Job DescriptionJob Title: AI/ML Software Engineer, Fairbanks Morse Technology
Reports To: Electrical and Controls Engineering Manager
Location: Beloit, WI (full-time, on-site)
SummaryFMT is looking for an AI/ML Software Engineer to design and build complete software products from customer requirements. This is a developer role for someone who can gather and write down what the customer needs, then build the full application that meets it, and who designs it so it can be reused and expanded to other equipment, customers, and use cases.
This rolls will focus is applying AI/ML to predictive maintenance, root cause analysis, and driving action to fix the problem automatically, starting with U.S. Navy shipboard equipment. We are looking for someone who uses AI development tools safely and effectively to deliver working products quickly.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities- Work with customers and stakeholders to gather requirements, document them clearly, and turn them into a technical plan.
- Design and build full applications (backend, APIs, data pipelines, and user interface) that meet those requirements.
- Architect products to be modular and reusable so they can expand to other assets, customers, and situations without a rewrite.
- Develop and deploy AI/ML solutions for predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, and root cause analysis.
- Connect detection and diagnosis to action by building workflows that recommend or trigger the fix, such as guided maintenance, work orders, or automated responses.
- Use AI coding assistants and tools to build and iterate quickly, while reviewing, testing, and securing all AI-generated work.
- Integrate with sensors, controllers, historians, and customer or third-party systems, including in disconnected edge environments.
- Write tests and documentation, use CI/CD, and build with security and compliance requirements (STIG, NIST, RMF) from the start.
- Demonstrate work to customers and stakeholders and keep them informed of progress and risks.
- Any other duties as the job requires.
Qualifications and Educational RequirementsRequired- BS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Data Science, or a related technical field, or equivalent experience.
- 5+ years of professional software development experience, including full-stack or full-application delivery from requirements through deployment.
- Proven ability to take an unclear customer need, define the requirements, and deliver a working, tested product.
- Strong Python and at least one other language such as C#, TypeScript/JavaScript, Java, or C++.
- Experience building REST APIs, data pipelines, databases, and web user interfaces.
- Hands-on experience applying machine learning in production, such as anomaly detection, classification, or time-series analysis, using tools like PyTorch, TensorFlow, or scikit-learn.
- Experience using AI coding tools to speed up development, with sound judgment on testing, code review, and protecting sensitive data.
- Experience with Git, CI/CD, Docker, and a major cloud platform (Azure preferred).
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including explaining technical trade-offs to customers and leadership.
- Ability to work independently and quickly in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities.
- This position requires access or potential access to Unclassified Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information, which is Not Releasable to Foreign Nationals (NOFORN) data. Therefore, to meet NOFORN requirement, you will have to provide proof of US Citizenship and attest that you do not have dual citizenship. Acceptable proof of US Citizenship is a US Passport, US Birth Certificate or Naturalization Certificate.
Preferred- Experience with predictive maintenance, condition-based maintenance (CBM+), or prognostics and health management.
- Experience with large language models, retrieval-augmented generation, or agentic workflows.
- Experience with industrial data sources and protocols such as PLCs, OPC UA, Modbus, or MQTT.
- Experience supporting U.S. Navy or Department of Defense programs, including Azure Government Cloud and RMF, STIG, and NIST requirements.
- Edge or embedded deployment experience on disconnected hardware.
- Cross-platform mobile development experience (for example .NET MAUI).
This specification is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions that will be given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. Ability to competently perform all the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, demonstrated commitment to effective customer service delivery, and the ability to work productively as a member of a team or work group are basic requirements of all positions at Fairbanks Morse Defense.
