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Senior Software Engineer Startup Jobs in Michigan

Groundedrvs

Senior Software Engineer

Detroit, MI · On-site

$120 - $170/hr

Senior Software Engineer -- Grounded Detroit, MI (in-person) About Grounded Grounded is a 25-person Detroit-based startup building modular electric platforms for specialty vehicles. We take cab ...

RPM

Senior Software Engineer

Birmingham, MI · On-site

$116K - $154K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Senior Software Engineer RPM is an international non-asset-based logistics and supply chain solutions company. Our focus is to provide customizable solutions tailored to support today's complex ...

General Motors

Senior Software Engineer

Milford, MI · Hybrid

$107K - $142K/yr

Five (5) year of experience as a Senior Technical Embedded Software Engineering, Technical Leader, Project Lead, Senior Software Engineer, or related occupation. OR Master's degree in Mechanical ...

RPM

Senior Software Engineer

Birmingham, MI · On-site

$116K - $154K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Senior Software Engineer RPM is an international non-asset-based logistics and supply chain solutions company. Our focus is to provide customizable solutions tailored to support today's complex ...

Eccalon LLC

Senior Software Engineer - onsite

Detroit, MI

$116K - $153K/yr

We are seeking an experienced Senior Software Engineer to lead the design and development of scalable, reliable software systems. This role is ideal for an engineer who can operate independently, own ...

Barrett Solutions

Senior Software Engineer

Ann Arbor, MI · On-site

$119K - $158K/yr

They are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to work directly with client environments to strengthen architecture and improve scalability and security. Responsibilities : • work directly inside ...

Stefanini, Inc

Sr Software Engineer

Southfield, MI · On-site

$110 - $150/hr

Job Details SoftwareEngineer Sr Software Engineer Southfield,MI Posted:8/5/2026 Job ID#: 64553 Job Category: SoftwareEngineer Remaining Positions: 1 Details: Stefanini, Inc. seeks a Software Engineer ...

New

Actalent

Senior Software Engineer

Sterling Heights, MI

$52.29/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Senior Software Engineer We are seeking a dedicated Senior Software Engineer to support advanced munitions programs within a leading defense organization. This role involves hands-on embedded ...

SkySpecs

Senior Software Engineer

Ann Arbor, MI · On-site

$100 - $130/hr

Senior Software Engineer What will I be getting myself into? As a Senior Software Engineer, you will help shape the future of our Horizon platform and the way we build software. Horizon is the ...

BrainGu

Senior Software Engineer

Grand Rapids, MI · On-site +1

$110K - $160K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

This Senior Software Engineer position requires a deep commitment to excellence in engineering, driving innovation across the development lifecycle to meet critical mission objectives. By ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsSoftware Engineer Startup JobsSenior Software Engineer Startup JobsSenior Software Engineer Startup Jobs in Michigan

Senior Software Engineer Startup information

See Michigan salary details

$65.8K

$124.9K

$167.3K

How much do senior software engineer startup jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior software engineer startup in Michigan is $124,892.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $106,800.00 and $140,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a senior software engineer do at a startup?

A Senior Software Engineer at a startup is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining the core software products or services. They often take on a broad range of tasks, including coding, code reviews, system architecture, and mentoring junior team members. In a startup environment, they may also contribute to product decisions, help set technical direction, and quickly adapt to changing priorities. Their role is critical in building scalable, reliable solutions while fostering innovation and collaboration within a small, fast-paced team.

What are some unique challenges senior software engineers face when working at a startup compared to a larger company?

Senior Software Engineers at startups often navigate a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment where priorities can shift quickly. Unlike at larger organizations with established processes and specialized teams, startup engineers may wear multiple hats, handling everything from architecture decisions to hands-on coding and even DevOps tasks. This role typically requires a high degree of autonomy and the ability to make impactful technical decisions with limited resources. The collaborative nature means frequent interaction with product managers, designers, and often even company leadership, creating opportunities for broad influence but also demanding strong communication and adaptability.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior software engineer at a startup, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Software Engineer at a startup, you need advanced programming abilities, architectural design experience, and a solid understanding of software development lifecycles, typically backed by a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with modern frameworks, cloud platforms (like AWS or Azure), version control systems (such as Git), and agile methodologies is essential, with certifications in relevant technologies being advantageous. Strong problem-solving, adaptability, and effective communication skills help you navigate the dynamic startup environment and mentor junior team members. These skills are crucial to rapidly building scalable solutions, driving innovation, and supporting business growth in a fast-paced and often ambiguous setting.

