Senior Staff Engineer Jobs in Michigan
Senior Staff Engineer jobs in Michigan are in steady demand across the automotive engineering, advanced manufacturing, and defense technology sectors, with openings at every level from mid-career engineers moving into staff roles through principal and distinguished engineer tracks. Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Grand Rapids represent the largest hiring concentrations, anchored by major employers such as General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Bosch. The most sought-after specializations in Michigan include embedded systems, vehicle electrification architecture, and manufacturing systems engineering. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Senior Staff Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 10+ Senior Staff Engineer jobs
Why join Stryker?
Looking for a place that values your unique talents? Discover Stryker's award-winning culture.We are proud to offer you our total rewards package which includes bonuses, healthcare, insurance benefits, retirement programs, wellness programs, as well as service and performance awards – not to mention various social and recreational activities, all of which are location specific.
Job description
We are excited to be named one of the World’s Best Workplaces by Fortune Magazine! We are proud to offer you 12 paid holidays annually. For an overview of our benefits and time off, please follow this link to learn more:US Stryker employee benefits.Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer Lead, R&D
Portage, MI
Join a team focused on advancing complex medical technologies through engineering excellence and cross-functional collaboration. This role offers the opportunity to lead technical development efforts, contribute to innovation initiatives, and apply advanced engineering expertise across the full product development lifecycle. The Senior Staff R&D Engineer Lead serves as a technical leader, guiding design decisions, mentoring engineers, and supporting the development of compliant, high-quality products.
Work Flexibility:
Hybrid: candidates must reside within commuting distance of Portage, MI and be able to work onsite several days per week.
What You Will Do
- Lead the research, design, development, modification, and evaluation of complex modules, assemblies, and subsystems throughout the product development lifecycle.
- Translate user needs into engineering requirements, specifications, and system-level designs, ensuring alignment with product and business objectives.
- Design and execute advanced prototyping and testing activities to verify product performance and design requirements.
- Resolve complex product design challenges and drive implementation of corrective actions to support product readiness and quality standards.
- Explore emerging technologies and recommend applications that support product innovation and business needs.
- Develop invention disclosures, patents, and trade secret documentation to support intellectual property initiatives.
- Collaborate with Quality, Manufacturing, Regulatory Affairs, Clinical, Marketing, and Project Management teams to deliver projects according to business and development milestones.
- Mentor engineers on engineering principles, design controls, industry standards, engineering documentation, and technical best practices.
What You Will Need
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- Minimum 6 years of engineering experience in Research & Development (R&D)
- Experience creating engineering drawings, technical documentation, and 3D models.
- Proficiency with PTC Creo for 3D modeling and engineering design.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience developing and optimizing complex mechanical and/or electro-mechanical assemblies using Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles.
- Experience applying Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) in engineering drawings.
- Experience using Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) tools to evaluate and optimize product designs.
- Knowledge of materials, manufacturing processes, and processing technologies used in complex product development.
- Experience supporting medical device development within a regulated environment.
$102,600 - $171,000 USD Annual
Why join Stryker?
Looking for a place that values your unique talents? Discover Stryker's award-winning culture.We are proud to offer you our total rewards package which includes bonuses, healthcare, insurance benefits, retirement programs, wellness programs, as well as service and performance awards – not to mention various social and recreational activities, all of which are location specific.
Job description
We are excited to be named one of the World’s Best Workplaces by Fortune Magazine! We are proud to offer you 12 paid holidays annually. For an overview of our benefits and time off, please follow this link to learn more:US Stryker employee benefits.Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer Lead, R&D
Portage, MI
Join a team focused on advancing complex medical technologies through engineering excellence and cross-functional collaboration. This role offers the opportunity to lead technical development efforts, contribute to innovation initiatives, and apply advanced engineering expertise across the full product development lifecycle. The Senior Staff R&D Engineer Lead serves as a technical leader, guiding design decisions, mentoring engineers, and supporting the development of compliant, high-quality products.
Work Flexibility:
Hybrid: candidates must reside within commuting distance of Portage, MI and be able to work onsite several days per week.
What You Will Do
- Lead the research, design, development, modification, and evaluation of complex modules, assemblies, and subsystems throughout the product development lifecycle.
- Translate user needs into engineering requirements, specifications, and system-level designs, ensuring alignment with product and business objectives.
- Design and execute advanced prototyping and testing activities to verify product performance and design requirements.
