Junior To Mid Level Software Engineer

Position:Systems Developer (C# .NET)

Reporting to:Principal Digital Technology Specialist

Location:Remote, with flexibility for travel to project sites in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific

Starting Salary:Consultancy fees offered at a competitive rate, based on qualifications and experience

About Development Pathways
 Development Pathways is an international consultancy with deep expertise in social protection, poverty and vulnerability analysis, social development, management information systems, research, and training. We are committed to delivering innovative, evidence-based social policies and actively influencing global discussions through our website and participation in international forums. Our approach combines rigorous country-specific social and political analysis with insights gained from extensive international experience, ensuring that policies and programs are both effective and inclusive, benefitting the most vulnerable populations, including children, women, and people with disabilities.

Our team has worked extensively across Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America, collaborating with a diverse range of clients, including United Nations agencies (UNICEF, WFP, FAO, ILO, UNDP, UNDESA), development banks (World Bank, ADB, KfW), governmental donors (FCDO, GIZ, DFAT), and international NGOs (e.g., HelpAge, Save the Children). Development Pathways leads several high-impact projects, such as the Partnership for Social Protection (P4SP) with DFAT in the Pacific, the Strengthening Societal and Economic Resilience in Jordan (SSERJ) project with FCDO, DFAT's Social Protection Advice, Research, and Capability (SPARC) platform, and a KfW project in Malawi focused on the Social Cash Transfer Programme.

With a team of around 50 staff members spread across our offices in Greater London (UK), Nairobi (Kenya), and Sydney (Australia), we work alongside a global network of trusted consultants. As an employer, we prioritise our staff's well-being, championing flexible working practices and fostering professional growth and development.

We are recognised for our pioneering, evidence-based work in social protection, underpinned by strong delivery capabilities and expertise in digital technology. At the forefront of digital innovation, we have developed a range of technology products and services that can be tailored to specific country or sector needs. Our focus is on creating innovative digital solutions that enhance governments' ability to deliver core public services. Since our founding in 2010, we have supported governments across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East in improving their IT systems, with a focus on social protection information systems. More recently, we have expanded into supporting education and health service delivery.

As our digital technology portfolio of work expands, we aim to enhance our digital technology capacity by recruiting reliable and skilled short-term consultants specialising in analysis, design, software development, and quality assurance. These experts will support ongoing social protection information system projects, working remotely from any location worldwide while collaborating closely with our Nairobi-based digital technology team to deliver effective software engineering solutions to governments in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.

Purpose of the position
The Systems Developer will develop a deep understanding of the business, user, and system requirements for social protection projects before translating them into code. Some projects will involve building software applications from scratch, while others will require code reuse to create new components, or ongoing maintenance. Throughout the development process, this role will ensure that source code is consistently backed up in the designated company repositories.

The developer will collaborate closely with the Systems/Business Analyst to gather and clarify requirements, and with the Quality Assurance Specialist to address testing issues based on the project's test strategy. The role will also provide valuable input into system architecture design, facilitate deployment in test environments, and ensure proper documentation of the source code.

While most software development projects can be delivered remotely, this role may require international travel to project sites in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.

Main Responsibilities and Duties

• Collaborate with other system developers to translate system specifications into components, features, and modules, in line with Development Pathways' development standards and international best practices.
• Research and assess emerging technologies to design cost-effective migration strategies for legacy social protection information systems developed by Development Pathways.
• Provide technical support in the implementation of social protection management information system (MIS) contracts, contributing to deliverables such as software solutions and source code documentation, while ensuring timeliness and quality.
• Code development projects using Visual Studio (C#) with SQL Server RDBMS ensuring adherence to recognised best practices across all phases of the development lifecycle.
• Enhance existing MIS solutions through source code reviews and a deep understanding of underlying business processes, ensuring compliance with established service level agreements (SLAs).
• Integrate quality assurance practices into development workflows by conducting unit testing and addressing feedback from QA specialists within a test-driven development (TDD) approach.
• Maintain secure source code repositories, ensuring effective backup and version control for all social protection MIS projects.
• Troubleshoot technical issues within MIS projects and provide responsive user support across multiple levels and locations.

Your Profile
ESSENTIAL:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Science, or a related field.
• At least 3 to 5 years' experience working in a fast-paced software development environment, with proven expertise in object-oriented programming languages and relational database management systems.
• Proficiency in web development using Visual Studio with C# .NET Core Framework, JavaScript, jQuery, Angular, CSS, HTML5, TypeScript, and SQL Server for enterprise-grade web applications.
• Demonstrated competence in developing Web Services, building Rich Internet Applications (RIAs), and creating Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).
• Strong problem-solving ability, applying structured approaches such as mental modelling, experimental design, and test tool development to diagnose and resolve complex issues.
• Advanced proficiency in software design techniques, debugging, and making informed technology choices.
• Adaptability and flexibility to adopt new methods, frameworks, and tools to improve performance and results.
• Proven track record of meeting deadlines and providing accurate coding time estimates.
• Analytical capability to interpret specifications, seek clarifications, and critique design models to strengthen solution quality.
• Solid understanding of deployment architectures supporting enterprise applications.
• Up-to-date knowledge of modern frameworks, tools, and technologies that enhance coding efficiency and software performance.
• Practical knowledge of testing methodologies, including automated performance, security, and functionality testing.
• Excellent debugging skills with the ability to provide accurate time estimates for issue resolution.
• Fluency in English, with strong communication skills.

DESIRABLE:

• Hands-on experience with Blazor, a modern front-end framework (HTML, CSS, and C#) for building responsive web applications.
• Proven experience in mobile application development using .NET MAUI.
• Knowledge of social protection systems and their application in digital delivery mechanisms.
• Experience with microservices architecture, containerisation technologies (e.g., Docker), and orchestration tools (e.g., Kubernetes).
• Proven ability to leverage AI tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot) to enhance software development efficiency and code quality.

Terms of Employment and Benefits
Consultancy fees will be determined during the selection process, based on the candidate's experience, scope of responsibilities, and relevant international expertise.

Equality Statement
Equality and inclusion are at the core of Development Pathways' values. In the selection of our staff, we are committed to gender balance and diversity without distinction as to race, ethnicity, sex, or religion, and without discrimination of persons with disabilities: well qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Our staff and consultants are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.

How to apply
We invite interested candidates who meet the requirements to email their applications to 

Applications should include:

1. A one-page letter explaining why you are applying for this position, and how your recent relevant experience and skills meet the requirements for this position.

2. A detailed Curriculum Vitae (maximum of two pages) specifying your qualifications, education, and relevant work experience.

3. If short-listed, you will be expected to provide the names, email addresses, and daytime contact numbers for two referees (supervisors of the current post and a past post) and undergo some written tests.

Closing date for this post will be the close of business 26th September 2025.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and a successful candidate may be selected prior to the closing date. Candidates are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to complete a brief assessment and to participate in an interview.

• Due to the high number of applications expected, unfortunately, only successful candidates will be contacted.