Software Developer - Business Systems

Frontier Distributing, Inc.; Oxford (MI); On-site; USD 95,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Frontier Distributing, Inc. is seeking a hands-on software professional who treats technology as a core business asset in Oxford, MI. The role emphasizes owning projects from idea to implementation, working directly with users across warehouse, sales, and leadership to build real solutions.

Expect a highly autonomous environment with opportunities to automate, integrate systems, and apply AI to operations. You will design and develop applications, analyze processes, and continuously improve

Qualifications

• 5+ years in business systems, analytics, automation, or related technical roles.
• Experience in distribution, wholesale, logistics, or operational environments preferred.
• Strong SQL and data modeling skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain enterprise reporting solutions for operational, financial, inventory, sales, logistics, purchasing, and executive reporting.
• Build automated dashboards, reports, and data delivery systems.
• Create and optimize SQL queries, stored procedures, data views, and reporting structures.
• Ensure data accuracy, integrity, consistency, and usability across systems.
• Identify inefficiencies and implement automation solutions to eliminate manual work.
• Design and maintain automated workflows, scheduled jobs, integrations, and data processes.
• Develop custom tools, scripts, and applications to improve operational efficiency.
• Research, evaluate, and implement AI technologies to improve operational effectiveness and decision-making.

Skills

SQL

APIs

Python

PowerShell

Excel/VBA

AI

Education

Bachelor's degree in Information Systems/Computer Science/Analytics

Tools

Shopify

ERP systems

BI tools

Job description

TL;DR: We're Looking for a Developer Who Thinks Like a Business Owner.

This isn't your typical software development position. We're looking for a hands-on developer who can identify business problems and personally build the solutions, not someone who manages projects or hands requirements off to a development team.

You'll work directly with employees and leadership across the company to develop applications, automate processes, improve reporting, integrate systems, and explore practical uses for AI.

You'll have significant autonomy, direct access to decision-makers, and the opportunity to own projects from concept through implementation. This is a unique opportunity to expand your technical skills, learn how a growing business operates, and see the direct impact of your work.

The right fit: Someone who enjoys writing code, solving problems, learning new technologies, and figuring things out without a detailed roadmap.

Not the right fit: Someone whose primary experience is business analysis, project management, IT support, or coordinating developers rather than developing software themselves.

Location

On-site in Oxford, MI. No remote or hybrid options. No visa sponsorship available.

If you want to do more than write code and have a real say in how technology improves a business, we'd like to hear from you.

About this job

Let's get one thing out of the way...

This isn't a typical software development role, and Frontier isn't a typical company.

We're not looking for someone to gather requirements, hand them to a development team, and manage the project.

We're looking for a software developer with a business mindset.

Someone who enjoys sitting down with the people doing the work, understanding how the business operates, identifying opportunities to improve it, and then personally designing and building the solution.

One day you might be redesigning a reporting platform. The next, you could be building an internal application, integrating business systems, improving warehouse workflows, automating manual processes, or experimenting with AI to solve real operational challenges.

If you enjoy owning projects from concept to completion, you'll probably love this role.

If you prefer working from a well-defined backlog of tickets, you probably won't.

What makes this role different?

You'll have exposure to nearly every part of our business.

You'll spend time with warehouse operations, transportation, sales, purchasing, accounting, customer service, and executive leadership. We believe the best solutions come from understanding how people actually work, not from making assumptions behind a computer screen.

You won't just build software.

You'll build better ways for people to do their jobs.

Who will thrive here?

The person we're looking for is naturally curious.

When you hear someone explain a process, you immediately start asking questions.

• "Why do we do it this way?"
• "Could this be automated?"
• "What information would make this decision easier?"
• "Can I build something that eliminates this step?"

You're comfortable writing SQL, designing databases, developing applications, integrating systems, and creating reporting solutions, but you're just as comfortable walking into the warehouse, sitting with an end user, and learning how the business actually works.

This role is probably a great fit if you enjoy...

