Principal Jobs in Chantilly, VA
Principal jobs in Chantilly, Virginia are concentrated near the Route 28 corridor, Westfields Business Park, and the Innovation at Dulles area, with strong demand across defense contracting, federal IT services, and K-12 education management. Employers actively hiring include Northrop Grumman, SAIC, and MANTECH. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Description
At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is a trusted provider of mission-enabling solutions for global security. We have a wide portfolio of secure, affordable, integrated, and multi-domain systems and technologies. Our differentiated battle management and cyber solutions deliver timely, mission-enabling information and provide superior situational awareness and understanding to protect the U.S. and its global allies.
We are looking for you to join our team as a Principal Field Engineer or Sr. Principal Field Engineer based out of Chantilly, VA, plus 20%-50% CONUS/OCONUS travel.
During travel you will be eligible to receive domestic/international assignment benefits, allowances and/or premiums negotiated between Northrop Grumman and the customer.
What You’ll get to Do:
Are you ready to start a new mission? This is an opportunity to utilize your background in electronics, RF communications, electronic system integration and maintenance, signal intelligence (SIGINT), electronic warfare (EW). You would be joining our field team to work on OCONUS/CONUS maintenance and test of field-deployed EW products.
What you’ll be doing in this role:
Closely interface with system operators in the maintenance and operation of fielded equipment.
Operate independently at customer facilities, with remote guidance and technical assistance as needed.
Work closely with the Military/Government customer as well as internal Northrop Grumman engineering teams.
Conduct advanced troubleshooting and repair of customer equipment in a resource-constrained operational environment.
Coordinate with deployed field engineers, design engineers, vendors, customer leadership, and system operators in testing and repair of Electronic Warfare systems.
Document and communicate system disposition, spare requirements, and changing administrative and logistical constraints in a deployed environment.
Support may include; on-call 24/7 support of a customer operations center, travel to test events, and regular interaction with design engineers and external vendors.
Work closely with the Military/Government customer as well as internal Northrop Grumman engineering teams.
Travel and be part of 60-90 day overseas rotations to possibly hazardous locations.
This position can be filled as a Principal Field Engineer or Sr. Principal Field Engineer.
Basic Qualifications for a Principal Field Engineer:
Bachelor’s degree and 4 years experience or Master's degree and 2 years experience; an additional 4 years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
Experience in integration, field support, and implementation of communications systems.
Experience in aircraft integration and RF troubleshooting.
Must pass a physical health assessment and meet the minimal standards of fitness in alignment with AFCENT requirements.
Requires deployment to overseas and military theatres for extended periods (60 to 90 days at a time on a rotating basis). Candidates must be willing to work extended hours during mission critical time periods.
U.S. Citizenship and active/current U.S. Government Top Secret/SCI clearance are required.
Basic Qualifications for a Sr. Principal Field Engineer:
Bachelor’s degree and 7 years experience or Master's degree and 5 years experience; an additional 4 years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
Experience in integration, field support, and implementation of communications systems.
Experience in aircraft integration and RF troubleshooting.
Must pass a physical health assessment and meet the minimal standards of fitness in alignment with AFCENT requirements.
Requires deployment to overseas and military theatres for extended periods (60 to 90 days at a time on a rotating basis). Candidates must be willing to work extended hours during mission critical time periods.
U.S. Citizenship and active/current U.S. Government Top Secret/SCI clearance are required.
Preferred Qualifications:
Degree in a STEM discipline preferred (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math).
Knowledge of GSM, CDMA, Satcom, UMTS, WiFi, and LTE.
Experience in computer networking.
Comp TIA Security+ and A+ Certifications.
Red Hat, Linux+ or similar certification.
Strong analytical, organizational, and interpersonal skills; and proficiency with various types of test equipment.
Experience using Anritsu test equipment.
Military experience desirable, Special Operations Command experience preferred.
Experience with Airborne Electronic Warfare payload integration.
Previous austere environment travel experience OCONUS.
Technical Writing experience.
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Find Principal JobsPrincipal Job Market in Chantilly
Who's Hiring
- Northrop Grumman10

- SAIC6

- MANTECH3

- E4H1E
- Oasys1O
Top Industries Hiring
- Aerospace & Defense1
- Technology & Software1
- Government & Public Sector1
Principal Jobs in Chantilly: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a principal job in Chantilly?
The strongest path into a principal role in Chantilly is through the defense contracting and federal IT sectors clustered along the Route 28 corridor and in Westfields Business Park. Employers there prioritize candidates with clearance eligibility, project leadership experience, or school administration credentials for K-12 roles. Tailoring your application to the specific sector, whether government services, education, or technology, gives you the clearest edge in this market.
Which companies hire principals in Chantilly?
Companies currently hiring principals in Chantilly include Northrop Grumman, SAIC, and MANTECH, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Chantilly's employer base skews heavily toward large defense contractors, federal technology integrators, and public school system operators serving Fairfax County.
Are there remote principal jobs in Chantilly?
Yes, though availability depends heavily on the role type. About 30% of principal openings tied to Chantilly are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, with most flexibility found in technology and program management roles rather than school leadership positions. Principals in K-12 or facilities-based roles are almost always required on site, while those in analytical or strategic capacities have more hybrid options.
How can I get a principal job in Chantilly with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Chantilly is through assistant or associate-level roles with Fairfax County Public Schools or entry-level program coordinator positions at defense contractors in Westfields. These roles build the leadership and operational credentials that local employers require for principal-level advancement. Volunteering for cross-functional projects, earning relevant certifications, and building familiarity with federal contracting workflows all strengthen a candidate's profile for promotion within Chantilly's dominant industries.
Which industries hire the most principals in Chantilly?
The sectors hiring the most principals in Chantilly are Aerospace & Defense, Technology & Software, and Government & Public Sector, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Chantilly's proximity to Washington, D.C. and major intelligence community installations drives sustained demand for experienced principals across government services and technology integration firms concentrated in the area.
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