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Car Programmer Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

General Motors

Senior ML Compiler Engineer

Warren, MI

$98K - $134K/yr

... car. We own the compiler that turns highlevel models into fast, reliable inference across GPUs ... The Role As aSeniorCompiler Engineer on the AI Kernels & Compilers team, you willwork on ...

EDAG INC.

Design Engineer

Troy, MI

There is a bit of EDAG in almost every car. We are experts in complete vehicle development and the optimization of production facilities for the automotive industry. As a Designing Engineer, you will ...

LG Electronics

Principal Engineer

Troy, MI · On-site

A leading provider of core components for global car manufacturers, VS Company is supporting the emerging trend of the vehicle industry. As the Principal Engineer, you will: * Lead technical ...

KEYENCE

Field Application Engineer

Novi, MI · On-site +1

$54K - $81K/yr

Join KEYENCE as a Field Application Engineer Training Classes Begin July 2026 Multiple U.S ... Travel extensively (60-100%) across your assigned region-by car or plane-to deliver hands-on ...

KEYENCE

Field Application Engineer

Grand Rapids, MI · On-site +1

$54K - $81K/yr

Join KEYENCE as a Field Application Engineer Training Classes Begin July 2026 Multiple U.S ... Travel extensively (60-100%) across your assigned region-by car or plane-to deliver hands-on ...

Kla

Mechanical Engineer

Ann Arbor, MI

... car would have made it into your hands without us. KLA invents systems and solutions for the ... Our expert teams of physicists, engineers, data scientists and problem-solvers work together with ...

Orbotech

Mechanical Engineer

Ann Arbor, MI · On-site

... car would have made it into your hands without us. KLA invents systems and solutions for the ... Our expert teams of physicists, engineers, data scientists and problem-solvers work together with ...

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All JobsCar Programmer JobsCar Programmer Jobs in Michigan

Car Programmer information

See Michigan salary details

$10

$34

$59

How much do car programmer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for car programmer in Michigan is $34.46, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $22.40 and $44.86 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How to become a car programmer?

To become a car programmer, you typically need a background in computer science or automotive engineering, with skills in programming languages such as C, C++, or Python. Gaining experience with automotive systems, embedded systems, and tools like CAN bus interfaces is important, and certifications in automotive software or embedded systems can enhance job prospects.

How much do automotive programmers make?

Automotive programmers, also known as embedded software engineers in the automotive industry, typically earn between $70,000 and $120,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and certifications. Skilled programmers with knowledge of automotive protocols and tools like MATLAB or CAN are in higher demand and may command higher salaries.

What is the difference between Car Programmer vs Automotive Technician?

AspectCar ProgrammerAutomotive Technician
CredentialsTypically requires programming certifications, automotive software trainingRequires ASE certifications, technical training
Work EnvironmentWorks mainly with software, computers, and vehicle ECU systemsHands-on repair, diagnostics, and mechanical work
Industry UsageUsed in automotive software development, ECU tuningUsed in vehicle repair shops, dealerships
Common Search IntentCar Programmer vs Automotive TechnicianCar Programmer vs Automotive Technician

While both roles involve working with vehicles, Car Programmers focus on software development and ECU programming, whereas Automotive Technicians handle repairs and diagnostics. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or service provider.

What is a car programmer?

A car programmer is a professional who develops, tests, and maintains the software that controls various systems within automobiles. This can include engine management, infotainment, safety features, autonomous driving capabilities, and more. Car programmers work with embedded systems and automotive-specific programming languages to ensure vehicles operate efficiently, safely, and in compliance with industry standards. Their work is crucial as modern cars rely heavily on computer systems to function properly.

What are some of the main challenges faced by car programmers when integrating new software with existing vehicle systems?

Car programmers often encounter challenges when integrating new software with existing vehicle systems due to the complexity and variability of automotive hardware and legacy code. Ensuring compatibility across diverse electronic control units (ECUs) and maintaining strict safety and security standards are common hurdles. Additionally, programmers must frequently collaborate with hardware engineers and testing teams to validate software performance under real-world driving conditions. Adapting to evolving automotive standards and technologies is also essential for continued success in this field.

What is the highest paying job in the car industry?

In the automotive industry, senior engineering roles such as Automotive Engineering Managers or Chief Engineers tend to be the highest paying jobs, often earning six-figure salaries. These positions require extensive experience, advanced technical skills, and leadership responsibilities, typically involving overseeing vehicle design, development, and production processes.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Car Programmer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Car Programmer, you need strong programming skills (such as C/C++), an understanding of automotive systems, and typically a degree in computer engineering or a related field. Familiarity with automotive software platforms like AUTOSAR, diagnostic tools, and embedded systems development environments is common. Problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are essential soft skills in this role. These skills enable the development of reliable, safe, and efficient automotive software that meets industry standards and customer needs.

What does a car programmer do?

A car programmer develops and updates software for vehicle electronic control units (ECUs), such as engine, transmission, and safety systems. They use specialized tools and coding languages to modify or troubleshoot vehicle software, often working in automotive repair shops or manufacturing environments. Knowledge of automotive systems, programming skills, and diagnostic tools are essential for this role.
What cities in Michigan are hiring for Car Programmer jobs? Cities in Michigan with the most Car Programmer job openings:
Car Programmer jobs near you
Senior ML Compiler Engineer

Senior ML Compiler Engineer

General Motors

Warren, MI

$98K - $134K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 9 days ago

General Motors rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 305 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

5th of 44 rated automakers

Job description

Job Description

AbouttheMission

GM's vision of Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions, and Zero Congestion guides everything we do in autonomous and assisted driving. The AV organization is building advanced automated driving technologies,including Level 4-capable fully self-drivingsystems,tomove us toward safer, more sustainable, and more accessible mobility.

