Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Ohio
Principal Software Engineer jobs in Ohio are in strong demand, concentrated in enterprise technology, financial services, healthcare IT, and defense contracting, with openings at every level from senior developer stepping into principal scope through seasoned technical leads. Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati are the primary hiring hubs, anchored by major employers such as Nationwide Insurance, KeyBank, and Kroger, all of which maintain large engineering organizations in Ohio. The most sought-after specialties in the state are distributed systems, cloud-native architecture, and platform engineering supporting large-scale enterprise applications. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 31+ Principal Software Engineer jobs
Work You’ll Do:
- Design, develop, test, and troubleshoot production machine-control software.
- Program controls solutions using IEC 61131-3 Structured Text and related technologies.
- Establish and govern Azure DevOps repositories, branching, work items, permissions, and release practices.
- Build automated CI/CD pipelines across PLC, embedded, web, and application software.
- Set practical standards for code reviews, testing, requirements traceability, and release readiness.
- Define machine-data standards for schemas, tags, units, sampling, events, and time alignment.
- Resolve complex production and field issues involving controls, software, and data.
- Provide documentation, training, and technical guidance to global engineering teams.
- Collaborate with teams across the United States, India, and Europe to improve engineering consistency and product performance.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 12+ years of combined software and controls engineering experience.
- Hands-on industrial machine-controls experience, including PLC or real-time software, HMI systems, and industrial communications.
- Strong experience programming with IEC 61131-3 Structured Text.
- Experience designing and implementing process-control or closed-loop control algorithms on production machinery.
- Experience with Azure DevOps, GitHub, GitLab, or a comparable environment, including repositories and CI/CD pipelines.
- Experience providing technical leadership while remaining hands-on with code development and review.
- Ability to influence and support global, cross-cultural teams without direct authority.
- Ability to travel globally up to 20%.
- Ability to work primarily onsite in Batavia, Ohio.
- Experience with B&R Automation Studio, KEBA, Beckhoff TwinCAT, or multiple industrial-control platforms preferred.
- Experience with Python, C/C++, C#, JavaScript, HTML, SQL, Azure, Databricks, or data modeling preferred.
- Experience integrating machine or shop-floor data with ERP, MES, service, or analytics platforms preferred.
- Experience with automated testing, adaptive controls, model-based development, or control abstraction frameworks preferred.
- Industrial automation, complex machinery, plastics processing, or injection-molding experience preferred.
Who we are:
Milacron is a global industrial leader in the manufacturing and distribution of highly engineered and customized injection molding and extrusion solutions, and aftermarket parts and service for the plastics processing industry. The company’s 1,900+ associates worldwide collaborate to serve a diverse range of end-markets, such as automotive, construction, medical, telecommunications, material handling, packaging, and much more. With expertise in plastics spanning nearly 60 years, Milacron holds longstanding relationships with more than 27,000 customers around the world. The original equipment provider of plastics manufacturing solutions is the largest US-owned and globally served of its kind. Headquartered in Batavia, OH, Milacron’s global footprint is also serviced through regional facilities in Asia, Europe, and South America.
EEO:
The policy of Milacron is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual's age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or veteran status. We are committed to being an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and offer opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us at recruitingaccommodations@milacron.com. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.
Work You’ll Do:
- Design, develop, test, and troubleshoot production machine-control software.
- Program controls solutions using IEC 61131-3 Structured Text and related technologies.
- Establish and govern Azure DevOps repositories, branching, work items, permissions, and release practices.
- Build automated CI/CD pipelines across PLC, embedded, web, and application software.
- Set practical standards for code reviews, testing, requirements traceability, and release readiness.
- Define machine-data standards for schemas, tags, units, sampling, events, and time alignment.
- Resolve complex production and field issues involving controls, software, and data.
- Provide documentation, training, and technical guidance to global engineering teams.
- Collaborate with teams across the United States, India, and Europe to improve engineering consistency and product performance.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 12+ years of combined software and controls engineering experience.
- Hands-on industrial machine-controls experience, including PLC or real-time software, HMI systems, and industrial communications.
- Strong experience programming with IEC 61131-3 Structured Text.
- Experience designing and implementing process-control or closed-loop control algorithms on production machinery.
- Experience with Azure DevOps, GitHub, GitLab, or a comparable environment, including repositories and CI/CD pipelines.
- Experience providing technical leadership while remaining hands-on with code development and review.
- Ability to influence and support global, cross-cultural teams without direct authority.
- Ability to travel globally up to 20%.
- Ability to work primarily onsite in Batavia, Ohio.