- Resolve complex product design challenges and drive implementation of corrective actions to support product readiness and quality standards.
- Explore emerging technologies and recommend applications that support product innovation and business needs.
- Develop invention disclosures, patents, and trade secret documentation to support intellectual property initiatives.
- Collaborate with Quality, Manufacturing, Regulatory Affairs, Clinical, Marketing, and Project Management teams to deliver projects according to business and development milestones.
- Mentor engineers on engineering principles, design controls, industry standards, engineering documentation, and technical best practices.
What You Will Need
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- Minimum 6 years of engineering experience in Research & Development (R&D)
- Experience creating engineering drawings, technical documentation, and 3D models.
- Proficiency with PTC Creo for 3D modeling and engineering design.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience developing and optimizing complex mechanical and/or electro-mechanical assemblies using Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles.
- Experience applying Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) in engineering drawings.
- Experience using Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) tools to evaluate and optimize product designs.
- Knowledge of materials, manufacturing processes, and processing technologies used in complex product development.
- Experience supporting medical device development within a regulated environment.
$102,600 - $171,000 USD Annual
See All 10 Senior Staff Engineer Jobs in Michigan
Find roles in Michigan that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Senior Staff Engineer JobsSenior Staff Engineer Jobs by City in Michigan
Where Michigan roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Senior Staff Engineer Job Market in Michigan
A snapshot from current Michigan openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Medical Devices
- Technology & Software
What Michigan Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in senior staff engineer jobs across Michigan.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in electrical, mechanical, or software engineering from an accredited program
- Professional Engineer license issued or recognized by the Michigan Board of Licensure for Engineers and Surveyors preferred for senior roles
- Eight or more years of engineering experience with demonstrated technical leadership on complex systems
- Deep expertise in at least one Michigan-dominant domain such as automotive propulsion, embedded controls, or industrial automation
- Proven ability to define technical strategy and mentor engineers across multiple project teams
- Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams including manufacturing, safety, and program management organizations
Senior Staff Engineer Jobs in Michigan: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a senior staff engineer in Michigan?
The most direct path is a bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline followed by progressive experience in a Michigan industry such as automotive or advanced manufacturing. Earning a Professional Engineer license through the Michigan Board of Licensure for Engineers and Surveyors significantly strengthens candidacy for senior staff roles, particularly at Tier 1 automotive suppliers and defense contractors. Most employers expect candidates to demonstrate technical leadership, system-level thinking, and a record of driving complex projects from concept to production.
Which companies hire senior staff engineers in Michigan?
Employers hiring senior staff engineers in Michigan right now include Stryker, Saab, and Stellantis, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Michigan's deep automotive and defense supply chain means that both original equipment manufacturers and large Tier 1 suppliers consistently maintain open senior staff engineer roles throughout the year.
Which Michigan cities have the most senior staff engineer jobs?
Portage, Detroit, and Auburn Hills post the most senior staff engineer openings in Michigan. Detroit and its suburbs dominate because of the dense concentration of automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and defense contractors headquartered or with major engineering centers there, while Ann Arbor draws significant demand from University of Michigan research partnerships and technology-focused engineering firms in that corridor.
Are there remote senior staff engineer jobs in Michigan?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely software-focused disciplines, since many senior staff engineer roles in Michigan involve hands-on work with physical systems, manufacturing lines, or lab environments. About 100% of senior staff engineer openings tied to Michigan are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, with the remote subset most concentrated in software-defined systems, model-based engineering, and systems architecture work that can be performed without on-site access.
How can I get hired as a senior staff engineer in Michigan with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry point is joining a Michigan automotive or manufacturing employer as an associate or staff engineer and building toward the senior staff level through internal progression. General Motors, Ford, and large Tier 1 suppliers such as Aptiv and Lear run structured new-graduate rotational programs that place engineers into systems and product development roles. Earning or working toward a Professional Engineer license and gaining domain depth in electrification or embedded software accelerates advancement into senior staff designations from these entry positions.
Where can I find and apply to senior staff engineer jobs in Michigan?
You can find and apply to senior staff engineer jobs in Michigan on Migrate Mate, which lists current Michigan openings updated regularly. Search the listings to see roles that match your background and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 10 Senior Staff Engineer Jobs in Michigan
Find roles in Michigan that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Senior Staff Engineer Jobs