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Principal Engineer Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Principal DevOps Engineer

Auburn Hills, MI ยท On-site

$50 - $68.50/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 ...

$98K - $128K/yr

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

Principal Engineer Requirements * BS degree in construction-related engineering (engineering management, civil, mechanical, etc.) or related field from accredited engineering school and four to seven ...

Showing results 41-60

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 18, 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 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.

Principal AI/ML Engineer (Cybersecurity & AIOps)

Ford Pro

Dearborn, MI โ€ข On-site

$132.80 - $250.80/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

This job post hasย expired today.ย Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

Principal AI/ML Engineer (Cybersecurity & AIOps)

Dearborn, MI, United States (Hybrid)

Job Description

The Principal Engineer โ€“ AIOps role at EPEO requires 12+ years of experience in AI/ML and software engineering with strong skills in Python, SQL, and cloud platforms. This position focuses on designing and deploying advanced AI/ML solutions for Security (Cyber & Identity Management), network analytics, enterprise risk detection and thus strengthening the security posture across Ford skill teams such as ET, Credit, Ford Pro, AV, EV, Industrial systems, Ford PDO's etc.

As a Principal AI Engineer, you will serve as a strategic technical leader responsible for the vision, architecture, and execution of AI/ML initiatives across the enterprise. You will bridge the gap between complex data science and missionโ€‘critical security operations, designing intelligent systems that detect risks, optimize network performance, and automate threat response. This is a highโ€‘impact leadership role requiring a blend of handsโ€‘on engineering excellence, architectural oversight, and the ability to influence crossโ€‘functional stakeholders.

Responsibilities
  • Lead the design, development, and deployment of advanced AI/ML solutions focused on cybersecurity, network analytics, and enterprise risk detection.
  • Build and operationalize machine learning models, including anomaly detection, predictive analytics, and classification systems for security and network use cases.
  • Drive the implementation of Generative AI and Agentic AI solutions to enhance automation, threat intelligence, and decisionโ€‘making workflows.
  • Collaborate with cybersecurity, network engineering, and IAM teams to identify opportunities for AIโ€‘driven optimization and risk mitigation.
  • Architect endโ€‘toโ€‘end ML pipelines, ensuring scalability, reliability, and integration with enterprise systems.
  • Work handsโ€‘on with data ingestion, preprocessing, feature engineering, and model tuning to deliver productionโ€‘grade solutions.
  • Translate complex technical outcomes into business insights using dashboards and visualizations (e.g., Power BI) for stakeholders and leadership.
Qualifications
  • Bachelorโ€™s or Masterโ€™s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or related field.
  • 12+ years of experience in software engineering, data science, or AI/ML solution delivery.
  • Proven experience in designing, building, and deploying scalable AI/ML solutions in enterprise environments.
  • Strong programming skills in Python and proficiency in SQL.
  • Handsโ€‘on experience in machine learning model development, evaluation, and deployment.
  • Working knowledge of cybersecurity concepts, network architectures, and Identity & Access Management (IAM).
  • Experience with data visualization tools such as Power BI or equivalent.
  • Familiarity with Agile tools such as JIRA.
  • Exposure to cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, or GCP) and MLOps practices.
  • Strong problemโ€‘solving, stakeholder management, and communication skills.
Benefits
  • Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage.
  • Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent rampโ€‘up programs, subsidized backโ€‘up child care and more.
  • Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments and more.
  • Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases.
  • Tuition assistance.
  • Established and active employee resource groups.
  • Paid time off for community service.
  • A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Yearโ€™s Day.
  • Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.
Compensation

This position is leadership level 6 and ranges from $132,800 to $250,800. Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidateโ€™s skills and experience.

Visa Sponsorship

Visa sponsorship is available for this position.

Equal Opportunity

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1โ€‘888โ€‘336โ€‘0660.

Hybrid Work

This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week.

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