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Principal Software Engineer Jobs in Detroit, MI (NOW HIRING)

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Principal Software Engineer

Ann Arbor, MI · Hybrid

$132K - $177K/yr

Principal Software Engineer The global capital markets are among the largest markets in the world valued at $50T+ and growing. Transactions in these markets are complex. Critical, nuanced legal terms ...

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Principal Engineer

Ann Arbor, MI · Hybrid

As a Principal Software Engineer focused on Cloud Cost Optimization, you will be the embedded, go-to expert within [Product] engineering for how cloud and AI/model spend is tracked, forecast, and ...

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Principal Engineer

Ann Arbor, MI · On-site

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will set the technical direction for the backend, AI orchestration, and identity systems that turn frontier models into reliable, secure, production-grade ...

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Principal Engineer

Ann Arbor, MI · On-site

As a Principal Software Engineer focused on Security & Compliance, you will set the technical direction for how CoCounsel earns and maintains the trust of law firms, corporate legal departments, and ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsPrincipal Software Engineer JobsPrincipal Software Engineer Jobs in Detroit, MI

Principal Software Engineer information

See Detroit, MI salary details

$59.9K

$159.3K

$228.7K

How much do principal software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal software engineer in Detroit, MI is $159,321.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $133,600.00 and $179,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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.

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.

What is a 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.

How much does a principal software engineer get paid?

A principal software engineer typically earns between $120,000 and $180,000 annually in the United States, with salaries varying based on experience, location, and company size. They often have advanced skills in software architecture, leadership, and technical expertise in programming languages and tools.
More about Principal Software Engineer jobs
What are popular job titles related to Principal Software Engineer jobs in Detroit, MI? For Principal Software Engineer jobs in Detroit, MI, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Principal Software Engineer jobs in Detroit, MI look for? The top searched job categories for Principal Software Engineer jobs in Detroit, MI are:
What cities near Detroit, MI are hiring for Principal Software Engineer jobs? Cities near Detroit, MI with the most Principal Software Engineer job openings:
Principal Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Software Engineer job openings in Detroit, MI as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $159,321 per year, or $76.6 per hour.

Principal Software Engineer- Onsite

Eccalon LLC

Detroit, MI

$127K - $171K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 12 days ago

Job description

Principal Software Engineer

Location: Detroit, MI- Onsite

Type: Full-time

Security Clearance: No clearance required, must be clearable.

Job Description

We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to provide technical leadership across complex, large-scale software systems. This role is for a highly experienced engineer who drives architecture, influences technical strategy, and solves the organization’s most challenging engineering problems. The Principal Software Engineer operates with broad scope and autonomy, partnering closely with engineering leadership, product, and business stakeholders to ensure systems are scalable, reliable, and aligned with long-term company goals.

Responsibilities

  • Technical Leadership & Architecture
    • Define and evolve system architectures across multiple teams or domains
    • Lead design of large-scale, distributed, and mission-critical systems
    • Establish and enforce technical standards, best practices, and design principles
    • Drive long-term technical vision and architectural consistency
  • Complex Problem Solving
    • Tackle the most complex technical challenges across the organization
    • Evaluate trade-offs across performance, reliability, scalability, security, and cost
    • Lead root-cause analysis of major system issues and outages
    • Guide modernization and refactoring of legacy systems
  • Cross-Team Impact
    • Influence technical direction across multiple teams and initiatives
    • Partner with product and leadership on roadmap feasibility and system constraints
    • Act as a technical advisor to senior engineers, managers, and executives
    • Review and guide high-risk or high-impact technical decisions
  • Mentorship & Engineering Excellence
    • Mentor senior and mid-level engineers
    • Elevate engineering quality through design reviews and code reviews
    • Share knowledge through documentation, talks, and technical forums
    • Model a culture of ownership, quality, and technical rigor

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
  • 8+ years of professional software engineering experience
  • Demonstrated impact designing and operating large-scale production systems
  • Strong proficiency in one or more programming languages such as Java, Python, Go, JavaScript/TypeScript, C#, or similar
  • Deep understanding of system design, distributed systems, and software architecture
  • Experience leading technical initiatives across teams
  • Experience building distributed, cloud-native, or high-availability systems
  • Expertise with APIs, microservices, messaging, and data-intensive systems
  • Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
  • Strong understanding of CI/CD, observability, reliability, and security practices
  • Background in performance optimization and scalability planning

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Eccalon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

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About Eccalon

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

We are a cross-functional collective of innovative minds that leverages technology to tackle the most challenging problems of this generation for clients, the nation, and the world. Eccalon fosters creativity, curiosity, and imagination across all departments and divisions to pioneer new ideas, products, and services. We advance innovation.​

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Hanover, MD, US

Year founded

2017

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