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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Job ID: 2616794
Location: Chantilly, VA, US
Date Posted: 2026-09-16
Category: Engineering and Sciences
Subcategory: Signal Engineer
Schedule: Full-Time
Shift: Day Job
Travel: No
Minimum Clearance Required: TS.SCI
Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: TS/SCI with Poly
Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE
Description
SAIC is seeking a target-tracking Radar Signals Engineer to support modeling, simulation, and analyses of scenarios with radars tracking satellites in all types of Earth orbits. Your work will drive critical national decisions and include:
- Satellite-tracking radar signal designs and signal processing algorithms
- Antenna design and analyses
- Performance analyses of satellite target detection, acquisition, tracking and characterization
- Optional: Radar return modeling using 3D satellite models
As part of an agile team including experts in astrodynamics, optical sensing, and AI you will collaboratively simulate mission operations concepts at-scale with support from our High Performance Computing specialists. You can expect regular opportunities to meet with and optionally present findings to local senior government customers.
- Use programming languages such as Python, C++, MATLAB, or others to leverage existing analysis tools and develop new ones
- Conduct independent trade studies and technical assessments
- Review and validate algorithms and results provided by external teams
- Develop and optionally present actionable technical briefings
Salary range: $190,000 – $230,000, based on qualifications listed below, plus company 401(k) match and discounted employee stock purchase plan.
Growth and career progression: You will have access to mentoring by highly experienced experts in radars, optics, astrodynamics, AI and many other fields. Senior staff will have opportunities to serve as principals and team leaders. Managers will maintain open communications to ensure that you thrive.
Flexible schedule: On-site core collaboration hours from 10 am to 3 pm, options to work nine or eight days out of every two weeks.
Stability: Our team supports a fully-funded prime contract with the government. Additionally, our radar analysts routinely support other prime contracts as-necessary. As a large company with a major presence in Northern Virginia, SAIC offers a broad array of work opportunities for employees locally as well as nationally.
Qualifications
Education degree: Electrical Engineering, Applied Math, Physics, or a related technical field
Education and minimum professional experience:
- Bachelor’s plus 14 years, or Master’s plus 12 years, or PhD plus nine (9) years
Experience: Target-tracking radar signals
Programming: Python, C++, MATLAB, or similar
Clearance: TS/SCI required and must have or be able to pass polygraph test
Target salary range: $200,001 - $240,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.See All 201+ Principal Jobs in Virginia
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Find Principal JobsPrincipal Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Principal Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Capital One30

- General Dynamics Information Technology19

- SAIC11

- Northrop Grumman11

- MITRE8

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, General Dynamics Information Technology, and SAIC, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 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, Arlington, and Richmond 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 54% of principal openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of September 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 201+ Principal Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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