ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Research Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Verisign

Sr Research Engineer

Reston, VA · Hybrid

$135K - $183K/yr

The Sr Engineer - Research Engineering plays a lead technical role in identifying and developing novel and operationally relevant research concepts related to Internet infrastructure applications and ...

Verisign

Sr Research Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$135K - $183K/yr

The Sr Engineer - Research Engineering plays a lead technical role in identifying and developing novel and operationally relevant research concepts related to Internet infrastructure applications and ...

Ofinno

6G System Architecture Research Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$162K - $315K/yr

6G System Architecture Research Engineer About Ofinno: Ofinno is a leading research and development lab headquartered in Reston, Virginia, specializing in advancing communication and media standards.

Ofinno

6G System Architecture Research Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$162K - $315K/yr

6G System Architecture Research Engineer About Ofinno: Ofinno is a leading research and development lab headquartered in Reston, Virginia, specializing in advancing communication and media standards.

Virginia Tech

Research Associate

Blacksburg, VA

College of Engineering Department: Biomedical Engineering Location: Blacksburg, Virginia Categories: Engineering, Research / Scientific The Therapeutic Ultrasound Lab at Virginia Tech is an ...

previous pagenext page

Showing results 21-40

All JobsResearch Engineer JobsResearch Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Research Engineer information

See Virginia salary details

$36.7K

$105.1K

$141.3K

How much do research engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for research engineer in Virginia is $105,103.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $103,100.00 and $103,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a research engineer?

Research engineers are professionals who apply scientific and engineering principles to conduct research, develop new products, and improve existing technologies. They typically work in laboratories, research and development departments, or academic settings, collaborating with scientists and other engineers. Their work often involves designing experiments, analyzing data, and creating prototypes to solve technical problems or advance knowledge in their field.

How do research engineers typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during a project?

Research Engineers often work closely with scientists, data analysts, product managers, and software engineers to develop and implement innovative solutions. Collaboration usually involves regular meetings to align on project goals, sharing technical findings, and integrating research outcomes into product development. Effective communication and the ability to translate complex research concepts into actionable insights are key to ensuring the project progresses smoothly and meets its objectives.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a research engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Research Engineer, a strong background in engineering principles, advanced mathematics, and scientific research—often supported by a relevant degree or postgraduate study—is essential. Familiarity with data analysis tools like MATLAB or Python, CAD software, and laboratory instrumentation is typically required, along with experience in technical report writing. Strong analytical thinking, creativity, and effective collaboration skills help Research Engineers excel in multidisciplinary teams. These competencies are vital for developing innovative solutions, advancing technology, and ensuring rigorous, impactful research outcomes.

What is the difference between Research Engineer vs Data Scientist?

AspectResearch EngineerData Scientist
Required CredentialsTypically requires a master's or Ph.D. in engineering, computer science, or related fieldsUsually holds a master's or Ph.D. in statistics, computer science, or related areas
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, R&D departments, technology companiesData analysis teams, analytics departments, tech firms
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in engineering, manufacturing, aerospace, and tech industriesCommon in finance, healthcare, marketing, and tech sectors

Research Engineers focus on developing new technologies, prototypes, and engineering solutions, often working on hardware or system design. Data Scientists analyze large datasets to extract insights, build predictive models, and support decision-making. While both roles require strong technical skills and advanced degrees, their core functions and industry applications differ significantly.

Do I need a PhD to be a research engineer?

A PhD is not always required to become a research engineer, as many roles value relevant experience, technical skills, and a bachelor's or master's degree in engineering, computer science, or related fields. However, some specialized research positions or advanced projects may prefer or require a doctoral degree. Practical skills, problem-solving ability, and familiarity with tools like MATLAB or Python are also important for success in this role.
More about Research Engineer jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Research Engineer jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Research Engineer jobs in Virginia are:

What are popular job titles related to Research Engineer jobs in Virginia?

For Research Engineer jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Research Engineer jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Research Engineer jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Research Engineer jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Research Engineer job openings:

What are popular job titles related to Research Engineer jobs in VA?

