Lead Developer and IT Coordinator

Van Bortel Aircraft Inc.; Arlington (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Van Bortel Aircraft and Air Power Inc. in Arlington, TX, is seeking a hands-on software engineer to anchor our growing technology function.

You’ll collaborate with an in‑house backend/AI engineer and IT administrator to shape architecture, integrations, and the IT foundations that run our e‑commerce platform and internal tooling. The role blends backend engineering, database and AI systems with light oversight of IT operations, security, and systems administration, in a small, high‑ownership

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of professional software engineering experience, backend development and system architecture.
• Hands-on with a primary backend stack (Python or C#/.NET) and ability to learn others.
• Experience with relational databases (SQL Server) and integration design.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Azure cloud services and security fundamentals.
• Ability to work in a small team with high ownership and code review culture.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the NopCommerce-based e-commerce platform and internal portals on Azure.
• Design and build integrations between core business systems incl. ERP/parts database.
• Provide code reviews and set technical direction for backend development.
• Support IT operations: networking, firewall, endpoint management, and M365.
• Plan for future systems needs as the company scales with new tooling.

Skills

Python

C#/.NET

SQL Server

Azure

API design

Code review

AI/LLM integrations

Cloud infrastructure

IT operations basics

Small-team ownership

Tools

NopCommerce

Webflow

Datto

RMM platforms

Job description

Van Bortel Aircraft and Air Power Inc. are affiliated aviation companies based at Arlington Municipal Airport in Arlington, TX, operating in aircraft sales and aviation parts distribution. As the business grows, we're investing seriously in our technology backbone (our e-commerce platform, internal tooling, data infrastructure, and AI-driven automation) and we need an experienced developer to help take it to the next level.

About Us

Van Bortel Aircraft and Air Power Inc. are affiliated aviation companies based at Arlington Municipal Airport in Arlington, TX, operating in aircraft sales and aviation parts distribution. As the business grows, we're investing seriously in our technology backbone (our e-commerce platform, internal tooling, data infrastructure, and AI-driven automation) and we need an experienced developer to help take it to the next level.

About the Role

We're looking for a hands-on, mid-level to senior software engineer to be the technical anchor of our small but growing technology function. You'll work directly alongside our in-house backend/AI engineer and our IT administrator, providing technical guidance and best-practice direction across both software development and day-to-day IT operations. This is a great opportunity to help shape architecture and integrations while also making sure the fundamentals (infrastructure, security, and systems administration) are handled well.

This role blends two things that are often separate: hands-on backend/software engineering (architecture, integrations, database and AI systems) and light oversight of core IT operations (network, security, and endpoint management).

The Team You'll Work With

• A backend/AI engineer (recent CS grad) currently owning web development, database management, AI integrations, and scraping/automation projects across the company's platforms.
• An IT administrator (part-time, still building experience) handling day-to-day Microsoft 365 admin, Datto RMM/backup, and basic network/firewall support.
• A third-party web development agency supporting parts of the public-facing website.

You’ll set technical direction for this team and take the lead on architecture and prioritization decisions, with a stronger emphasis on software engineering and internal development.

What You’ll Do

• Contribute directly to internal software systems: the NopCommerce-based e-commerce platform, internal portals, and backend services running on Azure.
• Help design and build integrations between core business systems — including the Oracle-based Quantum Control ERP/parts database, e-commerce platforms, and internal tools.
• Provide code review support and technical direction to the in-house engineer on backend development, database design, API architecture, and AI/automation projects.
• Support the IT administrator on networking, firewall configuration, endpoint management (Datto), and Microsoft 365 administration.
• Participate in planning for future systems needs as the company scales (infrastructure upgrades, new integrations, tooling decisions).

What We’re Looking For

• 3-5 years of professional software engineering experience, including backend development and system architecture
• Strong hands‑on skills in at least one primary backend stack (e.g., Python, C#/.NET, or similar) and comfort picking up others as needed.
• Solid experience with relational databases (SQL Server or similar) and designing integrations between disparate systems
• Working knowledge of cloud infrastructure, ideally Microsoft Azure (App Services, databases, networking basics).
• Practical understanding of core IT/sysadmin fundamentals: Microsoft 365 administration, endpoint/backup management, basic firewall and networking concepts
• Strong interest in applied AI/LLM integrations (automation, internal tooling, data pipelines).
• Comfortable working in a small‑team, high‑ownership environment
• Help establish sound engineering practices: code review, documentation, environment/version management, and basic security hygiene across systems.
• Experience establishing engineering practices at a small or mid‑size company.

Nice to Have

• Experience with e-commerce platforms (NopCommerce or similar) or CMS/website platforms (Webflow).
• Experience in aviation, manufacturing, distribution, or parts/inventory‑heavy businesses.
• Prior experience managing or working closely with managed IT service tools (Datto, RMM platforms) or IT vendors.
• Experience establishing engineering practices at a small or mid‑size company.

What We Offer

• A high‑ownership role with real influence over the company's technology direction.
• The chance to build modern engineering and AI capabilities into a legacy aviation business from the ground up.
• A small, collaborative team environment based at Arlington Municipal Airport (KGKY).

$70,000–$110,000, depending on experience.