Principal Design Engineer Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Washington DC
Principal design engineer roles in Washington DC cluster around federal contractors, defense integrators, and technology firms such as Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton, and SAIC. These employers regularly sponsor H-1B visa and employment-based green card petitions for senior engineering talent. The DC metro area, including Arlington and Bethesda, is one of the strongest markets in the country for sponsored principal engineering positions.
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Get Access To All JobsPrincipal Mechanical Engineer – Aviation
Start designing tomorrow’s future!
Are you a visionary Mechanical Engineer with a passion for innovation and a proven track record of successful project leadership?
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Principal Mechanical Engineer to join our hybrid team at Buro Happold. As a Principal Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in providing technical expertise and leadership to our Building Environments Group, with a particular focus on the aviation sector. You will provide strategic and technical leadership across complex aviation projects while developing client relationships, supporting business development, and helping to strengthen our aviation capabilities.
Here at Buro Happold, expect the exceptional.
From the projects you will work on to the clients we work with. From career-defining opportunities to an inclusive and diverse practice where we all contribute to a more equitable world. From our reputation to our relationships. Wherever your Buro Happold career takes you, it’ll be anything but ordinary.
Your next role
Join us and be surrounded by exceptional opportunities in an environment alive with innovation and possibility. Your new team has a willingness and curiosity to see possibility and potential in everything – from the most iconic projects to our everyday conversations.
As a Principal Mechanical Engineer, you will provide senior leadership across complex aviation projects, overseeing technical excellence, multidisciplinary project delivery, client relationships, and commercial performance. You will play an important role in developing our aviation business while mentoring and supporting teams to deliver exceptional outcomes for our clients.
Your key duties
- Provide exceptional leadership for project teams as well as the broader group, driving successful outcomes and ensuring project objectives are achieved.
- Provide senior technical and project leadership across complex, large-scale aviation projects.
- Mentor and coach colleagues, fostering a culture of innovation, creativity, and meaningful delegation within the team.
- Work closely with clients, architects, and other team members as part of a dedicated and skilled group, collaborating to deliver world-class solutions.
- Oversee the production of coordinated detailed design drawings, specifications, site observation reports, schedules, and other project deliverables to ensure the highest quality standards.
- Take ownership of building and sustaining productive client relationships, proactively addressing client needs and ensuring overall client satisfaction.
- Lead and support business development activities within the aviation sector, including strengthening existing client relationships and identifying opportunities for future work.
- Direct multiple projects across the group, ensuring the successful implementation of engineering solutions while ensuring financial success.
- Provide oversight of project scope, budgets, schedules, resources, and commercial performance.
- Apply a strong understanding of FAA requirements, airport operational constraints, and aviation industry best practices throughout project planning and delivery.
- Continually maintain and develop the highest standards of technical quality, staying at the forefront of industry advancements and best practices.
- Ensure engineering practices, policies, and services align with the client's best interests and comply with current legislation and building codes.
- Actively contribute to delivering profitable projects, monitoring financial performance, resourcing, and expenditure.
Your skills and experience
- 15+ years of extensive experience in Mechanical Engineering design within the building services and construction industry.
- 10+ years of aviation experience, including leadership of complex aviation projects.
- Hold a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a relevant field.
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of building codes and mechanical design principles.
- Strong understanding of FAA requirements, airport operational constraints, and aviation industry best practices.
- Proven track record of successful project delivery across complex projects and regions.
- Demonstrated ability to manage project scope, budgets, schedules, resources, and overall commercial performance.
- Possess excellent technical knowledge of HVAC systems and good technical knowledge of other MEP building systems, with an ability to investigate and provide effective solutions to technical challenges.
- Adept at high-performance building design using electrified design solutions for both adaptive reuse and new building projects, with the ability to define the impact design solutions have on a building’s carbon footprint and a project’s commercial viability.
- Be a Professional Engineer (P.E.) or hold equivalent professional certification.
- LEED AP accreditation is preferred, reflecting a commitment to sustainable design practices.
- Familiarity with industry-standard software like Revit for detailed design drawings and computational analysis tools, such as CFD and energy modeling software, to develop innovative and energy-efficient solutions.
- Proven experience in a leadership capacity within an MEP Engineering Consultancy or related field.
- Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, including the ability to present technical information to diverse audiences, including non-technical stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, teams, and deadlines while ensuring client satisfaction.
- A self-starter with a founder’s mentality with the ability to work independently, combined with the flexibility to collaborate effectively within a team-based organization.
- Expertise in mentoring and coaching engineers to foster growth and development within the team.
- Strong client relationship management and business development skills, with demonstrated ability to support client acquisition and maintain long-term relationships.
