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Senior Principal Engineer Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Hazen and Sawyer

Senior Principal Engineer

Fairfax, VA · On-site

$128.50K - $177.10K/yr

Hazen and Sawyer is seeking a Senior Principal Engineer for our Fairfax, VA office. Key Responsibilities: * Delivering public sector water and wastewater facilities planning and design projects

Hazen and Sawyer

Senior Principal Engineer

Fairfax, VA · On-site

$128.50K - $177.10K/yr

Seeking Professional Licensed Engineer with 5 - 15 years of experience in the water industry. Background and experience in municipal or industrial water, wastewater, reclaimed water, stormwater ...

Hazen and Sawyer

Senior Principal Engineer

Silver Spring, MD · On-site

$130K - $179.20K/yr

Seeking Professional Licensed Engineer with 5 - 15 years of experience in the water industry. Background and experience in municipal or industrial water, wastewater, reclaimed water, stormwater ...

Accenture

Principal Engineer Senior Manager

Washington, DC · On-site

$142.10K - $195.90K/yr

The Senior Principal Engineer Manager at Accenture Federal Services (AFS) is a top-tier technical leadership role. This position sits at the intersection of enterprise architecture, mission-critical ...

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Senior Principal Engineer information

See Reston, VA salary details

$85.3K

$161.7K

$223.2K

How much do senior principal engineer jobs pay per year?

As of May 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior principal engineer in Reston, VA is $161,702.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $130,600.00 and $180,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior Principal Engineer, and why are they important?

To excel as a Senior Principal Engineer, you need deep technical expertise in your engineering discipline, advanced problem-solving abilities, and typically a bachelor's or master's degree in engineering or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard design and simulation software, project management tools, and relevant certifications (such as PMP or PE) are often required. Exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and strong communication skills distinguish top performers in this role. These competencies are vital for leading complex projects, driving innovation, and effectively guiding engineering teams to achieve organizational goals.

How does a Senior Principal Engineer typically contribute to cross-functional projects within an organization?

Senior Principal Engineers often serve as technical leaders on cross-functional projects, collaborating closely with product managers, architects, and development teams to define technical direction and ensure architectural consistency. They provide deep expertise to solve complex engineering challenges, mentor other engineers, and help align project goals with the organization's strategic vision. Their role frequently involves facilitating communication between different departments and ensuring technical decisions support both immediate project needs and long-term scalability.

What is a Senior Principal Engineer?

A Senior Principal Engineer is a highly experienced technical leader who is responsible for guiding the overall engineering direction and strategy within an organization. They typically possess deep expertise in their field, provide mentorship to other engineers, and influence major architectural and technical decisions. Senior Principal Engineers often collaborate with cross-functional teams, ensure best practices are followed, and play a critical role in driving innovation. Their work has a significant impact on the company's products and technical vision.

What is the difference between Senior Principal Engineer vs Lead Engineer?

AspectSenior Principal EngineerLead Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor's or master's degree in engineering, with extensive industry experienceSimilar educational background, often with additional certifications or specialized training
Work EnvironmentFocuses on high-level technical strategy, innovation, and mentorship across projectsLeads specific projects or teams, overseeing technical execution and coordination
Industry UsageCommon in large corporations and R&D settingsFound in both startups and established companies, often in project-based roles

While both roles require strong technical expertise, the Senior Principal Engineer typically focuses on strategic technical leadership and innovation at an organizational level, whereas the Lead Engineer manages project execution and team coordination. The Senior Principal Engineer often operates at a higher, more strategic level within the engineering hierarchy.

What are the most commonly searched types of Principal Engineer jobs in Reston, VA? The most popular types of Principal Engineer jobs in Reston, VA are:
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What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Senior Principal Engineer jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Senior Principal Engineer job openings:
Senior Principal Engineer jobs near you
Senior Principal Engineer

Senior Principal Engineer

Hazen and Sawyer

Fairfax, VA • On-site

$128.50K - $177.10K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 19 days ago

Job description

Hazen and Sawyer is seeking a Senior Principal Engineer for our Fairfax, VA office.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Delivering public sector water and wastewater facilities planning and design projects
  • Support projects as a critical part of the design team, a design lead, a task manager, and/or a project manager
  • Prepare facility assessment and design reports, perform design calculations, perform process and/or hydraulic modeling, select and size equipment, prepare design documents and construction documents, support construction phase services both in office and in the field
  • Field work and site visits from planning through construction may require occasional travel
  • Support and mentor junior engineers and will be supported by multiple senior mentors on projects and local and regional office leadership

Required Qualifications:

  • Bachelor of Science degree in Civil, Environmental, Chemical, or Mechanical Engineering
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • PE license (Virginia, or ability to be licensed in Virginia via comity)
  • 3+ years following PE licensure of documented design experience for water/wastewater facilities projects
  • Experience working on and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams in roles including Task Manager and/or Design Lead
  • Experience supervising, coordinating and reviewing work by junior and technical staff
  • Ability to estimate workload and develop schedules
  • Proficient in standard software platforms (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, Bluebeam, etc.)
  • Strong organizational skills

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering or Construction Management
  • Experience serving as Project Manager for water/wastewater facility projects
  • Experience supporting proposal preparation and participating in interviews
  • Experience communicating and coordinating with clients
  • Experience mentoring junior and technical staff
  • Experience delivering water and/or wastewater facility projects from preliminary design through construction
  • Familiarity with CADD, GIS, Revit, and/or other software

What We Offer:

  • Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision, and prescription plans)
  • Pre-tax flexible spending plans for medical, dependent care, and transportation
  • Short and long-term disability, and employer paid life insurance
  • Paid holidays, floating holidays, and paid time off (PTO)
  • Employer-contributed 401(k) plan and additional financial planning support
  • Professional growth opportunities, including tuition reimbursement, in-house training, and incentives for professional registration and professional organization memberships
  • Starting pay range for this position depends on skills, experience, education and geographical location
HAZEN AND SAWYER logo

About HAZEN AND SAWYER

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Hazen and Sawyer, headquartered in New York, NY, US, operates within the field of environmental science and engineering. Founded in 1951, the firm specializes in designing drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater facilities, comprehensive solid waste services, and other environmental infrastructure projects. Striving towards nurturing clean, safe water supply, the company upholds it as its primary mission. Their dedication reflects in their numerous honors received at the national and regional levels, including awards from the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Council of Engineering Companies, and Water Environment Federation.

Industry

Environmental consulting services

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

New York, NY, US

Year founded

1951

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