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Lead Software Engineer Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Byrne Electrical Specialists, Inc. seeks a Lead Software Engineer in Rockford, MI. Requirements: U.S. Master's degree in Computer Science. Must have knowledge of and experience with: (1) Programming ...

Lead Software Engineer

Detroit, MI · On-site

$140K - $180K/yr

We are seeking a Lead Software Developer to design and deliver modern software systems. This role combines hands-on development with technical leadership, guiding engineering teams while building ...

Lead Software Engineer

Detroit, MI · On-site

$140K - $180K/yr

We are seeking a Lead Software Developer to design and deliver modern software systems. This role combines hands-on development with technical leadership, guiding engineering teams while building ...

Lead Software Engineer

Detroit, MI · On-site

$140K - $180K/yr

We are seeking a Lead Software Developer to design and deliver modern software systems. This role combines hands-on development with technical leadership, guiding engineering teams while building ...

Ten (10) years of experience as a Senior Software Engineer, Software Project Lead Software Engineer, Technical Specialist, Senior Software Design Engineer, Senior Member Technical Staff, Senior DSP ...

Ten (10) years of experience as a Senior Software Engineer, Software Project Lead Software Engineer, Technical Specialist, Senior Software Design Engineer, Senior Member Technical Staff, Senior DSP ...

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Showing results 1-20

Lead Software Engineer information

See Michigan salary details

$72.3K

$127.2K

$172.6K

How much do lead software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for lead software engineer in Michigan is $127,157.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $105,500.00 and $146,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Lead Software Engineers and senior technical roles in high-demand industries such as finance, technology, and consulting can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills in areas like cloud computing or machine learning, and often require leadership responsibilities and specialized certifications.

What are Lead Software Engineers?

Lead Software Engineers are senior-level professionals responsible for overseeing software development teams and guiding the technical direction of projects. They combine strong programming skills with leadership abilities, ensuring that software solutions are designed, developed, and maintained according to best practices and business requirements. Lead Software Engineers mentor junior team members, coordinate tasks, and often collaborate with other departments to deliver high-quality products on time. Their role is crucial in bridging the gap between technical teams and management, ensuring both technical excellence and alignment with organizational goals.

What is a lead software engineer?

A lead software engineer is a senior technical role responsible for guiding the development team, designing software solutions, and ensuring project quality. They often coordinate tasks, review code, and collaborate with stakeholders, requiring strong technical skills and leadership abilities.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

A Lead Software Engineer or senior technical roles in high-paying industries can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, specialized skills, and stock options or bonuses. Such compensation is typically found in large tech companies, investment firms, or startups with significant funding.

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

To thrive as a Lead Software Engineer, you need advanced programming expertise, software architecture knowledge, and a degree in computer science or a related field, often supplemented by experience in leading development teams. Familiarity with version control systems (like Git), cloud platforms (such as AWS or Azure), and methodologies like Agile or Scrum is typically expected. Exceptional communication, leadership, and problem-solving abilities are crucial soft skills for mentoring developers and managing projects. These skills ensure efficient project delivery, high-quality code, and effective team collaboration in complex technical environments.

Can you make $500,000 as a software engineer?

Lead software engineers with extensive experience, specialized skills, and working in high-paying industries or companies can potentially earn $500,000 or more annually through base salary, bonuses, and stock options. Achieving this level often requires seniority, advanced technical expertise, and sometimes leadership roles or executive compensation packages.

How does a Lead Software Engineer typically balance hands-on coding with leadership and mentoring responsibilities?

As a Lead Software Engineer, you'll find that your role involves a dynamic mix of technical work and team leadership. While you'll still contribute directly to codebases—often tackling complex or critical components—you'll also spend significant time guiding junior engineers, conducting code reviews, and facilitating technical discussions. Balancing these responsibilities requires strong time management and communication skills, as well as the ability to delegate effectively. The role offers the opportunity to shape technical direction while fostering team growth and collaboration.
What are the most commonly searched types of Lead Software Engineer jobs in Michigan? The most popular types of Lead Software Engineer jobs in Michigan are:
What cities in Michigan are hiring for Lead Software Engineer jobs? Cities in Michigan with the most Lead Software Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Lead Software Engineer job openings in Michigan as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 3% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $127,157 per year, or $61.1 per hour.
Lead Software Engineer, AI

Lead Software Engineer, AI

THOMSON REUTERS

Ann Arbor, MI • Hybrid

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 17 days ago


Thomson Reuters rating

8.9

Company rating: 8.9 out of 10

Based on 19 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

32nd of 487 rated business services


Job description

Lead Software Engineer, AI

Are you passionate about building AI-driven software that transforms how professionals work?