- Experience with B&R Automation Studio, KEBA, Beckhoff TwinCAT, or multiple industrial-control platforms preferred.
- Experience with Python, C/C++, C#, JavaScript, HTML, SQL, Azure, Databricks, or data modeling preferred.
- Experience integrating machine or shop-floor data with ERP, MES, service, or analytics platforms preferred.
- Experience with automated testing, adaptive controls, model-based development, or control abstraction frameworks preferred.
- Industrial automation, complex machinery, plastics processing, or injection-molding experience preferred.
Who we are:
Milacron is a global industrial leader in the manufacturing and distribution of highly engineered and customized injection molding and extrusion solutions, and aftermarket parts and service for the plastics processing industry. The company’s 1,900+ associates worldwide collaborate to serve a diverse range of end-markets, such as automotive, construction, medical, telecommunications, material handling, packaging, and much more. With expertise in plastics spanning nearly 60 years, Milacron holds longstanding relationships with more than 27,000 customers around the world. The original equipment provider of plastics manufacturing solutions is the largest US-owned and globally served of its kind. Headquartered in Batavia, OH, Milacron’s global footprint is also serviced through regional facilities in Asia, Europe, and South America.
EEO:
The policy of Milacron is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual's age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or veteran status. We are committed to being an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and offer opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us at recruitingaccommodations@milacron.com. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.
See All 31 Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Ohio
Find roles in Ohio that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsPrincipal Software Engineer Jobs by City in Ohio
Where Ohio roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Principal Software Engineer Job Market in Ohio
A snapshot from current Ohio openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Northrop Grumman15
- SciTec3
- JPMorganChase3
- American Honda Motor2
- OCLC1
Top Industries Hiring
- Human Resources
- Technology & Software
- Banking & Financial Services
What Ohio Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in principal software engineer jobs across Ohio.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field
- Eight or more years of progressive software engineering experience including technical leadership
- Deep expertise in at least one major programming language such as Java, Python, C++, or Go
- Proven ability to define and drive architecture decisions across multiple product teams
- Experience with cloud platforms including AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud in production environments
- Strong record of mentoring engineers and influencing engineering culture and best practices
Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Ohio: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a principal software engineer in Ohio?
Reaching a principal software engineer role in Ohio typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related discipline, followed by progressive engineering experience that includes system design ownership and cross-team technical influence. Ohio employers do not require a state-issued license for software engineering, so advancement depends on demonstrating architectural impact, mentoring others, and leading initiatives that affect the broader product or platform. Ohio's large enterprise employers in Columbus and Cleveland routinely promote from within for these roles.
How much do principal software engineers make in Ohio?
Principal software engineers in Ohio earn a median of about $114,090 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $77,790 for the lowest 10% to over $168,400 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire principal software engineers in Ohio?
Employers hiring principal software engineers in Ohio right now include Northrop Grumman, SciTec, and JPMorganChase, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Ohio's mix of Fortune 500 headquarters, major financial institutions, and established healthcare systems gives principal-level engineers a wide range of industry contexts to choose from across the state.
Which Ohio cities have the most principal software engineer jobs?
Cincinnati, Columbus, and Beavercreek have the most principal software engineer openings in Ohio. Columbus leads because it is home to the headquarters of large insurance, retail, and financial services companies that maintain substantial engineering organizations, while Cleveland and Cincinnati contribute through their own concentrations of healthcare technology, manufacturing software, and regional banking institutions that require senior technical leadership.
Are there remote principal software engineer jobs in Ohio?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 60% of principal software engineer openings tied to Ohio are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how broadly software engineering work can be done without a fixed office. The responsibilities most commonly performed remotely include architecture reviews, code reviews, and cross-team technical strategy sessions, while some Ohio employers still prefer on-site presence for hands-on platform or infrastructure work.
How can I get hired as a principal software engineer in Ohio with little or no experience?
The most realistic path for someone without direct principal-level experience is to join a large Ohio employer as a senior software engineer and pursue promotion from within. Companies such as Nationwide, Huntington Bank, and major healthcare systems in Columbus and Cleveland hire senior engineers into roles that carry a clear path to principal scope. Building a strong portfolio of system design projects, contributing to open-source architecture decisions, and earning a cloud certification such as AWS Solutions Architect Associate gives candidates a concrete edge when applying for those bridge roles.
Where can I find and apply to principal software engineer jobs in Ohio?
You can find and apply to principal software engineer jobs in Ohio on Migrate Mate, which lists current Ohio openings updated regularly. Search the listings, find roles that match your experience and specialization, and apply directly to each one without any additional sign-up step required.
See All 31 Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Ohio
Find roles in Ohio that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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