Lead Software Engineer

Location: United States | Remote
Employment Status: Full Time
Reports To: Operations Leadership
Compensation: Competitive base salary + Annual bonus
On Call: No

Who We Are

Thermo Systems is a global, full-service control systems integration partner delivering premier class automation solutions across the Energy, Life Sciences, and Mission Critical markets.

Guided by The Thermo Way, we are unified, dynamic, and committed to delivering excellence. Our culture is grounded in three core principles:

• Employee Success - investing in our people and their growth
• Customer Success - delivering reliable, high-quality solutions
• Financial Strength - operating with discipline and long-term focus

We believe strong teams, trusted partnerships, and technical excellence drive sustainable success.

The Opportunity

The Lead Software Engineer is an Operations-embedded individual contributor role responsible for building the software, data, infrastructure, automation, and AI-enabled capabilities that support the Thermo Operating System and improve visibility, productivity, and execution discipline across the business.

Reporting into Operations, this hands-on software engineering role will partner with Engineering, S&OP, Project Management, PMO, Finance, IT, and operational leadership to translate practical business needs into scalable tools, AI-enabled workflows, backend automation, infrastructure support, data engineering capability, and internal digital solutions. The role will also help guide technical best practices and One Way of Working as Thermo deploys lightweight technology across Operations and Engineering. The role is intended to create a lean enablement capability within Operations, not a standalone technology department.

What You'll Do

AI-Enabled Workflow & Productivity Support:

• Support practical AI use cases across the project lifecycle, including LLM workflow support, data preparation, prototype development, automation opportunities, knowledge capture, document/process support, and business-facing AI enablement.
• Help translate business needs into lightweight AI-enabled workflows, proof-of-concepts, evaluation routines, and scalable implementation paths focused on productivity, speed, quality, and decision support.
• Partner with Operations, IT, and functional leaders to ensure AI experiments are grounded in practical use cases, responsible data usage, and measurable business value.

Engineering Productivity, Tools & SCADA/Ignition Support:

• Partner with Engineering to improve test and production environments, support Ignition/SCADA-related tools, and develop digital solutions around engineering productivity, resource planning, quality, and execution consistency.
• Support Engineering Operations with tools, reporting, and automation that improve resource visibility, planning discipline, quality, environment reliability, and execution consistency.
• Help bridge engineering needs and digital enablement by building practical solutions that improve how technical teams plan, test, deploy, and support their work.

Data Engineering, Infrastructure & Backend Automation:

• Use SQL, Python, APIs, scripts, structured data models, and appropriate infrastructure components to improve data quality, connect source systems, support scalable data flows, and reduce manual spreadsheet-driven work.
• Build repeatable backend logic, data transformations, validation routines, and infrastructure-aware automation that support reliable analytics, AI enablement, and operational digital tools.
• Partner with IT and functional leaders to ensure data and infrastructure solutions are practical, secure, maintainable, and aligned with Thermo Systems standards.

Thermo Operating System Digital Enablement:

• Build tools that support standard work, visual management, operating cadence, exception management, action tracking, project visibility, resource planning, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a technical expert for digital One Way of Working, helping establish reusable standards, templates, documentation expectations, testing/version practices, and governance for Python scripts, automation, data workflows, AI-enabled tools, and lightweight internal applications.
• Support the ongoing maturity of Thermo Systems operating rhythms by automating recurring workflows and improving the quality and timeliness of operating data.
• Identify practical automation opportunities that help teams work more consistently and free leaders and project teams from low-value manual reporting and administrative activities.

What We're Looking For

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, data science, engineering, information systems, analytics, operations, or a related discipline; equivalent practical experience will be considered.
• 3+ years of relevant experience in software engineering, data engineering, automation, infrastructure, AI-enabled workflow development, analytics engineering, or a related technical role.
• Experience building practical internal tools, backend automation, data models, scripts, AI-enabled workflows, or software-enabled digital capabilities in a business or operations environment.
• Experience with SQL, Python, backend automation, APIs, source-system integration, software development, data modeling, cloud/infrastructure concepts, or AI-enabled workflow support is strongly preferred; familiarity with BI tools such as Power BI is a plus.
• Exposure to industrial automation, engineering operations, SCADA, Ignition, systems integration, or project-based technical services is a plus.
• Experience or demonstrated interest in AI-enabled workflows, LLM tools, data preparation, model evaluation, or automation use cases is a plus.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Strong technical aptitude across software engineering, AI-enabled workflows, engineering systems support, infrastructure-aware automation, backend data logic, and practical digital enablement.
• Proficiency with Python, SQL, APIs, structured data workflows, scripting, backend automation, and practical software engineering; familiarity with infrastructure concepts, BI tools, and data modeling is helpful.
• Practical software engineering mindset, including maintainability, documentation, version discipline, testing, and reusable design.
• Ability to reduce ad-hoc technical approaches by promoting maintainable code, clear ownership, secure deployment practices, scalable patterns, and alignment with Thermo Systems standards.
• Ability to work directly with business leaders and technical teams to clarify needs, prioritize work, and deliver practical solutions.
• Strong analytical problem-solving capability with the ability to simplify complex data, processes, and operating needs into usable tools.
• Curiosity and learning agility around AI, automation, engineering systems, and emerging technology use cases.
• High ownership, judgment, prioritization, adaptability, and follow-through in a fast-paced, scaling business.
• Strong communication skills and ability to serve as a bridge between Operations, Engineering, IT, and functional stakeholders.

What You'll Get

• Competitive compensation with annual bonus opportunity
• 401(k) with company match
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with low-cost options
• Paid time off and sick leave
• Tuition reimbursement and professional credential support
• In-house and external technical training opportunities
• Opportunity to build a lean Operations digital enablement capability that supports the Thermo Operating System and accelerates AI-enabled productivity across the project lifecycle
• A collaborative culture built on integrity, accountability, and teamwork

Learn more at www.thermosystems.com

Work Environment & Physical Requirements
The physical and environmental demands described here are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Thermo Systems provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other protected status.

Disclaimer
This job description outlines the general nature and level of work expected. Responsibilities may evolve based on business needs.