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 SAIC, General Dynamics Information Technology, and MANTECH. 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.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 Chantilly
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Who's Hiring
- SAIC57
- General Dynamics Information Technology43
- MANTECH29
- VTG Defense14
- E-INFOSOL14
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 SAIC, General Dynamics Information Technology, and MANTECH, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 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 49% of principal openings tied to Chantilly are remote or hybrid as of September 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.
See All 201+ Principal Jobs in Chantilly
Find roles in Chantilly that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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