Backend Software Engineering
New
UNICEF
Remote, Remote
Job Title
Backend Software EngineeringJob Description
Connectivity Credits is moving from MVP and pilots to a production-grade platform that supports multiple countries, internet providers, measurement systems and funding models. We're looking for a backend engineer to add dedicated capacity for that move.
You will:
- Design, build, test and deploy backend services and APIs in Python (TypeScript also used)
- Build event-driven workflows and rules, e.g. turning measured connectivity performance into credits
- Integrate with measurement systems, partners and other platforms
- Own software quality: automated tests, CI/CD, deployment and operations
- Apply secure development practices
- Document your work and collaborate closely with the product and tech team, who set the architecture
Most of the work is greenfield, with existing MVPs and prototypes as a starting point. You'll work independently once direction is agreed.
This is a 6-month consultancy (contract), fully remote. Apply by 12 November 2026 via UNICEF's careers site with a CV, a cover letter (max 2 pages) and a financial proposal (template on the posting).
Restrictions
- Telecommuting is OK
- No Agencies Please
Requirements
Required:
- 3+ years of professional software development, mostly hands-on backend
- Backend services and APIs in Python and/or TypeScript
- Distributed or service-oriented systems: async processing, retries, idempotency, failure handling
- REST APIs, JSON integrations and relational data modelling
- Containers, CI/CD and automated testing
- Secure development: authentication, authorization, input validation, secrets management, least privilege
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, IT or a related field
- Fluent English (another UN language is a plus)
Nice to have:
- Apache Kafka or other event streaming platforms
- Rule engines or workflow engines
- Java
- Blockchain / Web3 systems
About the Company
UNICEF Digital Inclusion has a mission to connect every school and health center in the world to the internet. Connectivity Credits gives internet service providers financial incentives to connect schools and other underserved locations: providers earn credits when independently measured and verified performance shows they are meeting agreed service levels. The team sits in UNICEF's Digital Impact Division in Geneva and Barcelona (but open to remote collaborators for this role) and works remotely with partners worldwide.