Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Michigan

Principal Software Engineer jobs in Michigan are consistently in demand, with strong hiring concentrated in automotive technology, enterprise software, and defense systems across a seniority range from senior engineer through distinguished technical fellow. Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Grand Rapids are the largest hiring metros, anchored by employers like General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Rocket Companies, which maintain significant engineering headcount in the state. The most sought-after specialties include embedded systems, cloud-native architecture, and platform engineering tied to connected and autonomous vehicle development. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles9
Top employerAlly Financial
Top cityDetroit, MI
Cities hiring7
Work type50% Hybrid
Top industryAutomotive

Showing 5 of 9+ Principal Software Engineer jobs

Principal Software Engineer IV(Remote)
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Added 1d ago
Principal Software Engineer IV(Remote)
Collins Aerospace
Lansing, Michigan
Educational Administration
K-12 Teaching
Teaching & Instruction
$108k - $205k/yr
10,000+

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Principal Embedded Software Engineer - FPGA
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Added 2d ago
Principal Embedded Software Engineer - FPGA
Stryker
Portage, Michigan
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Software Engineering
Technical Program Management
$136k - $226k/yr
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
10,000+

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ESS, Principal Software & Data Engineer
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Added 6d ago
ESS, Principal Software & Data Engineer
SK Battery America
Troy, Michigan
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity Operations
Security Engineering
$130k - $180k/yr
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
1,001-5,000

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Principal – Software Test
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Added 3w ago
Principal – Software Test
Ally Financial
Detroit, Michigan
Project Management
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Technical Product & Program Management
Remote (US)
Bachelor's degree in information technology
10,000+

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Principal - Software Eng
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Added 3w ago
Principal - Software Eng
Ally Financial
Detroit, Michigan
Software Engineering
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Specialized Engineering
Technical Program Management
$110k - $180k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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See All 9 Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Michigan

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Principal Software Engineer Jobs by City in Michigan

Where Michigan roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Detroit
3 jobs
Troy
1 job
Warren
1 job
Lansing
1 job
Milford
1 job
Portage
1 job
Southfield
1 job

Principal Software Engineer Job Market in Michigan

A snapshot from current Michigan openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Ally Financial2 open roles
Eccalon1 open role
Stryker1 open role

Top Industries Hiring

  • Automotive
  • Electronics & Hardware
  • Banking & Financial Services

What Michigan Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in principal software engineer jobs across Michigan.

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field
  • Ten or more years of software engineering experience with at least three in technical leadership
  • Demonstrated expertise in system design, distributed systems, or large-scale architecture
  • Proficiency in one or more of Java, C++, Python, or Go in production environments
  • Experience leading cross-functional engineering teams and defining technical roadmaps
  • Strong communication skills for partnering with product, business, and executive stakeholders

Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Michigan: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a principal software engineer in Michigan?

Principal software engineer is not a licensed or state-regulated role in Michigan, so no Michigan-specific credential or board approval is required. The typical path runs through a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science or software engineering, followed by progressive experience at senior and staff engineer levels. Michigan employers in automotive and defense often prioritize candidates with domain experience in embedded systems or safety-critical software, so building expertise in those areas accelerates advancement.

How much do principal software engineers make in Michigan?

Principal software engineers in Michigan earn a median of about $125,570 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $78,930 for the lowest 10% to over $166,510 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire principal software engineers in Michigan?

Employers hiring principal software engineers in Michigan right now include Ally Financial, Eccalon, and Stryker, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Michigan's automotive industry means many openings sit within mobility, connected-vehicle, or advanced manufacturing technology divisions of large, long-established companies.

Which Michigan cities have the most principal software engineer jobs?

Detroit, Troy, and Warren have the most principal software engineer openings in Michigan. Detroit and its suburban corridor drive the largest share through the headquarters and engineering centers of major automotive and mobility companies, while Ann Arbor draws significant demand from the University of Michigan's spinout ecosystem, health technology firms, and autonomous-vehicle research operations.

Are there remote principal software engineer jobs in Michigan?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 75% of principal software engineer openings tied to Michigan are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how much of the work centers on code review, architecture decisions, and cross-team collaboration that travel well over video. The roles most likely to require on-site presence are those tied to embedded systems, hardware integration, or lab environments within Michigan's automotive and defense sectors.

How can I get hired as a principal software engineer in Michigan with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is targeting associate or mid-level software engineer roles at Michigan's large automotive and technology employers, then building toward principal over time. Companies like General Motors, Ford, and Rocket Companies run structured new-graduate and rotational programs that place candidates without senior experience into growing engineering teams. Lateral moves from adjacent roles such as software quality engineer, DevOps engineer, or solutions architect are common stepping stones, and completing a relevant cloud certification or contributing to open-source projects can strengthen an early candidacy.

Where can I find and apply to principal software engineer jobs in Michigan?

You can find and apply to principal software engineer jobs in Michigan on Migrate Mate, which lists current Michigan openings in one place. Search the listings for roles that match your experience and location preference, then apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 9 Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Michigan

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