Senior Control Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Senior Control Engineer jobs in Virginia are in strong demand, concentrated in defense systems, federal contracting, energy infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing, with openings at every level from controls technician through principal engineer. The busiest hiring markets are Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Hampton Roads, where large employers including Northrop Grumman, Leidos, and BAE Systems maintain long-term engineering operations. Automation integration, PLC and DCS programming, and safety instrumented systems are consistently the most in-demand specialties across Virginia sites. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles18
Top employerAmentum
Top cityArlington, VA
Cities hiring14
Work type67% On-site
Top industryConsulting

Showing 5 of 18+ Senior Control Engineer jobs

CACI International
Program Control Analyst, Senior
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CACI International
Added 1w ago
Program Control Analyst, Senior
CACI International
Springfield, Virginia
Business Analyst
Customer Service
Customer Success
$79k - $165k/yr
Bachelor's degree in finance
10,000+

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QinetiQ
Senior Cybersecurity SME/Security Control Assessor
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QinetiQ
Added 1w ago
Senior Cybersecurity SME/Security Control Assessor
QinetiQ
Chantilly, Virginia
Customer Support
Sales
Technical Product & Program Management
$150k - $185k/yr
Master's degree in information technology
5,001-10,000

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Amentum
Mid-to-Senior AN/BYG-1 Submarine Combat Control System Technician
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Amentum
Added 3w ago
Mid-to-Senior AN/BYG-1 Submarine Combat Control System Technician
Amentum
Newport News, Virginia
Compliance & Legal
Compliance & Risk
Security & Protective Services
$23.99 - $40/hr
High school diploma or GED

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RDR, Inc.
Program Control Analyst (Senior)
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RDR, Inc.
Added 3w ago
Program Control Analyst (Senior)
RDR, Inc.
Chantilly, Virginia
Business Analysis
Business Analyst
Business Strategy
Strategy & Corporate Development
51-200

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VTG Defense
Senior Project Control Analyst
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VTG Defense
Added 3w ago
Senior Project Control Analyst
VTG Defense
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Accounting
Business Analyst
Data Analytics
Remote (US)
Bachelor's degree in finance
1,001-5,000

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See All 18 Senior Control Engineer Jobs in Virginia

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

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Senior Control Engineer Jobs by City in Virginia

Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Arlington
3 jobs
Chantilly
2 jobs
Lorton
1 job
McLean
1 job
Vinton
1 job
Norfolk
1 job
Roanoke
1 job
Dahlgren
1 job
Manassas
1 job

Senior Control Engineer Job Market in Virginia

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

Who's Hiring

Amentum
Amentum1 open role
QinetiQ
QinetiQ1 open role
Forterra
Forterra1 open role

Top Industries Hiring

  • Consulting & Professional Services
  • Manufacturing
  • Technology & Software

What Virginia Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in senior control engineer jobs across Virginia.

  • Bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, or systems engineering from an accredited institution
  • Five or more years of hands-on experience with PLC, DCS, or SCADA control systems
  • Demonstrated experience with safety instrumented systems and functional safety standards such as IEC 61511
  • Proficiency in control system design, ladder logic, and structured text programming languages
  • Active or eligible Professional Engineer license recognized by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
  • Experience supporting federal or defense programs, including familiarity with applicable compliance and security requirements

Senior Control Engineer Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a senior control engineer in Virginia?

Most senior control engineers in Virginia hold a bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, or systems engineering and accumulate several years of progressively responsible controls experience before reaching the senior level. Virginia does not mandate a state license for all control engineering roles, but candidates pursuing positions on public works or licensed engineering projects must hold a Professional Engineer license through the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Defense and federal contractors in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads often add security clearance eligibility as a practical requirement alongside the technical credentials.

Which companies hire senior control engineers in Virginia?

Employers hiring senior control engineers in Virginia right now include Amentum, QinetiQ, and Forterra, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Virginia's concentration of defense primes, federal systems integrators, and energy utilities creates durable hiring demand that extends well beyond typical market cycles.

Which Virginia cities have the most senior control engineer jobs?

Arlington, Chantilly, and Virginia are the Virginia cities with the most senior control engineer openings. Northern Virginia drives the largest share through its dense cluster of defense contractors and federal agencies, while Richmond's energy, manufacturing, and utilities sectors sustain consistent demand, and Hampton Roads supports openings tied to naval systems, shipbuilding, and aerospace operations anchored by the region's large military installations.

Are there remote senior control engineer jobs in Virginia?

Yes, but they're rare. Senior control engineer work is largely hands-on, requiring physical presence for system commissioning, factory acceptance testing, and on-site troubleshooting. About 33% of senior control engineer openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those roles tend to be concentrated in design, specification writing, and project engineering tasks that do not require direct plant or lab access.

How can I get hired as a senior control engineer in Virginia with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is a controls or instrumentation technician role or a junior systems engineer position at a Virginia defense contractor or utility, where you build hands-on PLC and DCS experience before advancing. Large Virginia employers including Northrop Grumman and Leidos run new-graduate rotational engineering programs that accept candidates from accredited engineering programs. Earning a Certified Automation Professional credential or completing coursework in functional safety gives candidates a measurable edge when competing against peers who share similar academic backgrounds.

Where can I find and apply to senior control engineer jobs in Virginia?

You can find and apply to senior control engineer jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings. Find the roles that fit your experience and apply directly.

See All 18 Senior Control Engineer Jobs in Virginia

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

Find Senior Control Engineer Jobs