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Principal Engineer Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Dematic

Software Principal Engineer

Grand Rapids, MI · On-site

$129K - $174K/yr

Dematic Corp. is seeking a Software Principal Engineer to join their Lifecycle Solutions & Services Modernizations and Upgrades group. The role involves providing technical guidance and support to ...

HARMAN International

Principal Engineer, AI

Novi, MI · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

R-54305-2026 Description & Requirements About the Role As the Principal AI Engineer, you will act as the technical leader for AI solution design, implementation, and operationalization across Harman ...

Socket.dev

MI · On-site

$140 - $210/hr

The Principal Engineer provides deep subject-matter expertise, leads complex development efforts, and mentors engineering teams to ensure product performance, reliability, and manufacturability.

ExpertHiring

Principal Engineer #ESF7061

Kalamazoo, MI

$110K - $130K/yr

Fosters a culture of innovation where engineers actively contribute to advanced aerospace solutions! The collaborative environment and focus on safety create a balanced and supportive workplace! Job ...

Mars

Principal Project Engineer

Kalamazoo, MI · On-site

Principal Project Engineer The Principal Project Engineer will be a project manager for the larger and more complex projects executed by the Processing or Packaging team. This position will be ...

Cadence Inc

Principal Customer Service Engineer

Livonia, MI · On-site

$92K - $171K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Principal Customer Service Engineer (Principal CSE) Cadence's Physical Systems Design & Analysis group is seeking a Principal Customer Service Engineer (Principal CSE) to support our Finite Element ...

ExpertHiring

Principal Engineer #ESF7061

Kalamazoo, MI · On-site

$120 - $160/hr

Fosters a culture of innovation where engineers actively contribute to advanced aerospace solutions! The collaborative environment and focus on safety create a balanced and supportive workplace! Job ...

Stellantis

Principal DevOps Engineer

Auburn Hills, MI · On-site

$50 - $68.50/hr

The Principal Engineer collaborates with internal stakeholders and engineering teams to ensure that DevOps platforms are robust, secure, and optimized for performance. Key Responsibilities: * DevOps ...

DTE Energy

Principal Engineer - Underground

Detroit, MI · On-site

Job Summary Senior level engineer responsible for planning and conducting intermediate to more complex engineering related activities requiring the use of creative techniques, as well as application ...

Actalent

Principal BMS Engineer

Ann Arbor, MI

$57 - $96.15/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Principal BMS Engineer We are seeking a Principal Battery Management System (BMS) Engineer to provide technical leadership, architectural ownership, and long-term stewardship of advanced BMS ...

BoehringerPRD

The Senior Principal Engineer, Process will serve as a process-specific Subject Matter Expert (SME) for one or more aspects of the aseptic manufacturing process, including but not limited to Active ...

Actalent

Principal BMS Engineer

Detroit, MI

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Principal BMS Engineer The Principal Battery Management System (BMS) Engineer provides technical leadership, architectural ownership, and long-term stewardship of advanced battery management ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsPrincipal Engineer JobsPrincipal Engineer Jobs in Michigan

Principal Engineer information

See Michigan salary details

$64.5K

$128.3K

$185.2K

How much do principal engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal engineer in Michigan is $128,316.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $103,300.00 and $150,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a principal engineer?

A principal engineer oversees the research, development, and design of engineering projects for a company or organization. These engineering experts are leaders in their industries and need an advanced understanding of their discipline to manage projects and guide team members. As a principal engineer, your job duties include creating budgets, negotiating with vendors, and delegating work. You may also train staff members, set project deadlines, and work to improve engineering application processes.

How does a principal engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive project success?

Principal Engineers play a key role in collaborating with cross-functional teams, such as product management, design, and operations, to ensure technical solutions align with business objectives. They often lead architectural discussions, mentor team members, and facilitate communication between engineering and non-engineering stakeholders. This collaboration helps identify potential challenges early, streamline development processes, and deliver high-quality products. Additionally, Principal Engineers are often involved in setting technical standards and guiding teams through complex problem-solving.

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

To thrive as a Principal Engineer, you need deep technical expertise in your engineering discipline, strong problem-solving abilities, and typically an advanced degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with complex software development tools, architectural frameworks, and industry certifications like AWS Certified Solutions Architect or relevant PE licenses is common. Exceptional leadership, communication, and mentorship skills help Principal Engineers guide teams and influence project direction. These competencies are essential for driving innovation, ensuring technical excellence, and delivering large-scale, high-impact solutions.

What is the difference between Principal Engineer vs Senior Engineer?

