires a master's degree from an accredited program in educational leadership or administration and a specified number of years of licensed teaching experience. Many candidates complete a VDOE-approved preparation program at a Virginia university before applying for licensure.

Which companies hire principals in Virginia?

Employers hiring principals in Virginia right now include Capital One, SAIC, and Northrop Grumman, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Virginia's largest public school divisions, along with growing private and charter school networks, account for the majority of openings across the state.

Which Virginia cities have the most principal jobs?

McLean, Reston, and Arlington have the most principal openings in Virginia right now. Northern Virginia cities like Fairfax and Ashburn reflect the scale of Fairfax County and Loudoun County public school systems, while Richmond's concentration of both public schools and private institutions drives demand there, and Hampton Roads cities like Virginia Beach and Chesapeake follow from their large suburban school divisions.

Are there remote principal jobs in Virginia?

Yes, but they're rare. About 53% of principal openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, which reflects how hands-on the role is by nature. Principals are expected to be present daily to lead staff, support students, and manage building operations, though some administrative or virtual school leadership roles do offer remote flexibility.

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

The most realistic entry path is the assistant principal role, which is the standard stepping stone in Virginia school divisions. Large divisions such as Fairfax County Public Schools, Prince William County Public Schools, and Chesterfield County Public Schools regularly hire assistant principals from their own teacher and instructional coach pipelines. Completing a VDOE-approved educational leadership preparation program at a Virginia university and obtaining your administration and supervision endorsement before applying gives you a clear competitive edge.

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

You can find and apply to principal jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings updated regularly. Find roles that fit your experience level and location, then apply directly to the employer through the listing.

See All 186+ Principal Jobs in Virginia

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

Find Principal Jobs