- Candidates are encouraged to apply even if they don’t meet all requirements.
What we offer
- Generous benefits package
- Annual discretionary bonus
- Generous PTO (5 weeks) in addition to 10 paid holidays
- 401k with company match
- Hybrid working & summer hours
- Reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees
- Global network of experts
- Learning and development opportunities
- Be a part of our Young Employees Forum, Diversity and Inclusion Forum, BH Women's Network, and/or our Black at BH ERG
Compensation
Anticipated base annual salary: $186,000–$265,000. The salary range listed for this position is intended as a general guideline and may vary based on factors such as location, education, skills, experience, and market conditions. We recognize that candidates bring diverse backgrounds and qualifications, and compensation may be adjusted accordingly. The posted range should not be viewed as a strict minimum or maximum limitation. Benefits and any additional compensation elements are separate from the base salary range listed.
Ready for something a little less ordinary?
Apply now to start your career journey with us.
A place for everyone
Buro Happold values an individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of how you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers.
Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds, and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other’s differences is key, we want employees to feel they don’t have to mask elements of their identity to thrive.
We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalized groups in the built environment. We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We have much to learn from one another. Embracing differences allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions.
Please let us know if there are any adjustments we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you. Contact recruitment@burohappold.com so we can work with you to support you throughout your application.
LI-BT1 #LI-Hybrid
Principal Mechanical Engineer – Aviation
Start designing tomorrow’s future!
Are you a visionary Mechanical Engineer with a passion for innovation and a proven track record of successful project leadership?
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Principal Mechanical Engineer to join our hybrid team at Buro Happold. As a Principal Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in providing technical expertise and leadership to our Building Environments Group, with a particular focus on the aviation sector. You will provide strategic and technical leadership across complex aviation projects while developing client relationships, supporting business development, and helping to strengthen our aviation capabilities.
Here at Buro Happold, expect the exceptional.
From the projects you will work on to the clients we work with. From career-defining opportunities to an inclusive and diverse practice where we all contribute to a more equitable world. From our reputation to our relationships. Wherever your Buro Happold career takes you, it’ll be anything but ordinary.
Your next role
Join us and be surrounded by exceptional opportunities in an environment alive with innovation and possibility. Your new team has a willingness and curiosity to see possibility and potential in everything – from the most iconic projects to our everyday conversations.
As a Principal Mechanical Engineer, you will provide senior leadership across complex aviation projects, overseeing technical excellence, multidisciplinary project delivery, client relationships, and commercial performance. You will play an important role in developing our aviation business while mentoring and supporting teams to deliver exceptional outcomes for our clients.
Your key duties
- Provide exceptional leadership for project teams as well as the broader group, driving successful outcomes and ensuring project objectives are achieved.
- Provide senior technical and project leadership across complex, large-scale aviation projects.
- Mentor and coach colleagues, fostering a culture of innovation, creativity, and meaningful delegation within the team.
- Work closely with clients, architects, and other team members as part of a dedicated and skilled group, collaborating to deliver world-class solutions.
- Oversee the production of coordinated detailed design drawings, specifications, site observation reports, schedules, and other project deliverables to ensure the highest quality standards.
- Take ownership of building and sustaining productive client relationships, proactively addressing client needs and ensuring overall client satisfaction.
- Lead and support business development activities within the aviation sector, including strengthening existing client relationships and identifying opportunities for future work.
- Direct multiple projects across the group, ensuring the successful implementation of engineering solutions while ensuring financial success.
- Provide oversight of project scope, budgets, schedules, resources, and commercial performance.
- Apply a strong understanding of FAA requirements, airport operational constraints, and aviation industry best practices throughout project planning and delivery.
- Continually maintain and develop the highest standards of technical quality, staying at the forefront of industry advancements and best practices.
- Ensure engineering practices, policies, and services align with the client's best interests and comply with current legislation and building codes.
- Actively contribute to delivering profitable projects, monitoring financial performance, resourcing, and expenditure.
Your skills and experience
- 15+ years of extensive experience in Mechanical Engineering design within the building services and construction industry.
- 10+ years of aviation experience, including leadership of complex aviation projects.
- Hold a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a relevant field.
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of building codes and mechanical design principles.
- Strong understanding of FAA requirements, airport operational constraints, and aviation industry best practices.
- Proven track record of successful project delivery across complex projects and regions.
- Demonstrated ability to manage project scope, budgets, schedules, resources, and overall commercial performance.
- Possess excellent technical knowledge of HVAC systems and good technical knowledge of other MEP building systems, with an ability to investigate and provide effective solutions to technical challenges.