For Research Engineer jobs in VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Research Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Research Engineer job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 19% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $105,103 per year, or $50.5 per hour.

Talent Intelligence Research Engineer

McChrystal Group

Alexandria, VA • On-site

$125K - $190K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 9 days ago

Job description

Position Overview: 

Our consultants work side by side with client organizations to help them make smarter decisions about their people. The Talent Intelligence Research Engineer is the analytical engine behind that work. 

In this role, you will be embedded on client-facing consulting teams, working directly with clients to answer complex questions about their workforce and talent landscape. The data you work with spans publicly available talent and talent-adjacent data, as well as clients' own workforce data. 

The questions you'll tackle might look like: How much should we be paying for this role in this market? Where does the talent we need actually exist, and can we compete for it? How does our workforce compare to our competitors? What skills does our organization have today, and what are we missing? 

To answer those questions, you'll pull from a wide toolkit, writing code, scraping and acquiring data from public sources, applying natural language processing, machine learning, and AI techniques, and designing custom analytical approaches when no off-the-shelf solution exists. Every engagement is different, and the problems are genuinely novel. 

This is not a role that maintains systems or runs recurring reports. It is investigative and project-based by nature. You'll move from engagement to engagement, working alongside consultants and client business leaders to develop proprietary methodologies, build analytical capabilities that don't exist anywhere else, and deliver the data assets and insights that help clients make better decisions about their talent, workforce, organization, and leadership. 

Workforce & Talent Intelligence

  • Conduct research and analysis related to labor markets, compensation, talent availability, workforce composition, organizational structures, skills, and recruiting dynamics. 

  • Develop methodologies to estimate or infer workforce attributes that are not directly observable. 

  • Analyze talent pools, labor supply, competitive hiring environments, and organizational capabilities. 

  • Produce actionable talent intelligence for client engagements. 

  • Communicate findings, assumptions, confidence levels, and limitations to both technical and non-technical audiences. 

Research Engineering & Data Acquisition

  • Acquire data from public, commercial, and proprietary sources. 

  • Develop custom web scraping, extraction, and enrichment workflows to support research initiatives. 

  • Build one-off software tools and analytical applications required to answer specific business questions. 

  • Evaluate data quality, completeness, and reliability across multiple sources. 

  • Rapidly learn and apply new technologies, techniques, and datasets as project requirements evolve. 

Machine Learning, AI & Advanced Analytics

  • Apply machine learning, natural language processing, statistical methods, and generative AI techniques to solve talent intelligence problems. 

  • Develop similarity, matching, classification, clustering, ranking, and inference approaches when appropriate. 

  • Leverage large language models and modern AI tooling to accelerate research and insight generation. 

  • Design experiments and validation approaches to assess analytical accuracy and reliability. 

  • Translate analytical outputs into practical business recommendations. 

Consulting & Collaboration

  • Partner with consultants, researchers, and client-facing stakeholders to understand business challenges. 

  • Contribute to the development of proprietary talent intelligence methodologies and intellectual property. 

  • Support client engagements through research, analytical problem solving, and technical expertise. 

  • Present research findings and recommendations to clients and internal stakeholders. 

  • Share tools, approaches, and best practices across the organization. 

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications 

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Economics, Mathematics, Engineering, Social Sciences, or a related quantitative field. 

  • 4-6 years of relevant experience 

  • Experience conducting independent analytical or research-oriented projects. 

  • Strong programming skills, particularly in Python. 

  • Strong analytical reasoning and problem-solving abilities. 

  • Ability to work effectively in ambiguous environments with limited precedent or direction. 

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 

  • Experience with labor market, workforce, recruiting, compensation, or organizational data. 

  • Experience working with large structured and unstructured datasets. 

  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance. 

Preferred Qualifications 

  • Experience with web scraping, data acquisition, and information extraction. 

  • Experience with machine learning, NLP, or AI-assisted analytics. 

  • Exposure to consulting, market intelligence, economic research, competitive intelligence, or workforce analytics environments. 

$125,000 - $190,000 a year
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
apply for this job

Apply