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Sr Design Engineer Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Quartermaster AI Inc

Senior Design Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$180K - $230K/yr

We are looking for a Senior Design Engineer who thrives at the intersection of operational complexity, user interface design, and front-end engineering. Reporting to the CTO and working cross ...

Helsing

Senior Design Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

The role As a Design Engineer, you will work on innovative UAV platforms, modifying and adapting existing mechanical and electrical designs to meet US customer requirements and specifications. You ...

Helsing

Senior Design Engineer

Washington, DC

The role As a Design Engineer, you will work on innovative UAV platforms, modifying and adapting existing mechanical and electrical designs to meet US customer requirements and specifications. You ...

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All JobsSr Design Engineer JobsSr Design Engineer Jobs in Reston, VA

Sr Design Engineer information

See Reston, VA salary details

$73.3K

$140K

$202.9K

How much do sr design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for sr design engineer in Reston, VA is $140,008.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $111,800.00 and $163,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by Sr Design Engineers, and how can they be addressed?

Sr Design Engineers often encounter challenges such as balancing innovative design solutions with cost and manufacturability constraints, managing multiple projects simultaneously, and ensuring effective communication across multidisciplinary teams. To address these challenges, it's important to stay current with industry tools and best practices, regularly collaborate with manufacturing and quality departments, and prioritize clear documentation. Developing strong project management and interpersonal skills can also help streamline workflow and reduce project bottlenecks.

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

To thrive as a Sr Design Engineer, you need a strong background in mechanical or electrical engineering, advanced problem-solving skills, and a relevant engineering degree, often with several years of industry experience. Expertise in CAD software (such as SolidWorks or AutoCAD), simulation tools, and familiarity with manufacturing processes are typically required, along with certifications like PE or Six Sigma being advantageous. Leadership, collaboration, and effective communication are vital soft skills for guiding teams and managing complex projects. These competencies are crucial to ensure innovative, reliable designs that meet technical requirements and project goals.

What are Sr Design Engineers?

Sr Design Engineers are experienced professionals responsible for leading the design and development of products, systems, or components within an engineering team. They oversee the design process, ensuring projects meet technical specifications, regulatory standards, and budget constraints. Sr Design Engineers often mentor junior engineers, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and use advanced software tools for modeling and analysis. Their expertise helps drive innovation and ensures the successful delivery of complex engineering projects.

What is the difference between Sr Design Engineer vs Design Engineer?

AspectSr Design EngineerDesign Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in engineering, 3+ years experience, possibly professional engineering licenseBachelor's degree in engineering or related field, entry to mid-level experience
Work EnvironmentDesign teams, R&D departments, manufacturing settingsDesign teams, project-based environments, product development
Employer & Industry UsageManufacturing, aerospace, automotive, electronicsSimilar industries, often as entry to mid-level roles

The main difference between a Sr Design Engineer and a Design Engineer lies in experience and responsibility. A Sr Design Engineer typically has more years of experience, takes on complex projects, and may mentor junior staff. In contrast, a Design Engineer is often in an earlier career stage, focusing on executing design tasks under supervision. Both roles are essential in product development, but the Sr Design Engineer plays a leadership role in design innovation and project management.

What are popular job titles related to Sr Design Engineer jobs in Reston, VA? For Sr Design Engineer jobs in Reston, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Sr Design Engineer jobs in Reston, VA look for? The top searched job categories for Sr Design Engineer jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Sr Design Engineer jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Sr Design Engineer job openings:
Sr Design Engineer jobs near you

Senior Design Engineer

Quartermaster AI Inc

Arlington, VA • On-site

$180K - $230K/yr

Full-time

Posted 11 days ago

Job description

About Us
Quartermaster is building the world's most comprehensive maritime intelligence platform. Our SmartMast™ system transforms commercial and civilian vessels into a persistent, distributed sensing network-combining HD video, AI, radar, RF sensing, and AIS to deliver real-time maritime domain awareness at global scale. With 600+ sensors deployed across 25+ countries and more than 400,000 vessels identified outside of AIS, we are setting a new standard for what ocean surveillance and safety can look like. We are a mission-driven, high-velocity team building dual-use technology for defense agencies, coast guards, and commercial maritime operators.
Job Description
We are looking for a Senior Design Engineer who thrives at the intersection of operational complexity, user interface design, and front-end engineering. Reporting to the CTO and working cross-functionally with the Head of Product, you'll live at the intersection of design and engineering-translating high-fidelity design intent into production-quality interfaces that empower analysts and operators in complex maritime environments. You'll build the components, tooling, and prototypes that make mission-critical experiences feel seamless and perform under pressure. Good design here is not cosmetic-it is operationally significant, and requires production-grade technical execution.
Key Responsibilities
  • Build and ship production-ready UI components from design specs, prioritizing performance, reusability, and scalability across our web portal.
  • Develop and maintain our design system as living code-keeping design tokens, component libraries (React/TypeScript), and documentation in sync across our maritime intelligence applications.
  • Prototype novel interactions and data visualizations-including live sensor feeds, event timelines, and tracking dashboards-to pressure-test new product proposals in real, interactive environments.
  • Bridge design and engineering by implementing high-fidelity features like map interfaces and radar overlays that preserve design intent in high-density data environments.
  • Build tooling and automation that accelerate the design-to-development workflow between product and core engineering.
  • Iterate on implementations based on direct operator feedback, field testing, and rigorous performance insights from defense and government customers.
  • Conduct and synthesize user research to inform technical design decisions, turning complex maritime workflows into highly performant and clear user journeys.
  • Establish and enforce accessibility standards (WCAG), performance optimization guidelines, and responsive design practices across the front-end repository.
Qualifications (Preferred)
  • 5+ years of experience in product design, UI/UX engineering, or front-end design engineering, paired with a designer's eye and a portfolio demonstrating mastery of data-rich web application interfaces.
  • Strong front-end engineering competencies: Deep fluency in HTML, CSS/Tailwind, and modern JavaScript/TypeScript, with hands-on experience building components in React.
  • Deep proficiency in Figma, including advanced component libraries, auto-layout, token management, and the tooling that keeps code components consistent with their design source of truth.
  • A strong visual design foundation-typography, color, layout, and hierarchy-especially when designing for dense, operationally critical environments where information clarity and software performance are non-negotiable.
  • Fluency in UX principles: interaction design, information architecture, and the technical ability to translate complex data workflows into simple, intuitive interfaces.
  • Experience designing and building geospatial or map-based interfaces; comfort handling layered, overlapping data visualizations and Canvas/WebGL rendering paradigms.
  • Comfort working in iterative processes, incorporating user research, field feedback, and performance data to refine and evolve your work.
Bonus Points:
  • Experience designing for defense, maritime, aviation, or other mission-critical operational domains requiring precision, clarity, and real-world impact.
  • Background in designing for data visualization, sensor dashboards, or real-time monitoring systems.
  • Experience with motion design, micro-interactions, or advanced layout automation for operational interfaces.
Work Environment
  • Distributed team environment working asynchronously.
  • Start-up atmosphere with autonomy given to engineers.
  • In office and flexible hours.

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