Join our fast-moving, forward-thinking group that is creating AI-driven software for professionals through our investigative platform, CLEAR (Consolidated Lead Evaluation and Reporting), which empowers users to search and analyze billions of public and proprietary records from a unified interface. We invest deeply in AI technologies and explore emerging fields with the backing of Thomson Reuters, a global leader. As a Lead Software Engineer - AI, you will play a lead role in full-stack web development, focusing on AI solutions, agents, and RAG, as well as traditional application layers such as gateways, APIs, and user interfaces-developing intelligent systems that power the next generation of expert solutions across legal, tax, risk, and compliance domains.

About the Role

In this opportunity as a Lead Software Engineer, AI, you will:

  • Build and architect AI-driven systems - Design and lead the implementation of enterprise-scale AI systems, including multi-component pipelines, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) architectures, and autonomous AI agents with multi-step reasoning; lead full-stack development from AI orchestration and RAG through API gateways, microservices, and modern web UIs.
  • Drive innovation and technical strategy - Lead evaluation and adoption of cutting-edge AI techniques; oversee proof-of-concept work and technical feasibility for new AI-driven features; stay current with AI research and translate insights into technical roadmaps; represent the organization at industry conferences and events.
  • Provide senior technical leadership - Lead architecture decisions and translate business requirements into scalable technical specifications; mentor senior and junior software engineers; champion MLOps and LLMOps practices and governance for the AI model lifecycle.
  • Ensure quality, security, and operational excellence - Design and implement testing, monitoring, and observability for AI systems at scale; lead compliance with ethical AI principles, security standards, and regulatory requirements; establish governance for AI model lifecycle management.
  • Lead cross-functional collaboration - Partner with AI researchers, engineering leadership, design, and product to turn AI capabilities into market-leading applications; optimize performance for latency, cost, and user experience; influence product strategy through deep technical expertise.

About You

You're a fit for the role of Lead Software Engineer, AI if you have the following required qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent experience (Master's degree preferred), and 8+ years of software engineering experience with at least 4 years in senior or lead roles focused on AI/ML.
  • Proven track record as a software engineer with AI expertise (not primarily a data scientist or ML researcher), with experience in Generative AI or RAG or LLMs - including solution discovery, architecture, agentic tools, evaluation, deployment, lifecycle, and metrics.
  • Strong proficiency in backend services and APIs.
  • Expert-level proficiency in an object orientated programming and extensive experience with AI/ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX); deep understanding of ML principles, evaluation methodologies, and distributed systems; and the full lifecycle of enterprise AI applications.
  • Advanced experience with AWS and orchestration tools (Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform); demonstrated ability to integrate AI models into large-scale production systems via APIs, data pipelines, and cloud-native architectures.
  • Strong leadership and mentoring experience; excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving; outstanding communication and presentation skills with experience influencing senior stakeholders.

Additional preferred qualifications include:

  • Experience leading teams building AI-driven systems, agent-based architectures, or enterprise integrations with AI APIs (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic).
  • Advanced knowledge of vector databases, embeddings, semantic search, and information retrieval; domain expertise in legal, tax, accounting, or regulated industries (e.g., investigative or large-scale search platforms).
  • Track record of successful AI product launches and scaling AI systems to enterprise customers; experience with AI governance, model risk management, and regulatory compliance; publications, patents, or speaking experience in AI/ML.

#LI-ES1

What's in it For You?

  • Hybrid Work Model: We've adopted a flexible hybrid working environment (2-3 days a week in the office depending on the role) for our office-based roles while delivering a seamless experience that is digitally and physically connected.

  • Flexibility & Work-Life Balance: Flex My Way is a set of supportive workplace policies designed to help manage personal and professional responsibilities, whether caring for family, giving back to the community, or finding time to refresh and reset. This builds upon our flexible work arrangements, including work from anywhere for up to 8 weeks per year, empowering employees to achieve a better work-life balance.