For theAIKernels & Compilers team, that mission shows up in the details: turning cuttingedgeperception, prediction, and planning research into productiongrade software that can run efficiently and reliably on real vehicles at scale. We pioneernew approachesto model export,kernel development, and performance engineering so that every cycle on our accelerators translates into better situational awareness, faster reaction times, and more robust behavior on the road.

If you want your compiler andkernelsworktodirectlyinfluencehow automated vehicles understand and react to the world - whileoperatingatthesafety,reliabilityand scaleof a company like GM - this is where that impact becomes real.

About the Team

The AI Compiler team sits at the heart of how advanced AI models make it onto the car. We own the compiler that turns highlevel models into fast, reliable inference across GPUs powering GM's nextgeneration autonomous and assisted driving features.

Our work spans graph lowering, operator coverage, kernel integration, and deployment tooling, with a mandate to squeeze every millisecond out of onvehicle workloads while preserving correctness and robustness in realworld conditions. We partner closely withAI Deployments,AI Solutions, Runtime, andAI Kernelsteams to codesignaplatform thatenablesnew ideasin researchto bequickly and safelyshippedto production fleets.

You'lljoin a group ofdeepcompiler, systems, and GPU engineerswho enjoyworking onhard problems,anddiving into MLIR/ONNXand CUDA/TensorRTinternals. We value clear thinking, strong engineering fundamentals, and a culture where people can do the best work of their careers on problems that directly shape the future of automated driving.

The Role

As aSeniorCompiler Engineer on the AI Kernels & Compilers team, you willwork on thecompilation stack that takes highlevel models and turns them into highly optimized inference artifacts running on GM's autonomous and assisted driving platforms.You'llbe a key contributor to a pipeline andtooling that makesthat path fast, reliable, andeffortlessfor ML engineers across the AV organizationto compile their models.

You willwork on an evolvinga state-of-the-artmodel export and compilation pipeline-from capturing highlevel model graphs, through intermediate representations and compiler transforms, into acceleratorspecific inference engines and their integration with our runtime-so that we can simultaneouslyoptimizecompilation throughput, model fidelity, and onvehicle latency. Along the way,you'llbuild robust tooling tovalidatenumerical correctness,detectand bisect performance regressions, and surface clear, actionable diagnostics back to model authors.

If you want to work at the intersection ofcompilers, performance engineering, and realworld autonomy, this role puts your decisions directly on the critical path of what runs on the car.

Whatyou'llbe doing (Responsibilities)

  • Buildand evolvethe model compilation toolchain used to deploy largescaleperception, prediction, and planning models to the AV.

  • Architect new compiler passes and analysisthat improve build times, memory footprint, and runtime latency while preserving-or intentionally trading off-fidelity under strict safety and reliability constraints.

  • Collaborate closely with kernels, runtime, and hardware teamsto codesign interfaces, shape accelerator capabilities, and ensure the compiler exposes the right abstractions to unlock peak performance on each platform.

  • Set standards and best practicesfor model export, validation, and debugging so that AV teams can iterate quickly with clear, reproducible performance and accuracy characteristics.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

  • 3+ years of experience in the field of compilers

  • Experience with ML frameworks (e.g.,PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX) and software stack (e.g.,ONNX,MLIR, XLA, TVM,TensorRT,etc)

  • Expertisein writing production quality Python/C++ code

  • Expertisein the software development life-cycle - coding, debugging, optimization, testing, integration

  • BS, or higher degree, in CS/CE/EE, or equivalent

What Will Give YouACompetitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

  • Experience building andoptimizingONNXbasedmodelexport and deployment pipelines

  • GPU programming (CUDA) and familiarity with ML SW stack (e.g.,cuDNN,cuBLAS)

  • Experience with ML accelerators and hardware architecture

  • Experience developing and deploying machine learning models

Compensation: The compensation information is a good faith estimate only. It is based on what a successful applicant might be paid in accordance with applicable state laws. The compensation may not be representative for positions located outside of New York, Colorado, California, or Washington.

  • The salary range for this role: is$128,700 to $261,300. The actual base salary a successful candidate will be offered within this range will vary based on factors relevant to the position.

  • Bonus Potential: An incentive pay program offers payouts based on company performance, job level, and individual performance.

  • Benefits: GM offers a variety of health and wellbeing benefit programs. Benefit options include medical, dental, vision, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement savings plan, sickness and accident benefits, life insurance, paid vacation & holidays, tuition assistance programs, employee assistance program, GM vehicle discounts and more.

#GM-AV-1

This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location at least 3 times a week {or other frequency dictated by their manager}. The selected candidate will be required to travel <25% for this role. This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.

About GM

Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.

Why Join Us

We believe we all must make a choice every day - individually and collectively - to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.

Benefits Overview

From day one, we're looking out for your well-being-at work and at home-so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.

Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.

All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.

We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire.

Accommodations

General Motors offers 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 or call us at 1-800-865-7580. 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.

What General Motors employees say

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About General Motors

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

General Motors is a company with global scale and capabilities, headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, with employees around the world. The company employs over 165,000 people, serves six continents, operates across 22 time zones, and has a diverse workforce speaking 75 languages1. GM’s vision is to drive the world forward by pioneering innovations that move and connect people to what matters. The company is working towards an all-electric future with its new Ultium Platform and is pushing transportation options beyond our wildest imaginations with autonomous vehicles. GM is also committed to becoming the most inclusive company in the world.

Industry

Transportation equipment manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Detroit, MI, US

Year founded

1908

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