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Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Kiongroup

Software Principal Engineer

Grand Rapids, MI · On-site

$129.70K - $173.80K/yr

Dematic Corp. has a need for a Software Principal Engineer in our Lifecyle Solutions & Services Modernizations and Upgrades (LSS MU) group. The ideal candidate will have experience working in the ...

Kiongroup

Software Principal Engineer

Grand Rapids, MI

$129.70K - $173.80K/yr

Dematic Corp. has a need for a Software Principal Engineer in our Lifecyle Solutions & Services Modernizations and Upgrades (LSS MU) group. The ideal candidate will have experience working in the ...

Kion Group AG

Software Principal Engineer

Grand Rapids, MI · On-site

$129.70K - $173.80K/yr

Dematic Corp. has a need for a Software Principal Engineer in our Lifecyle Solutions & Services Modernizations and Upgrades (LSS MU) group. The ideal candidate will have experience working in the ...

Amway Inc.

Principal Software Developer

Ada, MI

$138.50K - $171.09K/yr

Principal Software Engineer & Full-Cycle Integration Architect Department / Division: Enterprise Integrations / Technology Pay Range: $138,503/yr - $171,092/yr plus bonus Location: Ada, MI (Onsite ...

Utilidata

Principal Software Engineer, DevOps

Ann Arbor, MI · On-site +1

$180K - $210K/yr

... SRE, or distributed systems, with clear senior or principal-level impact * Experience designing and operating infrastructure across on-premises and cloud environments * Strong proficiency in ...

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$52.7K

$140.3K

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How much do principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of May 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Michigan is $140,271.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $117,700.00 and $157,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Is Principal Software Engineer?

A principal software engineer is in charge of software development. In this career, you guide the software design process and inspect software programs to make suggestions for improvements. Principal software engineers also process complex data and may need to enforce software design, development, and maintenance requirements. Your job requires a high level of technical knowledge and skills and a thorough understanding of the software development process. Your employer may require you to have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in software development. Similar job titles include software architect and principal software developer.

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

To thrive as a Principal Software Engineer, you need deep expertise in software architecture, programming languages, and system design, often supported by a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science or a related field. Advanced proficiency with development frameworks, cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure), and familiarity with DevOps tools and agile methodologies are typically required. Exceptional leadership, mentorship, and communication skills help facilitate cross-functional collaboration and guide technical teams. These skills are crucial for driving technical vision, ensuring scalable solutions, and fostering innovation within complex projects.

How does a Principal Software Engineer typically balance hands-on coding with leadership responsibilities?

Principal Software Engineers often split their time between technical contributions—such as designing system architecture and reviewing complex code—and guiding teams through mentorship, technical direction, and cross-functional collaboration. While they may not code as much as junior engineers, they remain highly involved in critical implementations and code reviews. Balancing these responsibilities requires strong time management, clear communication, and the ability to prioritize tasks that have the highest impact on project and team success.

What are Principal Software Engineers?

Principal Software Engineers are highly experienced technical leaders responsible for designing, developing, and overseeing complex software systems. They set technical direction, mentor engineering teams, and often collaborate with stakeholders to align technology solutions with business goals. In addition to coding, they play a key role in establishing best practices, reviewing architectural decisions, and ensuring high-quality software delivery. Their expertise and leadership are critical in driving innovation and maintaining technical excellence within an organization.

What is the difference between Principal Software Engineer vs Senior Software Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Software EngineerSenior Software Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in CS or related field; extensive experienceBachelor's or Master's in CS; several years of experience
Work EnvironmentLeadership roles, strategic planning, cross-team collaborationDesign, develop, and troubleshoot software; mentorship
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, large enterprises, startupsMost industries, including tech, finance, healthcare

The main difference between a Principal Software Engineer and a Senior Software Engineer lies in their level of responsibility and scope. Principal Software Engineers typically lead technical strategy, influence architecture decisions, and mentor multiple teams, whereas Senior Software Engineers focus on coding, design, and individual project contributions. Both roles require strong technical skills, but the Principal role emphasizes leadership and strategic impact.

