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

Raft Company Website

Principal Engineer

Mclean, VA · On-site

We are looking for an experienced Principal Software Engineer to be embedded with our Army ... Serve as Raft's embedded senior technical lead at Aberdeen Proving Ground, working with Army ...

MasterCard

Senior Principal, Data Engineering

Arlington, VA

$144K - $199K/yr

Mastercard Services Technology is seeking a Senior Principal Data Engineer to help drive our mission of unlocking the full potential of our data assets through innovation, automation, and engineering ...

Nightwing

Senior Principal Cyber Engineer

Sterling, VA · On-site

The Senior Principal Cyber Engineer will work on-site to solve real-time cyber challenges and develop high impact native applications for mobile devices, ensuring mission success for customers in the ...

Nightwing

Senior Principal Cyber Engineer

Sterling, VA · On-site

They are seeking a Senior Principal Cyber Engineer to join their CODEX division, where the role involves solving real-time cyber challenges and developing high-impact applications for mobile devices.

Hazen and Sawyer

Principal Engineer

Fairfax, VA · On-site

Hazen and Sawyer is seeking a Principal Engineer for our Fairfax, VA office. Why Hazen and Sawyer ... You will support and mentor junior engineers and will be supported by multiple senior mentors on ...

High Industries

Principal Engineer

Arlington, VA

The Principal Engineer provides strategic and technical leadership for all engineering services ... May supervise or direct Senior Structural Engineers, Structural Engineers ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

SAIC

Senior Principal Digital Engineer

Chantilly, VA · Hybrid

$160K - $200K/yr

ORA_ON_SITE Description SAIC seeks a Senior Principal Digital Engineer to own the technical strategy and delivery of advanced digital engineering transformation initiatives supporting national ...

High Industries

Principal Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

The Principal Engineer provides strategic and technical leadership for all engineering services ... May supervise or direct Senior Structural Engineers, Structural Engineers ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Peraton

Senior Principal Architect

Reston, VA · On-site

$176K - $282K/yr

The Senior Principal Architect will partner closely with Capture Managers, Proposal Managers ... Bachelor's degree or Masters degree in CS, Engineering, IT, or related field, and 10+ years in ...

SAIC

Senior Principal Digital Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$160K - $200K/yr

Description SAIC seeks a Senior Principal Digital Engineer to own the technical strategy and delivery of advanced digital engineering transformation initiatives supporting national security and ...

Peraton

Senior Principal Architect

Reston, VA · On-site

$176K - $282K/yr

The Senior Principal Architect will partner closely with Capture Managers, Proposal Managers ... Bachelor's degree or Masters degree in CS, Engineering, IT, or related field, and 10+ years in ...

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All JobsPrincipal Engineer JobsSenior Principal Engineer JobsSenior Principal Engineer Jobs in Reston, VA

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 Aug 6, 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 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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior principal engineer?

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.

What does a senior principal engineer do?

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 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 Simulation Engineer with Security Clearance

Data Machines

Reston, VA • On-site

$130K - $180K/yr

Other

Re-posted 23 days ago

Job description

Senior Principal Simulation Engineer
Job# 1172-
Location: Reston, VA
Clearance Requirement: Top Secret with SCI Eligibility
Job Description and Responsibilities:
Data Machines seeks a Senior Principal Simulation Engineer with the desire to work with and lead our teams supporting the development and production of cutting-edge defense and intelligence simulation capabilities. The ideal candidate will use operations research and software development skills to encode custom agent behaviors and interfaces for, and apply Artificial Intelligence and Machines Learning to, discrete event simulations, creating interfaces between the simulation and external software, and use statistical routines to conduct post-processing of simulation-generated data and provide insights in machine-readable and human-readable formats.
Candidates should have strong problem-solving skills, software development experience, and an excitement for cutting-edge defense and intelligence capabilities.
Successful candidates will be passionate about new ideas and enjoy the ownership of implementation, and eagerly support and contribute to the implementation of their teammates' ideas.  
Come join us as we work to solve some of the industry's biggest challenges. Data Machines fosters a culture of professional growth and development in a collaborative, open environment.
Minimum Qualifications: • Master’s degree or PhD in Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Data Science, Computer Science, Operations Research or other closely related quantitative or mathematical discipline • Strong industry experience encoding the scientific principles of military and defense operations • 15+ years of experience each with C++ and Python • 15+ years experience with one of the following: AFSIM, NGTS, OneSAF, GCAM, Command PE, STORM • Strong experience leading teams of simulation engineers • Demonstrated knowledge of defense simulation industry, processes, and stakeholders • Demonstrated experience as a product manager, product owner, or lead designer of simulation products • Active Top Secret clearance w/ SCI Eligibility

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