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Principal Engineer Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

$98K - $128K/yr

Principal Engineer * Manages capital and expense projects ensuring sustainable growth of site automation technologies. * Maintains building automation system including lifecycle management ...

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Principal Engineer information

See Michigan salary details

$64.5K

$128.3K

$185.2K

How much do principal engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 8, 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.

What are the most commonly searched types of Principal Engineer jobs in Michigan?

The most popular types of Principal Engineer jobs in Michigan are:

What job categories do people searching Principal Engineer jobs in Michigan look for?

The top searched job categories for Principal Engineer jobs in Michigan are:

What cities in Michigan are hiring for Principal Engineer jobs?

Cities in Michigan with the most Principal Engineer job openings:

What are popular job titles related to Principal Engineer jobs in MI?

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

Infographic showing various Principal Engineer job openings in Michigan as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 89% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $128,316 per year, or $61.7 per hour.

Principal Agentic Engineer - Remote - USA

Lansing, MI • On-site, Remote

FullStack Labs
IT Services • 11 - 50 employees

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 12 days ago


Job description

About FullStack
FullStack is your AI-native engineering partner, built to turn AI capability into certainty. Most companies can demo AI; few can get it to production and prove what it produced. We close that gap with three capabilities, AI built into your products from the start, elite vetted talent who apply it, and transparent execution that shows value every step of the way. With now over 600 customers in North America, FullStack is one integrated partner for all your AI engineering needs. With FullStack, you move forward with confidence.
We're most proud of:
  • Offering life-changing career opportunities to talented software professionals across the Americas.
  • Building highly-skilled software development teams for hundreds of the world's greatest companies.
  • Having delivered hundreds of successful custom software solutions, which have positively impacted the lives and careers of millions of users.
  • Our 4.1-star rating on GlassDoor.
  • Our client Net Promoter Score of 68, twice the industry average.

The Position
We're looking to hire a Principal Agentic Engineer to join our team. This is a high-impact, client-facing role designed for a "plus-plus" version of a developer, someone who doesn't just build, but defines the architecture of how global enterprises adopt agentic workflows. You will serve as a strategic consultant and technical lead, helping regulated industries and Fortune 500 clients transition from traditional development to AI-augmented engineering productivity.
What We Are Looking For
  • 8-10+ years of professional software development experience with a deep understanding of full-stack architectures (e.g., Java, Python, C#, React, Node, React Native, etc.).
  • Advanced English is required.
  • Successful completion of a four-year college degree is required.
  • Proven experience as a Solution Architect or Principal Engineer, with the ability to assess current engineering states and define roadmaps for implementing agentic solutions.
  • Deep fluency in Agentic Tooling like Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, or GitHub Copilot, specifically within agentic workflows that coordinate implementation across large, multi-file systems.
  • Ability to engage with engineering leadership (CTOs, VPs of Engineering) to defend architectural decisions, consult on industry best practices, and measure ROI/Developer Productivity (Cycle Time, Lead Time).
  • Experience designing development processes where AI systems generate the majority of implementation code, while maintaining rigorous human-in-the-loop validation.
  • Strong skills in structuring codebases and specifications to produce reliable, context-efficient AI output.
  • Exceptional soft skills; ability to walk clients through complex proposals and represent the FullStack team with confidence.
  • Forensic attention to detail.
  • A positive mindset and a can-do attitude.
  • Experience working on Agile / Scrum teams.
  • Meaningful experience working on large, complex systems.
  • Ability to take extreme ownership of your work. Every day is a challenge to ensure you are performing to the expectations you and your team have agreed upon.
  • Ability to identify with the goals of FullStack's clients, and dedicate yourself to delivering on the commitments you and your team make to them.
  • Ability to consistently work 40 hours per week.

What We Offer
  • Competitive Salary.
  • Paid Time Off (vacation, sick leave. parental leave, and holidays).
  • 100% remote work.
  • The ability to work with leading startups and Fortune 500 companies.
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance.
  • 401(k) w/ 4% match.
  • Ample opportunity for career advancement.
  • Continuing education opportunities.

FullStack is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status.
Learn more about our Applicants Privacy Notice .

FullStack Labs logo

About FullStack Labs

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

FullStack Labs is the fastest-growing software consultancy in the Americas. We help organizations like Uber, GoDaddy, MGM, Siemens, Stanford University, and the State of California, build distributed software development teams, and deliver transformational digital solutions. As an employee-first company, we focus on hiring the most talented software designers and developers in the western hemisphere, by creating a positive, respectful, and supportive work environment where they can achieve their greatest potential.

Industry

It services

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Sacramento, CA, US

Year founded

2013

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