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

AspectSenior Software Engineer StartupSoftware Engineer Startup
Required CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in CS or related field, 3+ years experienceBachelor's in CS or related field, 0-2 years experience
Work EnvironmentFast-paced startup, leadership responsibilities, mentorshipCollaborative team, learning-focused, entry-level to mid-level tasks
Employer & Industry UsageTech startups, scale-ups, innovative projectsEarly-stage startups, product development teams
Common Search & ComparisonHigher responsibility, technical expertise, leadershipLearning opportunities, foundational skills, growth potential

The main difference between a Senior Software Engineer Startup and a Software Engineer Startup lies in experience, responsibilities, and leadership. Senior Software Engineers typically have more experience, take on mentorship roles, and handle complex projects, while Software Engineers are often in entry to mid-level positions focused on skill development and supporting team tasks.

How much does a senior software engineer startup make?

A senior software engineer at a startup typically earns between $100,000 and $160,000 annually, depending on location, experience, and company size. Compensation may also include stock options or equity, especially in early-stage startups, and often requires proficiency in programming languages like Python, Java, or JavaScript.

Is there a shortage of senior software engineers?

There is a high demand for senior software engineers across many industries due to the ongoing need for advanced technical skills, experience with programming languages like Java, Python, and cloud platforms, and leadership abilities. This demand often results in competitive salaries and opportunities, especially for those with strong problem-solving skills and experience in fast-paced startup environments.

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

The most popular types of Software Engineer Startup jobs in Michigan are:

What are popular job titles related to Senior Software Engineer Startup jobs in Michigan?

For Senior Software Engineer Startup jobs in Michigan, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Software Engineer Startup jobs in Michigan look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Software Engineer Startup jobs in Michigan are:

What cities in Michigan are hiring for Senior Software Engineer Startup jobs?

Cities in Michigan with the most Senior Software Engineer Startup job openings:

Senior Software Engineer Startup jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Software Engineer Startup job openings in Michigan as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 66% In-person, and 34% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $124,892 per year, or $60 per hour.

Senior Software Engineer

Groundedrvs

Detroit, MI • On-site

$120 - $170/hr

Other

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

Senior Software Engineer — Grounded

Detroit, MI (in-person)

About Grounded

Grounded is a 25-person Detroit-based startup building modular electric platforms for specialty vehicles. We take cab chassis from OEMs like Ford and Harbinger and build configurable vehicle systems on top, serving mobile healthcare, RVs, command centers, food and beverage, pet care, and more. Our customers include Colgate, Nokia, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and Portland PD. We've raised ~$5M in VC funding and are shipping vehicles in market today.

We also build our own software: a mobile app, fleet dashboard, and onboard computer system that lets customers monitor and control vehicle systems remotely. We design, fabricate, and assemble everything in-house at our facility in Corktown.

The Role

We're hiring a senior software engineer to build the software that makes a Grounded vehicle smart: our mobile app, fleet dashboard, and onboard computer system that let customers monitor and control their vehicles remotely. You'll also help us tackle our biggest internal challenge — automating the design and manufacturing workflow so we can scale mass customization (parametric design, dynamic BOM generation, automated work instructions, and a customer-facing configurator).

It's a broad, full-stack role at a hardware company: from onboard systems and telemetry, to the app and dashboard customers use every day, to internal tools that let a salesperson configure a vehicle without an engineer touching it.

What you'd actually do
  • Build and own features across our mobile app, fleet dashboard, and onboard computer / telemetry system
  • Design the data models and APIs that connect vehicles in the field to the dashboard and app
  • Build internal tooling to automate design-to-manufacturing: programmatic/parametric CAD generation, dynamic BOMs, automated work instructions, and a configurator
  • Work closely with mechanical and electrical engineers to turn physical systems into software (sensors, controls, monitoring)
  • Own features end to end — design, build, ship, and iterate on real customer and shop-floor feedback
  • Make pragmatic architecture decisions for a small team moving fast
What we're looking for
  • 7+ years building and shipping production software, full-stack
  • Strong in a modern web stack (e.g. React/TypeScript, Node, a relational database) and comfortable across frontend, backend, and APIs
  • Pragmatic and product-minded; you can own ambiguous problems end to end
  • Comfortable working at the hardware/software boundary — telemetry, devices, or IoT
  • Startup or small-company experience strongly preferred: you ship, you own, you don't need layers of process
Nice-to-haves
  • Embedded / IoT / fleet telemetry experience
  • Experience with CAD automation, parametric design, or CPQ/configurator systems
  • Cloud infrastructure and data-pipeline experience
Compensation

Competitive base salary + meaningful equity in Grounded + comprehensive health insurance

Why this role is different

You’ll be the software person at a company that builds physical vehicles — so your work spans the app in a customer's hand, the computer onboard the vehicle, and the internal tools that decide how fast the whole company can scale. Few software roles let you touch hardware, product, and core operations at once, with this much ownership and direct access to the leadership team.

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