Michigan’s commitment to becoming the global leader in next-generation mobility research and development received a big boost this week with the opening of the University of Michigan’s MCity test track in Ann Arbor. The track’s 32 acres include urban and suburban simulations for connected and autonomous vehicles, complete with streets, intersections, traffic lights, sidewalks and construction obstacles. The opening of MCity aligns with the recently announced Michigan Mobility Initiative, led by the Detroit Regional Chamber’s MICHauto program, and is a positive step forward to ensuring the state and region are well positioned to compete in the area of smart and connected mobility.
The state’s connected culture will be a key focus at this year’s MICHauto Summit, held in conjunction with the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), on Sept. 30 at Cobo Center. Announced speakers include: Kevin Kerrigan, senior vice president of the State of Michigan’s Automotive Office; Andreas Mai, director of smart connected vehicles for Cisco Systems Inc.; and Kirk Steudle, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation. For more information and a complete list of speakers, click here.
Brightwing is looking to recruit next-generation connected mobility innovators. If you’re interested in helping to innovate the future, inquire about our exciting job openings below. We also suggest joining the Embedded Systems Engineers of Michigan to discover future opportunities and happenings.
https://gobrightwing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/iStock_000004066354Medium.jpg11471674Paul Cook/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Brightwing-Logo-Black.pngPaul Cook2015-07-21 14:43:312025-04-26 12:15:17MCity Advances Michigan into Role as Epicenter for Next-Gen Vehicle Research and Development
The numbers don’t lie: When it comes to engineering jobs, Michigan is #1 in the U.S. This state was built by the hands of proud engineers, and has continued to be on the cutting edge of technology ever since. There is an incredible need for professionals who can create the software and materials needed for technically connected, efficient automobiles and companies are willing to pay top dollar to beat competition. There are many reasons to move to Michigan, but if you are an engineer looking for a job, here are my top 4:
1. Michigan has the most Engineers per capita. Michigan employs more Mechanical Engineers and Industrial Engineers than any other state in the country. Electrical, Materials and Electro-Mechanical engineers are right behind as the top 20 for highest employment in the country. With the engineers-to-population ratio being more than double the U.S. average, your engineering job search would benefit from navigating the Michigan automotive networks.
2. The automotive and defense industries have top of the line and cutting edge, Michigan based R&D centers. If you are starting to look for engineering jobs in Michigan, there are a number of well known R&D facilities and headquarters. Global companies of note are:
• Chrysler
• Ford
• Hyundai
• Kia
• GM
• Nissan
• Toyota
• Daimler
• Honda
• Mitsubishi
• GM
• Nissan
• Subaru
• Suzuki
3. Michigan is home to over 100,000 supplier jobs and is the #1 state for Auto Parts Suppliers. With such a robust automotive supplier network, Michigan engineers who are looking for a job have a lot companies and positions to choose from: 61 of the top 100 North American and global automotive suppliers are headquartered in Michigan.
4. Your money is worth more here. Let’s say you’re an engineering graduate of one of Michigan’s top Automotive and Engineering research universities and you are expecting to make upwards of $50,000 your first year of employment. That sounds awesome coming right out of the gate, unless you are earning that much in Chicago. The most recent studies are finding that the Michigan “brain drain” is routing many of its qualified graduates to cities like Chicago where the cost of living is 32% higher. If you are starting to look for engineering jobs for the first time, cost of living is definitely something to consider. If you don’t believe me, ask U of M Engineering.
There is a world of opportunity to grow in your engineering job in the state of Michigan whether you’re a recent graduate or a seasoned veteran. We hope that you start your engineering job search here, and if you need help or direction, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
https://gobrightwing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/pure-michigan-rotated.jpg337323Paul Cook/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Brightwing-Logo-Black.pngPaul Cook2014-04-16 07:00:132025-04-26 12:15:324 Reasons Michigan is #1 for Engineering Jobs
After watching its annual sales plunge in 2008-09, Troy-based Resource Technologies Corp. expects to come close to pre-recession revenue by year’s end, thanks to demand for engineering and IT employees.
The staffing and human resources services company, which began doing business as Brightwing in June, is planning an expansion to Denver within the next year.
The company is projecting its revenue will rise to at least $33 million to $35 million this year, up from $28 million last year.
In 2007, Brightwing posted $35 million in sales. By 2009, revenue dropped to $22 million.