  • Career Development and Growth: By fostering a culture of continuous learning and skill development, we prepare our talent to tackle tomorrow's challenges and deliver real-world solutions. Our Grow My Way programming and skills-first approach ensures you have the tools and knowledge to grow, lead, and thrive in an AI-enabled future.

  • Industry Competitive Benefits: We offer comprehensive benefit plans to include flexible vacation, two company-wide Mental Health Days off, access to the Headspace app, retirement savings, tuition reimbursement, employee incentive programs, and resources for mental, physical, and financial wellbeing.

  • Culture: Globally recognized, award-winning reputation for inclusion and belonging, flexibility, work-life balance, and more. We live by our values: Obsess over our Customers, Compete to Win, Challenge (Y)our Thinking, Act Fast / Learn Fast, and Stronger Together.

  • Social Impact: Make an impact in your community with our Social Impact Institute. We offer employees two paid volunteer days off annually and opportunities to get involved with pro-bono consulting projects and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives.

  • Making a Real-World Impact:We are one of the few companies globally that helps its customers pursue justice, truth, and transparency. Together, with the professionals and institutions we serve, we help uphold the rule of law, turn the wheels of commerce, catch bad actors, report the facts, and provide trusted, unbiased information to people all over the world.

In the United States, Thomson Reuters offers a comprehensive benefits package to our employees. Our benefit package includes market competitive health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance programs, as well as a competitive 401k plan with company match. In addition, Thomson Reuters offers market leading work life benefits with competitive vacation, sick and safe paid time off, paid holidays (including two company mental health days off), parental leave, sabbatical leave. These benefits meet or exceeds the requirements of paid time off in accordance with any applicable state or municipal laws. Finally, Thomson Reuters offers the following additional benefits: optional hospital, accident and sickness insurance paid 100% by the employee; optional life and AD&D insurance paid 100% by the employee; Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts; fitness reimbursement; access to Employee Assistance Program; Group Legal Identity Theft Protection benefit paid 100% by employee; access to 529 Plan; commuter benefits; Adoption & Surrogacy Assistance; Tuition Reimbursement; and access to Employee Stock Purchase Plan.Thomson Reuters complies with local laws that require upfront disclosure of the expected pay range for a position. The base compensation range varies across locations. For any eligible US locations, unless otherwise noted, the base compensation range for this role is $127,400 USD - $236,600 USD. Base pay is positioned within the range based on several factors including an individual's knowledge, skills and experience with consideration given to internal equity. Base pay is one part of a comprehensive Total Reward program which also includes flexible and supportive benefits and other wellbeing programs. This role may also be eligible for an Annual Bonus based on a combination of enterprise and individual performance.

About Us

Thomson Reuters informs the way forward by bringing together the trusted content and technology that people and organizations need to make the right decisions. We serve professionals across legal, tax, accounting, compliance, government, and media. Our products combine highly specialized software and insights to empower professionals with the data, intelligence, and solutions needed to make informed decisions, and to help institutions in their pursuit of justice, truth, and transparency. Reuters, part of Thomson Reuters, is a world leading provider of trusted journalism and news.

We are powered by the talents of 26,000 employees across more than 70 countries, where everyone has a chance to contribute and grow professionally in flexible work environments. At a time when objectivity, accuracy, fairness, and transparency are under attack, we consider it our duty to pursue them. Sound exciting? Join us and help shape the industries that move society forward.

As a global business, we rely on the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of all employees to deliver on our business goals. To ensure we can do that, we seek talented, qualified employees in all our operations around the world regardless of race, color, sex/gender, including pregnancy, gender identity and expression, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, citizen status, veteran status, or any other protected classification under applicable law. Thomson Reuters is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer providing a drug-free workplace.

Thomson Reuters makes reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities, including veterans with disabilities, and for sincerely held religious beliefs in accordance with applicable law. If you reside in the United States and require an accommodation in the recruiting process, you may contact our Human Resources Department atHR.Leave-Expert@thomsonreuters.com. Disability accommodations in the recruiting process may include things like a sign language interpreter, making interview rooms accessible, providing assistive technology, or other relevant accommodations. Please note this email is not intended for general recruitment questions and we will promptly respond to inquiries regarding accommodations. More information on requesting an accommodation here.

Learn more on how to protect yourself from fraudulent job postings here.

More information about Thomson Reuters can be found on thomsonreuters.com


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