Forward Deployed Software Engineer (FDE)

Forward Deployed Software Engineer

About Threadlock Precision

Threadlock Precision is a rapidly growing engineered component manufacturing organization serving leading aerospace and defense customers, including OEMs and Tier 1/Tier 2 suppliers. Backed by strong financial support and positioned for continued expansion, we are investing in our people, capabilities, operations, and commercial strategies to support long-term growth and meet increasing demand across complex, high-precision manufacturing programs.

About the role

Due to the nature of our business and customer requirements, this position requires access to information, technology, materials, or technical data subject to U.S. export control laws and regulations. As a result, candidates must qualify as a U.S. Person under applicable U.S. export control laws, which generally includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), refugees, and asylees.

We're hiring a Forward Deployed Software Engineer to embed with Threadlock's operating teams and build the software that runs our business — internal tools, data pipelines, ERP integrations, and AI-powered workflows. As a Forward Deployed Software Engineer, you'll partner directly with plant managers, operators, finance, and sales to build, deliver and implement software that solves real problems on short cycles.

This can be a remote position in the Continental U.S. but we strongly prefer this person be close to one of our operating locations in St. Louis, Missouri; Frankenmuth, Michigan; or Cypress, California. Travel of approximately 50% will be required so you can learn and understand our operations and work closely with key stakeholders at our operating locations.

This is a builder role. You will write production code daily, sit next to the people using what you build, and own the full lifecycle from problem framing to deployment.

This role is ideal for someone who wants to build software that has a direct and visible impact on how the business operates. To be successful, you must be able to quickly learn Threadlock’s operations, understand the needs of the people doing the work, and translate those needs into practical solutions that can be deployed across the organization. You’ll work closely with cross-functional teams and play an instrumental role in shaping the tools, workflows, and systems that improve decision-making, productivity, and operational execution while supporting Threadlock’s continued growth and evolution.

What you'll do

• Embed on-site with operating teams to identify high-leverage workflow problems and turn them into deployed software solutions.
• Build and maintain internal applications end-to-end — frontend, backend, data layer, deployment.
• Develop and operate data pipelines connecting the ERP, MES, and other operational systems.
• Integrate LLM-powered features into internal tools where they create real leverage (document extraction, operator assistants, reporting automation).
• Own testing, deployment, monitoring, and iteration
• Collaborate with technical leadership on architecture, code review, and engineering standards.

Basic Qualifications (Required)

• Bachelor’s Degree
• At least 2 years of full-stack software engineering experience integrating enterprise systems (ERP, MES, CRM, or similar) where you owned products end-to-end

This position requires compliance with U.S. export control laws and regulations. As such, candidates must be a “U.S. Person” as defined by applicable law (e.g., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or asylee/refugee).

Preferred Qualifications (in addition to Basic Qualifications)

• Experience building software for manufacturing, industrial, robotics, automation, logistics, or other operationally complex environments
• Experience within a start-up environment

Competencies

• End-to-End Product Development: Demonstrated ability to take a product from blank page to deployed and actively used software across the frontend, API, database, and infrastructure layers.
• Manufacturing & Industrial Systems Exposure: Experience building or integrating software in manufacturing, industrial, robotics, automation, logistics, or other operationally complex environments. Manufacturing or industrial experience is a strong plus.
• Production AI / LLM Implementation: Hands-on experience building and deploying LLM-powered features in production, including prompt design, evaluations, agentic patterns, and tool use. This is not a research-only background; it requires a shipping background.
• On-Site Operational Problem Solving: Comfort working on-site in a manufacturing environment, walking the floor, engaging with operators and managers, and translating what they actually need into working software.
• Cross-Functional Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to run a working session with a plant manager and a code review in the same afternoon.

Compensation & benefits:

• Salary: Salary is based upon candidate experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.
• Pay Range: $85,000 to $145,000 plus bonus
• 401(k) plan with generous company match
• Competitive health and dental insurance
• Paid time off and sick leave
• Professional development and training opportunities

EEO Statement

Threadlock Precision is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.