Principal Software Engineer - Mainframe Modernization

Description
The Role
General Motors is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to provide technical leadership and architectural direction for enterprise-scale mainframe modernization initiatives, guiding the evolution of mission-critical systems toward modern, scalable, SaaS-focused architectures. This role requires deep understanding of legacy mainframe platforms combined with expertise in modern distributed systems, cloud-native architectures, and incremental, value-driven migration strategies.
The successful candidate will define modernization roadmaps, evaluate migration approaches, ensure transactional integrity and operational resilience, and partner closely with IT, operations, and business stakeholders to deliver long term transformation. In addition, the successful candidate will be expected to provide architectural guidance, conduct hands-on design/code reviews, and mentor technical talent across multiple teams.
What You'll Do

• Define and drive the over-arching technical vision and architecture across multiple modernization pillars.
• Drive consistent adoption of practices that ensure reliability, scalability, resilience, and security.
• Challenge legacy assumptions, constraints, and development patterns.
• Identify and drive investments in sustainable competitive advantages.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to IT leadership and executives for critical design decisions, technology adoption, and integration strategies.
• Mentor and grow senior technical talent, raising overall capability and maturity.
• Foster alignment and collaboration across globally distributed engineering organizations.
• Influence leadership beyond IT by advocating for innovation and technical investments.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• 10+ years of software engineering experience, with at least 5 years in a principal, staff, or architect-level role.
• Demonstrated expertise in mainframe ecosystem operational characteristics and operating models.
• Demonstrated experience in enterprise-level change management and platform migration.
• Proven success designing and scaling distributed, cloud -native systems.
• Strong understanding of security, observability, performance, and high-availability architectures.
• Comfortable operating in highly ambiguous and dynamic environments.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and mentoring abilities, with a passion for driving innovation in technology.

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience with multiple modernization patterns (e.g., strangler, domain decomposition).
• Experience migrating to SaaS-driven platforms where the core business expectation is 'no one notices'.

Hybrid:
This role is considered hybrid, meaning 3 days on-site work in Warren, MI or Austin, TX.
Company Vehicle :
Upon successful completion of a motor vehicle report review, you will be eligible to participate in a company vehicle evaluation program, through which you will be assigned a General Motors vehicle to drive and evaluate.
Note: program participants are required to purchase/lease a qualifying GM vehicle every four years unless one of a limited number of exceptions applies.
GM DOES NOT PROVIDE IMMIGRATION-RELATED SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS ROLE. PLEASE DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS ROLE IF YOU WILL NEED GM IMMIGRATION SPONSORSHIP (e.g., H-1B, TN, STEM OPT, etc.) NOW OR IN THE FUTURE.
• This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.
About GM
Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.
Why Join Us
We believe we all must make a choice every day - individually and collectively - to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.
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Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)
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All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.
We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire.
Accommodations
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