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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Date Posted:
2026-11-10Country:
United States of AmericaLocation:
US-MI-REMOTEPosition Role Type:
RemoteU.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:
Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the company’s immigration sponsorship now or in the future. The company will not offer immigration sponsorship for this position. The company will not seek an export authorization for this role.Security Clearance Type:
None/Not RequiredSecurity Clearance Status:
Not RequiredAt RTX, the world largest aerospace and defense company, 185,000 great minds are united by purpose and inspired to make a difference solving the world’s most complex problems. With our three market leading businesses, world-class operations and investments in research and development, we offer capabilities and opportunity no one else can. Together, we push the boundaries of known science and find new ways to connect and protect our world.
Collins Aerospace is a leader in technologically advanced, intelligent solutions that help redefine the aerospace and defense industry. With a comprehensive portfolio and deep technical expertise, we help customers meet the demands of the global market. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.
What You Will Do:
- Lead program‑level technical strategy for embedded software, including boot, board bring‑up, HAL frameworks, diagnostics.
- Apply expert knowledge to design software for complex embedded systems and provide innovative solutions to challenging technical problems.
- Guide system architecture and review software designs for technical soundness, maintainability, and alignment with program goals.
- Define and improve development processes, workflows, and documentation practices across the program.
- Produce high‑quality documentation including design artifacts, test procedures, integration guides, and internal training material.
- Collaborate closely with systems, hardware, safety to ensure well‑understood, repeatable, and reliable platform behavior.
- Utilize Agile development methods, automation tools, and continuous integration pipelines to drive efficient and consistent software delivery.
Qualifications You Must Have:
- Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 8 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years of experience
- Experience with at least two of the following: embedded C development, scripting languages. (Python, Perl, etc.) to automate development or integration task, software architecture design.
- Experience developing embedded software for complex systems, including board bring‑up, diagnostics, or low‑level driver/HAL development.
- Experience developing systems involving hardware and software integration.
Qualifications We Prefer:
- Experience developing, verifying or certifying software in DO-178 B/C at high assurance levels or similar rigor.
- Self‑starter with demonstrated ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and follow through on complex tasks.
- Experience with Agile methods, CI/CD pipelines, Git‑based workflows, and automated test frameworks.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to articulate technical intent and drive alignment across teams.
- Demonstrated ability to lead technical decision‑making at a program level and evaluate multiple solution paths effectively.
What We Offer:
Some of our competitive benefits package includes:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees
- Generous 401(k) plan that includes employer matching funds and separate employer retirement contribution, including a Lifetime Income Strategy option
- Tuition reimbursement program
- Student Loan Repayment Program
- Life insurance and disability coverage
- Optional coverages you can buy: pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life and accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection
- Birth, adoption, parental leave benefits
- Carrot Health to hormonal health, fertility, and family building
- Adoption Assistance
- Autism Benefit
- Employee Assistance Plan, including up to 10 free counseling sessions
- Healthy You Incentives, wellness rewards program
- Doctor on Demand, virtual doctor visits
- Bright Horizons, child and elder care services
- Teladoc Medical Experts, second opinion program
- And more!
Learn More & Apply Now!
At Collins Aerospace, our Interiors team is focused on innovation, safety and cost efficiency. But we don’t just get people from point A to point B. We’re committed to making air travel more comfortable, connected and secure. As a leader in aviation interior products and services, we’re helping airlines and original equipment manufacturers create a positive experience for their customers. With offices and manufacturing facilities in more than 12 states across the U.S. and more than 10 countries around the globe, we’re changing the game of aircraft interiors. Are you ready to join our team?
Remote: Employees who are working in Remote roles will work primarily offsite (from home). If you live within a reasonable commute of an RTX site with other colleagues you interact with, your manager will discuss whether there is a degree of onsite presence associated with this role.
Regardless of your role type, collaboration and innovation are critical to our business and all employees will have access to digital tools so they can work with colleagues around the world – and access to Collins sites when their work requires in-person meetings.
At Collins, the paths we pave together lead to limitless possibility. And the bonds we form – with our customers and with each other – propel us all higher, again and again.
Apply now and be part of the team that's redefining aerospace, every day.
As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure hiring process, candidates may be asked to attend select steps of the interview process in-person at one of our office locations, regardless of whether the role is designated as on-site, hybrid or remote.
The salary range for this role is 107,500 USD - 204,500 USD. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. RTX considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills. Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits, including but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, flexible work schedules, employee assistance program, Employee Scholar Program, parental leave, paid time off, and holidays. Specific benefits are dependent upon the specific business unit as well as whether or not the position is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement. Hired applicants may be eligible for annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs depending on the level of the position and whether or not it is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and are dependent upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company’s performance. This role is a U.S.-based role. If the successful candidate resides in a U.S. territory, the appropriate pay structure and benefits will apply. RTX anticipates the application window closing approximately 40 days from the date the notice was posted. However, factors such as candidate flow and business necessity may require RTX to shorten or extend the application window.RTX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected class. RTX provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with a Disability and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.
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See All 9 Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Michigan
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Find JobsPrincipal Software Engineer Jobs by City in Michigan
Where Michigan roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Principal Software Engineer Job Market in Michigan
A snapshot from current Michigan openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



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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