Highest Paying Computer Science Jobs in Virginia

Department: Col of Engineering and Computing
Classification: 9-month Instructional Faculty
Job Category: Instructional Faculty
Job Type: Full-Time
Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)
Location: Fairfax, VA
Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible
Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience
Criminal Background Check: Yes
About the Department:
The Department of Computer Science has 29 teaching-track faculty and 54 tenured and tenure-track faculty with wide-ranging research interests, and strong research groups in cybersecurity, systems and networks, machine learning and data mining, artificial intelligence, robotics, visual computing, theory, databases, bioinformatics, HCI, and software engineering. The department has grown from 550 undergraduate majors in 2012 to over 2,400 today. The department has over 220 PhD students and over 600 Masters students enrolled in three MS programs. The Department has around $5.5 million in annual research expenditures, 29 recipients of the prestigious NSF CAREER Award, six IEEE Fellows, and three ACM Fellows. The department is currently ranked #35 on CSRankings.
For more information on the department, visit our Web site: https://cs.gmu.edu/ .
About the Position:
The Department of Computer Science invites applications for one or more term faculty positions beginning Fall 2026.
Candidates will be expected to teach undergraduate and graduate courses; participate in university, college, and departmental governance; participate in professional and public service; and perform related instructional assignments including student advising.
Senior candidates with established records of excellent teaching can be considered for an appointment at the rank of Instructional Associate Professor or Instructional Professor.
Note that term faculty positions are renewable, fixed-term positions that are untenured and not on the tenure track. Candidates interested in tenure-stream positions should apply for the separately posted Open-Rank, Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty Positions.
Responsibilities:
Teaching

• Teaches at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Service

• Advises students;
• Participates in all aspects of the department's mission; and
• Serves the profession.

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in Computer Science or a related field for positions at the rank of Instructional Assistant Professor and above; and
• Positions at the rank of Instructor may be possible with a Masters as the highest degree.

Junior candidates should demonstrate the potential for excellence and a commitment to high-quality teaching. Senior candidates should have a substantial record of teaching excellence and commitment to high-quality teaching.
Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in all areas of Computer Science will be given full consideration. Particularly interested in candidates who can teach courses in software engineering, AI, or computer game design.

Instructions to Applicants:
For full consideration, applicants must apply for Open-Rank, Term Computer Sciences Faculty at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter, CV with a list of publications, statement of professional goals including your perspective on teaching and consulting/research (upload as philosophy of teaching), and transcript (required for junior position candidates, others are optional).
Posting Open Date: December 4, 2025
For Full Consideration, Apply by: January 15, 2026
Open Until Filled: Yes
A Force for Innovation in the Heart of Northern Virginia's Technology Corridor
About the College:
The College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) at George Mason University is a fast-growing force for innovation in research and education. Ranked nationally in the top 100 in both undergraduate and graduate education, the CEC more than 11,000 students in fall 2025. The college has 34 undergraduate, master's and doctoral degree programs including several first-in-the-nation offerings. Of its 326 instructional faculty, 100 are tenured, 64 are tenure-track, 100 are term faculty, and 62 are research faculty. As part of a nationally ranked research university, CEC research teams expended $83.7 million in sponsored research awards in the past year and had projects with over $66.8 million in awards. The college stands out for its leading research in areas such as artificial intelligence, data analytics engineering, cybersecurity engineering, biomedical imaging and devices, healthcare, autonomous systems, 5G/Next G communications, systems architectures, computational biomedicine, advanced materials and manufacturing, sustainable infrastructure, and more. The college encourages and supports multidisciplinary research and provides ample opportunity for faculty to work with other disciplines.
About the University and the Region:
George Mason University is the largest and most diverse public research university in Virginia, with an enrollment of more than 40,000 students studying in over 200 degree programs. Mason is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in a range of academic fields. It was classified as an R1 research institution in 2016 by the Carnegie Classifications of Institutes of Higher Education. The university has campuses in Fairfax, Arlington, and Prince William County. Its proximity to Washington, D.C. provides unmatched geographical access to federal agencies and national laboratories. Northern Virginia is also home to one of the largest concentrations of high-tech firms in the nation, providing excellent opportunities for interaction with industry. The region is consistently rated as being among the best places to live in the country and has an outstanding local public school system.
About the Future:
In conjunction with Amazon's decision to establish a second headquarters in Northern Virginia, the Commonwealth of Virginia announced a multi-year plan to invest in the growth of degree programs in computing. As a result, George Mason has committed to accelerate its plans to grow its capacity in computing and high-tech fields. Among the university's exciting initiatives are the launch of the Institute for Digital Innovation-a university think tank and incubator to serve the digital economy-and the expansion of Mason Square home to its Arlington facilities. In 2025, Fuse a new 355,000 square foot building, opened to students, faculty, and research teams. This net-zero facility will house the Institute for Digital Innovation, state-of the-art classrooms, labs, and collaborative spaces. It will also include retail space, and leasing opportunities for local businesses. These initiatives reflect hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment by George Mason that will rapidly elevate the university's already leading national position in computing and related areas.
Mason Ad Statement
George Mason University is a nationally ranked R1 research university committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperous world. With 40,000 enrolled students, George Mason is the largest and most diverse public research university in Virginia, offering degree programs at the master's, doctoral, and professional level, along with certificates and credentials.
George Mason fosters an All Together Different environment for students, faculty, and staff, driven by our core beliefs. We believe in inclusivity over exclusivity; we believe in advancing our mission by being willing to take risks, not avoiding them; and we believe our best work is possible when we apply our diversity of origin, identity, circumstance, and thought.
Equity Statement
George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.
Campus Safety Information
Mason's Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at http://police.gmu.edu/annual-security-report/