“This was the first downturn in a long time,” said CEO Aaron Chernow, who owns the business with his brother David Chernow, chief marketing officer. “We felt lucky to be only down 20 percent.”
But things have turned around, he said. The market is booming right now on the engineering front for contract employee placements, he said.
And the company continues to see demand from clients like Southwest Airlines for “hard-to-fill” positions, and for technical positions from other staffing clients such as Volkswagen AG, Chrysler LLC, Texas Instruments Inc. and Microsoft Corp.’s Florida-based Latin American division. Brightwing is also seeing growth in its higher-level recruiting of vice presidents through C-level executives, as well as in an area it moved into three years ago: project-based recruitment.
Toward the end of 2008 and 2009, no one was hiring, Chernow said. “In the last year we’ve picked up several high-profile searches in addition to picking up Bright Automotive’s contract.”
Rochester-based Bright Automotive Inc., which has developed a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, is looking to hire 180 engineers locally, he said.
Within the last quarter, Brightwing also has signed contracts with Troy-based Delphi
Automotive PLC, Plymouth Township-based Roush CleanTech and Durr Environmental and Energy Systems in Auburn Hills to provide the companies with management training and technical training on new IT products and systems.
Brightwing continues to focus on a strategy of finding the right person for the job, and not just on filling seats, Chernow said.
Over the past year, Brightwing has added 16 new employees, bringing it to 50.
The brothers spent the summer looking at other U.S. markets, Aaron Chernow said. They settled on Denver, which will add to offices in Dallas and Fort Lauderdale.
They plan to invest $500,000 in the office over the next two years, hiring three employees initially. They’ve set a five-year goal of producing an additional $10 million in annual revenue from the office.
Denver “is a very tech-savvy area with a lot of (venture capital) coming in,” Aaron Chernow said.
And the competitive landscape for recruiting, staffing and training companies is good there, David Chernow added, because “the market is not flooded.”
Troy-based Iconma LLC, which also provides IT and engineering staffing and employee recruitment services, has a few clients in the Denver market and it’s targeting other, bigger customers, said managing member Claudine George.
“We are also seeing that Denver is a good spot for staffing, but unless we land a major … Fortune 1000 client,” there are no plans for Incoma to open an office there, she said.
“At this point we’re able to handle those clients from our West Coast offices” in Los Angeles and Santa Clara, Calif.
https://gobrightwing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/CrainsDetroitBiz.jpg200200Paul Cook/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Brightwing-Logo-Black.pngPaul Cook2011-12-13 10:24:492025-04-09 15:08:13Brightwing Highlighted in Crain’s Detroit: Uptick in Engineering Has Brightwing Looking West
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“I am inspired by passionate, enthusiastic people who have a burning desire to grow both professionally and personally. I enjoy creating opportunities for them to push their own boundaries. By creating a culture of learning and growth, I get to see our team members grow beyond their expectations. This is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job at Brightwing.”
Brightwing Birthdate: 12.13.1995
“We have the chance to make a positive change in people’s lives on a daily basis—whether we’re working with a candidate looking for their next great opportunity, or a client or hiring manager in need of talent to complete their team. Positive change is around every corner as long as you take the time to realize it and build relationships for the right reasons, always keeping others’ best interests in mind.”
Specialties: Information Technology (Security, Network, Systems, Infrastructure, Product Managers, Business Analysts and Project Managers)
Brightwing Birthdate: 12.13.1995
“My greatest satisfaction is working with and meeting so many great people. There is no better feeling than finding someone that dream job. Every day brings new challenges and experiences that few careers can provide.”
“As the HR Director at Brightwing, my goal is to act as a catalyst that enables all Brightwingers to be the best employees they can be, contribute to the company’s success, and live out our core values every day. I’m responsible for providing employees with policies and programs that support their employment, recognizing and rewarding them for a job well done and guiding employees’ growth to achieve their professional goals and greatest potential. Brightwing has an incredible ‘let’s do it’ mentality. It’s so refreshing to work around individuals who are constantly improving and challenging one another to be their best.”
“In an egg-and-bacon breakfast, the chicken is involved because it simply lays an egg, while the hog is committed because it gives its life to be the bacon. I am involved in the business of staffing and recruiting but committed to the growth, evolution, and actualization of my colleagues.”
