Principal Electrical Engineer

Job Title: Principal Electrical Engineer Job Description
The Principal Electrical Engineer serves as the principal technical and project lead for the development of electromechanical chassis systems, including steering and driveline products. This role requires deep expertise in automotive embedded systems, strong knowledge of software and hardware development processes, and the ability to provide hands-on support in test and integration environments. The engineer aligns project goals, technical tasks, and development resources while actively contributing to problem solving, testing, and system integration across the full product lifecycle from concept to production.
Responsibilities
- Lead complex engineering programs by defining clear project objectives, managing technical and program risks, allocating resources effectively, and coordinating cross-functional teams to achieve customer and business goals.
- Serve as the technical authority for software, electronic hardware, system integration, and control system development, providing guidance on system architecture, requirements, technical reviews, and issue resolution.
- Lead technical reviews of requirements, specifications, interfaces, drawings, validation plans, and test results, and provide recommendations to improve product performance, quality, manufacturability, and development efficiency.
- Define and lead verification and validation activities, including planning, traceability, test coverage, and the development of calibration, diagnostic, communication, and test tools to support efficient product development and issue resolution.
- Support product launch and production by partnering with manufacturing, quality, and supplier management teams to resolve production issues, implement corrective actions, and improve quality, yield, and process robustness.
- Lead and contribute to critical technical activities across product development, integration, validation, and production support, providing hands-on expertise in problem solving, technical reviews, and issue resolution when required.
- Apply control theory, system modeling, signal analysis, and closed-loop control principles to system design, performance evaluation, and troubleshooting of electromechanical systems.
- Oversee and support the use of HIL, dynamometer, laboratory, and vehicle test environments, including system integration, instrumentation, test automation, and data acquisition for embedded control systems.
- Guide the application of automotive communication protocols and tools, including CAN and CAN FD, diagnostics, calibration, and measurement systems, to ensure robust system communication and diagnostics.
- Support engineering risk assessment and structured problem-solving activities, including FMEA, FTA, 8D, and root-cause investigations, to enhance product reliability and safety.
- Drive adherence to automotive software and hardware development processes, including requirements management, model-based development, verification and validation, configuration management, and V-cycle development practices.
- Mentor and provide technical leadership to other engineers, supporting their development in areas such as embedded controls, electromechanical systems, system integration, and problem solving.
- Coordinate cross-functional engineering activities, ensuring alignment between electrical, software, mechanical, manufacturing, and quality teams throughout the development lifecycle.
- Support the application of functional safety and automotive development frameworks, such as ISO-based processes, ASPICE, and CMMI or equivalent methodologies, to ensure compliance and robust engineering practices.
- Contribute to continuous improvement by promoting the use of automation, data analytics, machine learning, or AI-based tools to improve engineering productivity, testing efficiency, and technical decision-making.
- Develop and maintain responsive, cooperative relationships with internal and external customers, consistently treating others with dignity, trust, and respect.
- Work additional hours, including weekends, when directed or when necessary to complete essential job duties and meet critical project milestones.
- Travel by automobile and plane as needed to support engineering activities, production launch, and collaboration with external partners.
Essential Skills
- Strong understanding of electromechanical systems, embedded controls, electrical architectures, vehicle networks, diagnostics, and system integration.
- Strong understanding of automotive software and hardware development processes, including requirements management, model-based development, verification and validation, configuration management, and V-cycle development.
- Ability to apply control theory, system modeling, signal analysis, and closed-loop control principles to system design, performance evaluation, and problem solving.
- Working knowledge of HIL, dynamometer, laboratory, and vehicle test environments, including system integration, instrumentation, test automation, and data acquisition.
- Working knowledge of automotive communication protocols and development tools, including CAN and CAN FD, diagnostics, calibration, and measurement systems.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to lead structured root-cause investigations and drive issue resolution.
- Strong technical communication skills, including the ability to lead technical reviews, document requirements, and present complex topics clearly to cross-functional teams.
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related engineering discipline.
- Minimum 10 years of experience developing automotive electromechanical systems, preferably in steering, braking, chassis, driveline, or other safety-critical products.
- Experience leading complex product development programs from concept through production launch and field support.
- Experience supporting product launch and manufacturing operations, including troubleshooting production issues and implementing corrective actions.
- Experience using automotive development and validation tools such as MATLAB and Simulink.
- Experience with automotive communication and calibration tools such as Vector CANoe, CANape, or comparable platforms.
- Experience with engineering risk assessment and structured problem-solving methodologies, including FMEA, FTA, 8D, and root-cause investigation.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related engineering discipline is preferred.
- Experience with functional safety and automotive development processes, including ISO-based safety standards, ASPICE, CMMI, or equivalent methodologies, is preferred.
- Experience with automotive electromechanical chassis systems, including steering, braking, and driveline products, is highly desirable.
- Experience applying automation, data analytics, machine learning, or AI-based tools to improve engineering productivity, testing efficiency, or technical decision-making is a plus.
- Demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership, mentoring, and coordination of cross-functional engineering activities without direct supervisory authority.
- Familiarity with principal-level responsibilities, including acting as a technical authority and aligning project goals, technical tasks, and resources across multiple programs.
- Background in automotive electromechanical systems and embedded controls within safety-critical applications.
- Comfort working in fast-paced development environments that require balancing hands-on technical work with program leadership responsibilities.
Work Environment
Work is primarily performed in a standard office setting with substantial time spent working on a computer and collaborating with cross-functional teams. The role may occasionally require work in manufacturing areas, where personal protective equipment such as safety glasses with side shields and hearing protection must be worn in accordance with facility requirements. The position involves interaction with laboratory, HIL, dynamometer, and vehicle test environments to support system integration, validation, and troubleshooting activities. Travel by automobile and plane is required approximately 5–10% of the time to support development, validation, production launch, and collaboration with external partners. The work environment emphasizes safety, professionalism, and cooperative relationships while supporting occasional extended hours, including weekends, to meet critical project deadlines.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Plymouth, MI.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $130000.00 - $165000.00/yr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Medical, Dental, and Vision: Comprehensive insurance plans, often featuring low-cost medical coverage through providers like Cigna.Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Pre-tax accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses.On-Site Facilities: Select manufacturing or corporate sites feature amenities like 24-hour on-site gyms
Workplace Type
This is a hybrid position in Plymouth,MI.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 8, 2026. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

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