R&D Software Programmer

Overview:

Kadant is seeking a skilled full-time R&D Software Programmer experienced in maintaining and modernizing legacy systems. The ideal candidate will have a solid foundation in software development principles, a methodical approach to problem-solving, and a professional respect for improving long-standing systems that are vital to daily operations. This position will be part of a small industrial R&D team located in Three Rivers, Michigan. Experience in an engineering or industrial environment is a strong plus.

Responsibilities:

• Lead efforts to maintain, update, and enhance existing VB6 applications used for operational and production systems.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues within legacy codebases while minimizing disruption to business processes.
• Migrate and refactor VB6 components into modern frameworks such as .NET where appropriate.
• Design, code, test, and document new software applications or system features.
• Collaborate with engineering, IT, and production teams to translate system requirements into reliable software solutions.
• Maintain version control, deployment documentation, and coding standards.
• Participate in system testing, validation, and occasional user training as needed.

Qualifications:

• Working knowledge of Visual Basic 6 (VB6)
• Proficiency with .NET and the C family of programming languages (C, C++, C#).
• Strong understanding of database systems (SQL Server, Access, or similar).
• Familiarity with Windows-based application architecture and API integration.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Software Engineering, or related field.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities with a disciplined, structured approach.
• Clear documentation habits and the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical users.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in an industrial, manufacturing, or engineering environment.
• Familiarity with industrial systems, data acquisition, or automation interfaces.
• Knowledge of source control systems such as Git or SVN.
• Understanding of modern software migration strategies and lifecycle management.