“As a controller at Brightwing, it’s my responsibility to coordinate with all departments to ensure that financial goals are communicated and facilitate discussions of desired efforts to meet those goals. It’s a pleasure to work with various departments such as sales, finance, HR, and marketing to verify that transactions are captured correctly and timely, along with communicating how these transactions impact Brightwing’s goals.“
“As Marketing Manager at Brightwing, my goal is to bridge the gap between us, our candidates, and our partners. People are at our core, and I aim to capture the people, stories, and experiences that shape us.”
“I love the sense of accomplishment knowing I played a part in helping a candidate find a great opportunity—whether the candidate is fresh out of college looking to get their feet wet, or an established engineer looking to make a move up the corporate ladder, or even someone who just doesn’t feel appreciated in their current role and wants to make a lateral move. It’s all rewarding, knowing a candidate puts their trust in you for one of the most stressful events in life. Also, I love working alongside this great group of people who share the same passion, excitement, and sometimes even frustrations on a day-to-day basis.”
“I love meeting engineers who are passionate about their craft and helping them find new challenges that push their careers in the direction they want to go.”
“I love working alongside this great group of people that take pride in being a part of a process—a process which helps individuals succeed in reaching their professional and personal growth, and partnering with organizations that understand the value, as Brightwing values human potential.”
Specialties: Human Resources, Financial Services, Engineering
“As a recruiter, I look forward to meeting new people and building relationships that could lead to professional success. I am excited to expand my networks and help people reach their full potential in their careers.”
“I truly enjoy working with my teammates and helping clients and candidates find the right match in each other. I’m motivated and driven by success and my growth as a person and employee. Each day I learn and apply something new to develop stellar ideas and solutions.”
Specialties: Information Technology including Web/Application Development, Business/Data Analysis, Project Management and Infrastructure Engineering, and Support roles
“With 14 years of staffing experience, I thrive on building meaningful relationships with my clients. I love being a problem solver and helping my clients find that perfect candidate to help contribute to the success of their organization. “
“I truly enjoy being a resource for both clients and candidates. Whether partnering directly with prospective clients, hiring managers and stakeholders to fill critical roles, or helping top talent find their perfect fit, I’m eager to provide solutions, exceed expectations, and create lasting relationships.”
“This business is all about relationships, of which I have built many from both a client and as consultant/employee perspective. It’s more than just working to become financially successful—it is helping others succeed in their goals.”
“I have long held the view that building relationships is one of the most important things in life. Brightwing gives me the opportunity to do that every single day. Constantly connecting and expanding my network allows me to grow endlessly. I love creating relationships through discovering the opportunities that are all around us.”
“I love creating relationships and having conversations with people. The more you get to know someone, the more you understand their goals, values and most importantly their character. Once I truly understand a candidate, I am well equipped to find the best possible fit for them. That’s my goal, finding people jobs they will love!”
“I’m passionate about creating lasting connections between top talent and organizations where they can not only succeed but truly belong. I believe a great match goes beyond skill. It’s about finding the right cultural fit and ensuring personalities align to foster a thriving workplace. By understanding the unique qualities of each company and the aspirations of every candidate, I help build teams that are collaborative, innovative, and productive. At Brightwing, I’m committed to making these meaningful connections that drive success for both individuals and organizations.”
“I’m a dedicated and enthusiastic professional who thrives on helping and guiding candidates as they navigate their career paths and find fulfilling jobs that align with their aspirations. My entire career, I’ve sought and done fulfilling work, and it’s my mission to help professionals accomplish the same thing. My approach is to partner with great companies looking for great people and assist them in integrating top talent into their organizations. The Brightwing experience makes all the difference in accomplishing these goals.”
“It’s the little things that make my job worthwhile. I support several departments, and my top priority is to make sure our employees are onboarded efficiently. When I receive an email from an employee saying how excited they are for the opportunity to work for one of our clients, it feels good knowing that I’m a part of something bigger and that we are doing what we are meant to do here at Brightwing: give people an opportunity to work on something they are passionate about.”
“I enjoy communicating with the contractors we have in all states. It makes me feel good to know that I’m helping people and that they feel comfortable contacting me to answer their questions. I love coming to work every day because I love all the people I work with internally; we are a family.”
“I truly enjoy helping others and taking care of the challenging stuff so they can focus on doing what they enjoy doing. My job allows me to be organized, focused, and detail-oriented. Any HR professional (along with Forrest Gump’s mom) will tell you that each day is like a box of chocolates because you just never know what you are going to get! Coming into the office each day is easy because my colleagues are a supportive family that also encourages me to have fun!”