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Executive Software Engineer Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Director of Software Engineering

Auburn Hills, MI · On-site

$239K/yr

Enables Finance, Product, Operations, and Executive teams to access trusted, meaningful metrics ... the engineering team delivers software that meets user needs * Champions data clarity and ...

... engineering branches in Taipei and Hsinchu Taiwan, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Our unique compute ... We've co-designed a full hardware-software stack (compiler, runtime, and APIs) to make AI ...

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Executive Software Engineer information

See Michigan salary details

$58.4K

$113K

$195.2K

How much do executive software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for executive software engineer in Michigan is $113,027.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $95,000.00 and $122,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Executive Software Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Executive Software Engineer, you need advanced software development expertise, leadership experience, and a strong background in computer science or a related field, often supported by a bachelor's or master's degree. Familiarity with modern programming languages, cloud platforms, architectural frameworks, and certifications like AWS Certified Solutions Architect or similar are highly valuable. Exceptional communication, strategic thinking, and team management skills help you guide cross-functional teams and align technology with business goals. These qualifications ensure you can drive innovation, oversee complex projects, and deliver scalable solutions that support organizational growth.

Can I make 200k a year as a software engineer?

Senior software engineers, including executive-level roles, can earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, specialized skills, and working in high-paying industries or companies. Achieving this salary often requires advanced knowledge of programming languages, leadership abilities, and sometimes additional certifications or advanced degrees.

What is the difference between Executive Software Engineer vs Software Development Manager?

AspectExecutive Software EngineerSoftware Development Manager
ResponsibilitiesDesigning complex software solutions, coding, technical leadershipManaging development teams, project oversight, strategic planning
Required SkillsAdvanced programming, system architecture, technical expertiseTeam management, communication, project management
Work EnvironmentHands-on coding, technical problem-solvingTeam coordination, stakeholder communication
Common UsageTech companies, engineering teamsLarge organizations, software firms

While both roles require strong technical skills, the Executive Software Engineer focuses on technical design and coding, whereas the Software Development Manager emphasizes team leadership and project management.

What are Executive Software Engineers?

Executive Software Engineers are senior-level professionals who combine deep technical expertise with leadership responsibilities within an organization. They often oversee software development teams, set technical direction, and bridge communication between technical staff and executive management. Their role includes making high-level architectural decisions, ensuring project alignment with business goals, and mentoring other engineers. Executive Software Engineers are expected to have extensive experience in software development, as well as strong leadership and strategic planning skills.

What is a software engineer executive?

A software engineer executive is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing software development teams, setting technical strategy, and ensuring project alignment with business goals. They often have extensive experience in software engineering, leadership skills, and may hold titles such as CTO or VP of Engineering.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior software engineers, especially those in high-demand fields like machine learning, cloud computing, or with extensive experience at major tech companies, can earn $500,000 or more annually through base salary, bonuses, and stock options. Achieving this level typically requires advanced skills, a strong track record, and often working in competitive markets or leadership roles.

How does an Executive Software Engineer typically collaborate with upper management and technical teams?

Executive Software Engineers play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between technical teams and upper management. They are often responsible for translating business objectives into actionable technical strategies, facilitating communication between developers, project managers, and executives. This collaboration may involve leading architectural discussions, guiding project priorities, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals. Regular meetings, strategic planning sessions, and cross-departmental initiatives are common, allowing Executive Software Engineers to influence both technical direction and business outcomes.

Will AI replace coders by 2040?

As an Executive Software Engineer, it is understood that AI tools can automate certain coding tasks, but human programmers are essential for designing complex systems, problem-solving, and ensuring quality. AI is more likely to augment rather than fully replace software developers by 2040, requiring ongoing skills in programming, system architecture, and AI integration.
What are the most commonly searched types of Software Engineer jobs in Michigan? The most popular types of Software Engineer jobs in Michigan are:
What are popular job titles related to Executive Software Engineer jobs in Michigan? For Executive Software Engineer jobs in Michigan, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Director of Software Engineering