AspectPrincipal EngineerSenior Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires 8+ years of experience, advanced technical skills, and often leadership or mentorship experienceUsually requires 3-7 years of experience with strong technical skills
Work EnvironmentLeads complex projects, influences technical strategy, collaborates across teamsFocuses on executing technical tasks, supporting project development, and mentoring junior staff
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in large tech companies, engineering firms, and organizations with advanced technical hierarchiesWidely used across industries for experienced technical contributors

The main difference between a Principal Engineer and a Senior Engineer lies in their level of responsibility, experience, and influence. Principal Engineers typically lead complex projects and shape technical strategies, while Senior Engineers focus on executing technical tasks and supporting team efforts. Both roles require strong technical skills, but Principal Engineers often have more leadership and strategic responsibilities.

How much does a principal engineer get paid?

A principal engineer's salary typically ranges from $120,000 to $180,000 annually, depending on experience, industry, and location. They often have advanced technical skills, leadership responsibilities, and may receive bonuses or stock options as part of compensation.

What do principal engineers do?

Principal engineers are senior technical leaders responsible for designing, developing, and overseeing complex engineering projects. They provide technical guidance, set standards, and collaborate with teams to ensure the successful implementation of solutions, often using tools like CAD, programming languages, or engineering software. They typically have extensive experience and may mentor junior staff while contributing to strategic planning.
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What are the most commonly searched types of Principal Engineer jobs in Michigan?

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For Principal Engineer jobs in Michigan, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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Principal Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Engineer job openings in Michigan as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 6% Part Time, 2% Temporary, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 85% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $128,316 per year, or $61.7 per hour.

Software Principal Engineer

Dematic

Grand Rapids, MI • On-site

$129K - $174K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 7 days ago

Dematic rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

155th of 490 rated machine equipment manufacturers

Job description

Job Summary:
Dematic Corp. is seeking a Software Principal Engineer to join their Lifecycle Solutions & Services Modernizations and Upgrades group. The role involves providing technical guidance and support to project teams, leading system and software design, and ensuring operational stability during customer rollouts.
Responsibilities:
• Lead end‑to‑end system and software design for customer solutions, including architecture definition, technical specifications, and design reviews.
• Develop high‑complexity software components (C, VB.NET, C#) while providing technical oversight and mentoring to other engineers.
• Direct database architecture and development, including schema design, performance optimization, and complex data migrations (MSSQL, Oracle).
• Serve as the primary technical interface for customers—participating in requirement discussions, presenting designs, and guiding technical decisions.
• Lead system integration efforts across software, equipment, and on‑site systems; oversee FAT activities, demos, and customer acceptance testing.
• Manage on‑site commissioning and validation, ensuring full system functionality and resolving complex issues.
• Oversee deployment planning and execution for production changes, including backend updates, database changes, and GUI package releases.
• Provide expert‑level go‑live support and ensure operational stability during customer rollout.
• Mentor and develop engineering team members through guidance on design principles, coding standards, and technical best practices.
• Responsible for developing, upgrading, retrofitting, testing and integrating various software warehouse logistics solutions efficiently to implement the required software solutions.
• Balance and work on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Diagnose customer issues on new and existing projects.
• Assist in the development of solutions to upgrade existing systems.
• Communicate with customers and external team members on project requirements and solutions.
• Provide engineering support as required.
• Resolve incompatibility issues with older software on new hardware.
• Upgrade existing software to newer versions.
• Collaborate with highly cross-functional, Agile teams to build out new customer features and functionality.
• Improve internal processes to make code deployment easier, faster and more consistent.
• Play a critical role in system design, architecture, and execution.
• Travel across North America to customer sites to validate system functionality and testing (up to approximately 20%)
Qualifications:
Required:
• BS in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related discipline
• At least 15+ years' experience in similar position in the industry
• Working knowledge required in: Windows Server configurations, VMWare, HyperV, Java, database (ORACLE and MS SQL-Sever), Visual Basic, and C++; C#, Java Script
• Excellent communication and customer service mindset
• Organization, analytical, reasoning and problem solving.
• Maintaining accurate and detailed records
• Excellent team and communications skills
• May provide technical assistance to support staff and other employees.
• Passion for problem solving and executing with excellence.
• Knowledge of industrial automation.
Company:
Dematic is a global leader providing a comprehensive range of intelligent intralogistics and materials handling solutions. It is a sub-organization of KION GROUP. Founded in 1819, the company is headquartered in Atlanta, USA, with a team of 10001+ employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

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