Principal Scientist Jobs in McLean, VA

Principal Scientist jobs in McLean, Virginia are concentrated in the Tysons Corner corridor, the McLean Business Center, and along the Route 123 defense and intelligence hub, with strong demand in national security research, biosciences, and advanced analytics. Employers actively hiring include Capital One, Information Technology Senior Management Forum, and PenFed Credit Union. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

Find Principal Scientist Jobs

Overview

Open roles32
Top employerCapital One
Work type50% On-site
Top credentialDoctoral degree in statistics
Companies hiring3

Showing 5 of 32+ Principal Scientist jobs

Principal Associate, Data Scientist - SBB Fraud
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Added 4d ago
Principal Associate, Data Scientist - SBB Fraud
Capital One
McLean, Virginia
Data Analytics
Data Science
Doctoral degree in statistics
10,000+

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Principal Associate, Data Scientist - SBB Fraud
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Added 4d ago
Principal Associate, Data Scientist - SBB Fraud
Information Technology Senior Management Forum
McLean, Virginia
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Product Management
Software Engineering
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
$162k - $185k/yr
Doctoral degree in statistics
51-200

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Principal Associate, Data Scientist - Alternative Data Strategy
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Added 1w ago
Principal Associate, Data Scientist - Alternative Data Strategy
Capital One
McLean, Virginia
Administrative & Office Support
Customer Service
Customer Support
Hybrid
Doctoral degree in statistics
10,000+

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Principal Associate, Data Scientist - Alternative Data Strategy
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Added 1w ago
Principal Associate, Data Scientist - Alternative Data Strategy
Information Technology Senior Management Forum
McLean, Virginia
Data Analytics
Data Science
$162k - $185k/yr
Hybrid
Doctoral degree in statistics
51-200

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Principal Associate, Data Scientist - Capital One Personal Loan
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Added 3w ago
Principal Associate, Data Scientist - Capital One Personal Loan
Information Technology Senior Management Forum
McLean, Virginia
Software Engineering
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Specialized Engineering
Technical Program Management
$147k - $168k/yr
Doctoral degree in statistics
51-200

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See All 32 Principal Scientist Jobs in McLean

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

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Principal Scientist Job Market in McLean

Who's Hiring

  • Capital One19
  • Information Technology Senior Management Forum12
  • PenFed Credit Union2

Top Industries Hiring

  • Banking & Financial Services

Principal Scientist Jobs in McLean: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a principal scientist job in McLean?

Focus your search on McLean's dominant hiring sectors: defense and intelligence contracting, federal health and biomedical research, and data-intensive analytics firms clustered near Tysons Corner and the Route 123 corridor. Candidates with active security clearances or federal agency experience have a measurable edge here. Targeting prime contractors and federally oriented research organizations directly, rather than broad job boards, will surface the most relevant openings.

Which companies hire principal scientists in McLean?

Employers hiring principal scientists in McLean right now include Capital One, Information Technology Senior Management Forum, and PenFed Credit Union, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. McLean draws a mix of large defense primes, intelligence community contractors, and specialized research consultancies, many of which maintain headquarters or major division offices in the Tysons Corner and McLean Business Center areas.

Are there remote principal scientist jobs in McLean?

Yes, though availability depends heavily on the role: analytical and computational principal scientist positions tend to accommodate remote or hybrid arrangements, while laboratory, classified, and on-site research roles typically require in-person work. About 50% of principal scientist openings tied to McLean are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with the remote share concentrated in data science, modeling, and policy research functions rather than wet-lab or secure-facility positions.

How can I get a principal scientist job in McLean with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path in McLean is through research associate or scientist I roles at federal contractors and government-adjacent consultancies, which regularly hire candidates with strong graduate credentials even before significant independent research experience. Internships and fellowship programs tied to the intelligence community or federal health agencies in the greater McLean area provide direct exposure and often convert to full-time offers. A published thesis, relevant clearance eligibility, and familiarity with federal research frameworks all strengthen a candidacy locally.

Which industries hire the most principal scientists in McLean?

The sectors hiring the most principal scientists in McLean are Banking & Financial Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. McLean's proximity to federal agencies, the intelligence community, and major defense contracting offices makes it a national hub for applied research roles that require both scientific depth and government-facing expertise.

See All 32 Principal Scientist Jobs in McLean

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

Find Principal Scientist Jobs