• Building software that solves real business problems.
• Designing applications from the ground up.
• Working directly with end users instead of through layers of management.
• Taking ownership of projects from idea through implementation.
• Learning new technologies and applying them to practical business challenges.
• Continuously improving systems, processes, and reporting.
• Being trusted with the freedom to solve problems without someone dictating every step.

This role probably isn't the right fit if your primary experience is...

• Business Analysis
• Project Management
• Scrum Master or Agile Coaching
• IT Support or Help Desk
• Coordinating developers rather than writing production code yourself

There's nothing wrong with those careers. They're simply different from what this position requires.

Why Frontier?

We're a family-owned company that is still growing, still investing, and still asking, "How can we do this better?"

You'll have the opportunity to work on meaningful projects, learn every aspect of our business, expand your technical skills, and make a visible impact across the organization. You'll see your work used every single day. The applications, automations, reports, and systems you build will directly impact how our warehouse operates, how our sales team sells, how our customers are served, and how our leadership makes decisions.

You won't spend the next five years maintaining the same application. You'll constantly be learning new technologies, solving new business problems, building new systems, and expanding both your technical skills and your understanding of how a distribution business operates.

If you're looking for a place where you can grow, keep learning, and leave things better than you found them, we'd love to meet you.

• This is an on-site position based in Oxford, MI.
• Remote and hybrid work arrangements are not available at this time.
• Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.
• Frontier Distributing is unable to provide visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Responsibilities & Essential Functions

• Design, develop, and maintain enterprise reporting solutions for operational, financial, inventory, sales, logistics, purchasing, and executive reporting.
• Build automated dashboards, reports, and data delivery systems.
• Create and optimize SQL queries, stored procedures, data views, and reporting structures.
• Ensure data accuracy, integrity, consistency, and usability across systems.
• Identify inefficiencies and implement automation solutions to eliminate manual work.
• Design and maintain automated workflows, scheduled jobs, integrations, and data processes.
• Develop custom tools, scripts, and applications to improve operational efficiency.
• Research, evaluate, and implement AI technologies to improve operational effectiveness and decision‑making.
• Develop AI‑assisted workflows, reporting enhancements, content generation processes, and business tools.
• Manage integrations between ERP systems, databases, e‑commerce platforms, third‑party applications, and internal tools.
• Support and enhance ERP functionality through custom development and reporting solutions.
• Support and enhance Frontier's e‑commerce platforms, including Shopify and related integrations.
• Develop and maintain internal business applications, utilities, scripts, and automation tools.
• Partner with leadership and department managers to identify operational challenges and technology opportunities.
• Establish and maintain best practices for data governance, validation, consistency, and accessibility.
• Lead or participate in special projects and strategic initiatives.
• Stay current on industry trends, technologies, and best practices related to automation, analytics, AI, and business systems.

Technical Experience & Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of SQL Server, relational databases, and data architecture.
• Strong experience with business intelligence, analytics, and enterprise reporting.
• Experience with automation technologies, scripting, and workflow design.
• Experience integrating business systems, APIs, and third‑party platforms.
• Working knowledge of AI technologies, prompt engineering, and intelligent automation concepts.
• Experience with Shopify, e‑commerce systems, and operational integrations preferred.
• Proficiency with Python, PowerShell, Excel/VBA, JSON, HTML/CSS, and related technologies preferred.
• Strong analytical thinking and problem‑solving ability.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and priorities.
• Strong understanding of business operations, inventory, purchasing, logistics, sales, and distribution workflows.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain technical concepts clearly.
• Ability to work independently and drive initiatives with minimal supervision.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to translate business problems into scalable technical solutions.

Education & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Business Analytics, Data Management, or related field preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education, technical expertise, and relevant business experience may be considered.
• 5+ years of experience in business systems, analytics, automation, software development, data management, or related technical roles preferred.
• Experience in distribution, supply chain, wholesale, logistics, or operational business environments preferred.