- Adept at high-performance building design using electrified design solutions for both adaptive reuse and new building projects, with the ability to define the impact design solutions have on a building’s carbon footprint and a project’s commercial viability.
- Be a Professional Engineer (P.E.) or hold equivalent professional certification.
- LEED AP accreditation is preferred, reflecting a commitment to sustainable design practices.
- Familiarity with industry-standard software like Revit for detailed design drawings and computational analysis tools, such as CFD and energy modeling software, to develop innovative and energy-efficient solutions.
- Proven experience in a leadership capacity within an MEP Engineering Consultancy or related field.
- Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, including the ability to present technical information to diverse audiences, including non-technical stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, teams, and deadlines while ensuring client satisfaction.
- A self-starter with a founder’s mentality with the ability to work independently, combined with the flexibility to collaborate effectively within a team-based organization.
- Expertise in mentoring and coaching engineers to foster growth and development within the team.
- Strong client relationship management and business development skills, with demonstrated ability to support client acquisition and maintain long-term relationships.
- Candidates are encouraged to apply even if they don’t meet all requirements.
What we offer
- Generous benefits package
- Annual discretionary bonus
- Generous PTO (5 weeks) in addition to 10 paid holidays
- 401k with company match
- Hybrid working & summer hours
- Reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees
- Global network of experts
- Learning and development opportunities
- Be a part of our Young Employees Forum, Diversity and Inclusion Forum, BH Women's Network, and/or our Black at BH ERG
Compensation
Anticipated base annual salary: $186,000–$265,000. The salary range listed for this position is intended as a general guideline and may vary based on factors such as location, education, skills, experience, and market conditions. We recognize that candidates bring diverse backgrounds and qualifications, and compensation may be adjusted accordingly. The posted range should not be viewed as a strict minimum or maximum limitation. Benefits and any additional compensation elements are separate from the base salary range listed.
Ready for something a little less ordinary?
Apply now to start your career journey with us.
A place for everyone
Buro Happold values an individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of how you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers.
Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds, and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other’s differences is key, we want employees to feel they don’t have to mask elements of their identity to thrive.
We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalized groups in the built environment. We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We have much to learn from one another. Embracing differences allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions.
Please let us know if there are any adjustments we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you. Contact recruitment@burohappold.com so we can work with you to support you throughout your application.
LI-BT1 #LI-Hybrid
Principal Design Engineer Job Roles in Washington DC
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Search Principal Design Engineer Jobs in Washington DCPrincipal Design Engineer Jobs in Washington DC: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for principal design engineers in Washington DC?
Federal contractors and defense technology firms dominate sponsorship activity for principal design engineers in the DC area. Employers such as Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton, SAIC, General Dynamics IT, and Raytheon Technologies have consistent H-1B and PERM filing histories for senior engineering roles. Large commercial technology companies and government-adjacent consulting firms in the metro area also sponsor regularly for principal-level engineering positions.
Which visa types realistically fit principal design engineer roles in Washington DC?
Principal design engineer is a specialty occupation requiring a relevant engineering degree, so H-1B is the primary path for most international candidates. Canadian and Mexican citizens may qualify under the TN visa as engineers under USMCA. Australian citizens can use the E-3 visa. For Chilean and Singaporean nationals, the H-1B1 visa applies. Long-term, EB-2 or EB-3 employment-based green cards are common for principal engineers sponsored by DC-area federal contractors.
Which cities in Washington DC have the most principal design engineer sponsorship jobs?
Washington DC itself anchors the market, but the broader metro area matters equally. Arlington and McLean in Virginia host many federal contractor headquarters and technology campuses with active engineering hiring. Bethesda and Rockville in Maryland have a strong presence from defense and biomedical engineering firms. The DC metro is functionally a single labor market, so candidates should search across all these jurisdictions when targeting sponsored principal design engineer roles.
How to find principal design engineer visa sponsorship jobs in Washington DC?
Migrate Mate lists principal design engineer roles in Washington DC filtered to employers with verified visa sponsorship history, so you can focus applications on companies already familiar with the sponsorship process. Because the DC market is heavily driven by federal contractors, filtering for employers with active H-1B or PERM filing records is especially useful for principal engineering candidates. Migrate Mate makes that history searchable by role and location.
Are there any Washington DC-specific considerations for principal design engineers seeking sponsorship?
Many DC-area principal design engineer roles require or strongly prefer U.S. security clearances, which can complicate sponsorship for foreign nationals since clearances are generally not available to non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Candidates without clearance eligibility should target commercial technology firms or the growing number of non-cleared federal contractor positions in the metro area. University research institutions such as George Washington University and Georgetown also occasionally sponsor senior engineering roles outside the defense sector.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored principal design engineer jobs in Washington DC?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.