PURPOSE
The Applied Innovation Engineer builds, deploys, and supports the custom business applications that Central Valley Ag runs on - products such as RouteForge and Gravis, the grower portal, and the applications that follow them. This is an end-to-end role: the Engineer talks to the people who will use the software, designs and writes it, puts it into production, and stands behind it once it is there.
The team is small and moves quickly. AI-assisted development is a normal part of how work gets done here, and the Engineer is expected to use it well and to review what it produces with the same rigor applied to hand-written code.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Design, develop, test, and deploy custom business applications, APIs, and integrations.
• Work directly with CVA employees, location staff, and growers to understand a problem, and translate it into working software.
• Own features end to end, from intake through production and the support that follows.
• Deploy and release software; monitor applications in production; diagnose and resolve production issues.
• Integrate applications with CVA's ERP, Microsoft 365 and cloud services, vendor APIs, and other data sources.
• Use AI-assisted development to move quickly, and review generated code, tests, and configuration to the same standard as your own work.
• Write and maintain technical documentation and runbooks; help the Applied Innovation Analyst build the material that lets the support organization carry routine support.
• Participate in code review and uphold the team's practices for version control, testing, and release management.
• Provide initial support for the applications you build; escalate infrastructure, identity, and security matters to the appropriate team.
• Contribute to technical decisions; evaluate tools, platforms, and approaches, and recommend them with reasoning.
• Other duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This position does not require direct supervisory responsibility unless specifically assigned.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
All work product created in the course of employment with Central Valley Ag Cooperative - including software, source code, applications, integrations, data models, reports, documentation, designs, processes, analyses, inventions, and any other developments, whether created during or outside normal working hours and whether or not created using CVA equipment - is the sole and exclusive property of Central Valley Ag Cooperative. Employment in this position is contingent upon agreement to CVA's confidentiality, intellectual property, and non-disclosure terms.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
• Three or more years building and supporting business software in a professional environment. This range is intentionally broad; candidates at mid and senior levels will be considered and the position leveled accordingly.
REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
• Proficiency with at least one modern programming language and application framework - for example TypeScript/JavaScript with React or Next.js, C#, or Python.
• Relational databases and SQL: schema design, query writing, and troubleshooting against real data.
• Cloud fundamentals: deploying and hosting an application, authentication, secrets, logging, and monitoring (AWS and/or Microsoft Azure).
• System and data integration through APIs and file interfaces.
• Strong troubleshooting skill. Able to reproduce a problem, find the cause, and fix it rather than work around it.
• Clear written and verbal communication with non-technical users.
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
• Bachelor's degree in a technology-related field such as computer science, computer information systems, or management information systems.
• Working fluency with AI-assisted development - coding agents and assistants, and the judgment to review what they produce. This is how the team works. Strong engineers without this experience who are eager to adopt it will be considered.
• Experience integrating with an ERP or other system of record.
• Mobile or field-facing application experience.
• Experience in agriculture, commodities, logistics, or a cooperative.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to:
• Sit and stand for extended periods of time.
• Use hands and fingers with dexterity to operate a computer keyboard and mouse.
• Occasionally lift and transport computer equipment and peripherals.
• Be available for occasional after-hours work in support of deployments and production issues.
• This position may be based at any Central Valley Ag location or worked remotely. Periodic travel to CVA locations is expected to observe the work the software supports, and for team meetings.
Updated: September 2026