More about Principal Software Engineer jobs
What are popular job titles related to Principal Software Engineer jobs in Michigan? For Principal Software Engineer jobs in Michigan, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Principal Software Engineer jobs in Michigan look for? The top searched job categories for Principal Software Engineer jobs in Michigan are:
What cities in Michigan are hiring for Principal Software Engineer jobs? Cities in Michigan with the most Principal Software Engineer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Principal Software Engineer jobs in MI? For Principal Software Engineer jobs in MI, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Principal Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Software Engineer job openings in Michigan as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 9% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $140,271 per year, or $67.4 per hour.
Principal Software Engineer - Image Signal Processing

Principal Software Engineer - Image Signal Processing

Magna

Southfield, MI • On-site

$123.80K - $166K/yr

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago

Job description

Job descriptions may display in multiple languages based on your language selection.
What we offer:
At Magna, you can expect an engaging and dynamic environment where you can help to develop industry-leading automotive technologies. We invest in our employees, providing them with the support and resources they need to succeed. As a member of our global team, you can expect exciting, varied responsibilities as well as a wide range of development prospects. Because we believe that your career path should be as unique as you are.
Group Summary:
Transforming mobility. Making automotive technology that is smarter, cleaner, safer and lighter. That's what we're passionate about at Magna Electronics, and we do it by creating world-class Electronic systems. We are a premier supplier for the global automotive industry with full capabilities in design, development, testing and manufacturing of complex Electronic systems. Our name stands for quality, environmental consciousness, and safety. Innovation is what drives us and we drive innovation. Dream big and create the future of mobility at Magna Electronics.
Job Responsibilities:
The Principal Software Engineer is responsible for developing embedded software including design and development for safety critical automotive computer vision-based applications. The candidate must have programming experience with GPU, ARM architecture, OpenGL ES, OpenVX, C/C++ on QNX or Linux operating systems, develop the software for Image Signal Processing (ISP), using a formal software process model like ASPICE.
Your Responsibilities
  • Development (design, implement, test and debug) of core and/or application specific software requirements for automotive embedded electronic module serial production projects
  • Develop software in compliance with a formal ASPICE/Comma based Global Engineering Process (GEP)
  • Perform work assignments as a highly competent software engineer, requiring independent design, implementation and testing of the software components.
  • Interface with product development teams located in various geographical locations
  • Ability to adapt to changing software release schedules and multitask in a fast-paced environment
  • Real-time embedded software using C++ for 32/64-bit multicore SoC/microcontrollers
  • Experience programming for ISPs, GPUs optimally for both compute and visualization tasks
  • Strong understanding of Image Quality Metrics and Test Patterns, camera MTF tests
  • Camera image quality tuning for Automotive applications like Internal cabin, external cameras, Machine Vision, Human Vision, etc.
  • Experience with OS/BSP, Camera device driver development
  • Experience with design, implement, test and debug of embedded software for automotive electronic modules
  • Experience with developing software in compliance with a formal ASPICE based Global Engineering Process (GEP)
  • Hardware/Software (HW/SW) integration, Software configuration management, Full software life-cycle development
  • ISO26262 Functional safety software development experience
  • Ability to successfully contribute to multi-disciplined team.

Who we are looking for
Education
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering / Software Engineering / Electrical Engineering / Computer Science or equivalent (Master's preferred)

Experience
  • 5 years or more relevant experience for development Camera drivers, ISP tuning, etc. software development.

Awareness, Unity, Empowerment:
At Magna, we believe that a diverse workforce is critical to our success. That's why we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We hire on the basis of experience and qualifications, and in consideration of job requirements, regardless of, in particular, color, ancestry, religion, gender, origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability or gender identity. Magna takes the privacy of your personal information seriously. We discourage you from sending applications via email or traditional mail to comply with GDPR requirements and your local Data Privacy Law.
AI-Assisted Screening Disclosure
As part of our commitment to a fair, consistent, and efficient recruitment process, we may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the initial screening of applications submitted through our Workday system. These tools help identify qualifications and experience that align with the role requirements. Please note that AI is used solely to support our recruiters. Final decisions are always made by the hiring manager and the hiring team. Importantly, no applicant data is shared externally through these AI tools. All information remains securely within our systems and is handled in accordance with our privacy and data protection policies.
Under conditions defined by applicable law, you may have the right to request an explanation of how AI is used to support decision-making.
If you have any questions or concerns about this process, feel free to contact our Talent Attraction team.
Worker Type:
Regular / Permanent
Group:
Magna Electronics

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