Director of Software Engineering

Whisker

Auburn Hills, MI • On-site

$239K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 22 days ago


Whisker rating

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

Based on 6 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

60th of 139 rated electronics manufacturers


Job description

Whisker is redefining what it means to live with cats-designing intelligent systems that remove friction, elevate the everyday, and celebrate the quiet brilliance of feline companionship. Today, Litter-Robot leads the category. Tomorrow, an entire ecosystem that expands what's possible for cats and the people who love them. We believe the future is feline. And we're imagining that future today.
We work onsite 4+ days a week, with our team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and Juneau, Wisconsin. Our team of 700+ passionate pet people thrives on collaboration, innovation, and the occasional office cameo from a four-legged friend.
What You'll Do:
We are hiring a Director of Software Engineering to work onsite at Whisker HQ to co-lead our technical evolution. This foundational leadership role partners closely with the VP of Software Engineering, anchoring engineering excellence for our core development team.
This leader will oversee the scalable, resilient architecture and execution of all backend systems and shared platform services. A core focus is owning data flow from ingestion and modeling to storage and access creating clean pathways across teams.
The Director will architect our internal metrics infrastructure, enabling all functions (Finance, Ops, Product, Executive) to self-serve trusted, timely insights. They will connect technical systems with business stakeholders, ensuring the data powering decisions is accurate and transparent.
The role is also responsible for orchestrating backend/frontend development rhythm, ensuring cohesive APIs, predictable integration cycles, and fast, high-quality development. Ultimately, this leader will champion a culture of data clarity and technical precision, building systems that power our products and help the company operate with confidence.
Summary:
The Director of Software Engineering will lead the continued development and management of our digital products, product roadmap for our embedded systems, mobile apps, cloud infrastructure, Machine Learning engineering capabilities, product ideation and management, and the growth and management of our evolving team to ensure we're delivering great products for our customers around the globe!
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as deemed necessary.
  • Oversees the design, development, and implementation of software solutions, ensuring alignment with the company's strategic objectives
  • Manages the software engineering department's resources, fostering innovation, and ensuring that software projects meet quality, budget, and timeline requirements
  • Establishes and enforces engineering best practices and operational procedures to ensure scalable and secure software development processes
  • Drives the adoption of new technologies and frameworks within the team, staying abreast of industry trends to keep the company at the cutting edge of technological advancements
  • Fosters an environment of collaboration and communication within the engineering teams and across departments, ensuring that all stakeholders are informed and engaged in key project decisions
  • Advances our software capabilities into sensor fusion, machine learning, pet recognition, IoT connectivity and in-app experience
  • Develops a clear vision of machine learning solutions to enable AI-powered in-app experiences for pet health, well-being and interaction
  • Beyond traditional machine learning algorithms, the Director recognizes opportunities where deep learning is applicable and scales the team to address those opportunities
  • Recruits, grows, mentors and leads our core SW engineering team
  • Develops other leaders and mentoring our junior engineers to deliver amazing products
  • Balances the needs of today with where we want to be tomorrow
  • Leads execution of Whisker's software roadmap while shaping long-term architectural strategy
  • Balances near-term delivery with platform investments that enable future innovation
  • Elevates our connected product ecosystem across mobile, cloud, device, and data systems
  • Oversees all backend services, APIs, cloud infrastructure, and shared platform systems
  • Ensures APIs, mobile experiences, IoT connectivity, and cloud services operate as one cohesive system
  • Ensures systems are scalable, secure, observable, and resilient
  • Drives architectural clarity that supports both product performance and rapid iteration
  • Leads the design and evolution of data pipelines across ingestion, modeling, storage, and reporting
  • Builds clean, reliable systems that power product features and internal operations
  • Enables Finance, Product, Operations, and Executive teams to access trusted, meaningful metrics
  • Collaborates with product management, operations, and other cross-functional teams to define product requirements and ensures that the engineering team delivers software that meets user needs
  • Champions data clarity and operational visibility across the organization
  • Establishes strong integration patterns between frontend and backend teams
  • Creates predictable development rhythms that reduce friction and rework
  • Partners with AI/ML leadership to ensure infrastructure supports machine learning and AI-powered experiences
  • Builds backend systems capable of scaling experimentation and intelligent product features
  • Leads crisis management and troubleshooting initiatives, ensuring rapid and effective resolution of software issues to minimize downtime and maintain customer satisfaction.
  • Defines and monitors key performance indicators (KPIs) for the engineering department to evaluate effectiveness and implement improvements as needed
  • Represents the engineering team in executive meetings, providing insights and updates to senior management and other stakeholders about project progress, challenges, and strategic opportunities
  • Builds future leaders and cultivates a culture of craftsmanship, accountability, and collaboration.
  • Leads with clarity, humility, and a servant-leadership mindset
  • Perform additional responsibilities as required.

Leadership Responsibilities :
Directly supervises department Teams. Carries out supervisory responsibilities following Whisker policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, training, and hiring, planning, assigning and directing work, appraising performance, addressing team issues, and upholding safety and quality guidelines.
Requirements
What You'll Bring:
  • Bachelor's and/or Master's in Computer Science or related field and / or equivalent years of experience
  • 10+ years of software engineering experience
  • 5+ years experience as a Senior Software Engineering Manager or Director
  • 10+ years of development experience with at least 5 years in cloud environments working with SQL, Python, Java, and RESTful APIs
  • 7+ years leading multiple Agile teams and programs with expert understanding of Agile and Lean principles
  • Strong knowledge of the AWS IoT stack in the context of large-scale IoT product deployments
  • Experience with Flutter (or other comparable framework) for mobile app design, development and support
  • This requires driving architecture, execution, verification and automation of all aspects of the products
  • Clear understanding of both supervised and unsupervised learning methodologies and infrastructure needs
  • Proven ability to manage multiple product lines and meet aggressive release schedules
  • Excellent communication (verbal & written) and presentation skills
  • Experience managing teams of 30-100 people and demonstrated ability to build high-performing, collaborative teams
  • Strong executive-level communication and presentation skills
  • High degree of ownership, initiative and operational discipline
  • Maintains confidentiality of proprietary information
  • Ability to maintain a professional atmosphere in a fast-paced environment with numerous interactions and interruptions
  • A high degree of initiative, self-motivation, and ability to motivate others
  • Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with Team Members and colleagues
  • Comfortable with office pets (cats, dogs)

Benefits & Purrks:
Join a tenacious, inventive company that empowers team members to chart their own path, lead by grounding decisions in the "why", and has a strong sense of empathy and openness to new perspectives. Be a part of exciting growth, work with incredible people, and create tomorrow's pet products-plus a whole lot of extras. You will also be provided with:
  • Premium Medical/Dental/Vision insurance
  • Paid parental leave
  • Whisker Parents Program
  • 1 day "pawternity" leave for new pet adoption
  • Pet Insurance Discount
  • 401K match
  • Flexible spending accounts
  • Company-paid short-term disability and life insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Generous paid time off
  • 14 Paid Holidays
  • Top of the line equipment
  • Pet-friendly office
  • Whisker products and swag
  • Continuing education Support
  • On-site gym with Peloton
  • Referral program

Statement of Inclusivity:
We believe different perspectives make Whisker better and strive to create a place where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive.
Please ensure to regularly check your email spam folder for any communication from Whisker to avoid missing important updates regarding your application status.