PLC Software Engineer - ITAR/EAR Role

Fairmount Technologies (FT) is a growing advanced manufacturing company developing tooling-free CNC systems for aerospace and defense applications. Our machines integrate sophisticated software, controls, and electromechanical systems, and they’re already running on real factory floors.

Recent milestone: FT was selected for a U.S. Department of Defense APFIT award, supporting deployment of our systems across multiple Air Force maintenance depots. As we scale production and system capability, we are expanding our software team.

We’re looking for a Software Engineer to design and develop the applications that connect operators, machines, and control systems.

Regulatory Requirements

This position requires access to ITAR/EAR-controlled technologies.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders) and eligible for employment under U.S. export control laws.

Relocation to the Wichita / Derby, KS area is required.

What You’ll Be Working On

You’ll work on software that directly interfaces with real machines, including:

• Designing and implementing graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and HMIs for automated machines
• Developing software that communicates with PLCs and industrial control systems
• Coordinating closely with Controls and Automation Engineers on system architecture and data flow
• Writing robust, multi-threaded, production ready software for industrial PCs (IPCs)
• Debugging, testing, and maintaining software running on deployed machine systems
• Improving & maintaining critical software performance, reliability, and security over time
• Supporting hardware and system integration efforts
• Collaborating on documentation and user support materials

This role focuses on industrial software tied directly to hardware, not purely abstract application development.

Why This Role Is Different

• Small company → high ownership and visibility
• Software that directly controls and enables physical machines
• Close collaboration with controls, mechanical, and integration teams
• Mix of development, debugging, and real-world deployment
• Opportunity to influence system architecture as products scale

You’ll see your work go from code → machine → factory floor.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary based on experience and scope of role (Typical range: $80,000–$140,000 )
• Flexible working hours
• Profit sharing, so you benefit directly from the company’s success
• Opportunity to earn phantom equity, providing economic upside without the complexity or tax burden of traditional equity ownership
• Direct access to leadership and technical decision-making
• A chance to grow with the company as manufacturing scales

This Role Might Be Right for You If

• You enjoy building software that interacts with real machines and hardware
• You’re comfortable with debugging complex systems across software and controls boundaries
• You like working closely with engineers from multiple disciplines
• You want your work to matter in a small, growing engineering team
• You’re excited by industrial automation, machine systems, and applied software
• You have a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or similar (or equivalent experience) and ~5 years developing software that interfaces with industrial systems or hardware.

Core Qualifications

• Strong software-engineering fundamentals.
• Experience developing production software in C#/.NET or a comparable object-oriented language.
• Experience with asynchronous or multithreaded programming.
• Ability to debug and solve problems involving software, communications, controls, and hardware.
• Ability to work effectively with engineers of different disciplines.

Preferred Qualifications

• WPF or another similar desktop UI framework.
• PLC and industrial-control communication, particularly with Beckhoff/TwinCAT.
• Traditional SQL/ORM and/or MongoDB database management.
• Scripting in Python for automation, analysis, and/or machine-learning applications.
• Industrial networking and hardware integration.
• CAD and/or 3D visualization technologies.
• Experience deploying and supporting software on industrial PCs.

Experience with databases (SQL/ORM), CAD-related software, machine calibration, Python, hardware integration, or industrial networking is a plus — but strong fundamentals, ownership, and problem-solving matters just as much.

While this is not a junior role and we are primarily targeting experienced developers, we welcome candidates ranging from early-career engineers with strong relevant project experience, to seasoned engineers with many years of experience making production software for industrial systems to apply!

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $80,000.00 - $140,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• This position requires that applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders) as required by ITAR/EAR regulations. Are you a US Citizen or Permanent resident? Answer required

Ability to Commute:

• Derby, KS 67037 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Derby, KS 67037: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $80,000 - $140,000