The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) is a leader in agricultural biodiversity research that drives sustainable food system transformation. With a presence across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa, the Alliance works in collaboration with national governments, multinational institutions, and partners from the public and private sectors. The organization is part of the CGIAR system—a global research partnership focused on reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.
As the global community grapples with climate change, food insecurity, malnutrition, and biodiversity loss, the Alliance delivers scientific solutions rooted in agricultural research and technology. The institution plays a crucial role in fostering a resilient and sustainable agricultural future. Its initiatives bring real-world impact by combining innovation with local context, and now, it is seeking passionate professionals to join this mission.
The Alliance is inviting qualified and driven candidates to apply for the position of Senior Associate – Software Developer, a role that will play a pivotal part in designing and deploying cutting-edge software systems that support computer vision phenotyping solutions in agricultural research.
Position Overview
The Senior Associate – Software Developer will work at the intersection of agriculture, technology, and research. This role is primarily based in Arusha, Tanzania, with scope for collaboration across various sites including Nairobi, Kenya. The successful candidate will join a team focused on developing software systems that integrate with agricultural data collection hardware and machine learning applications to enhance research in phenotyping and agricultural innovation.
This position is especially tailored for a self-driven, solutions-oriented software professional with a strong foundation in both front-end and back-end development. The role also demands a working knowledge of data validation, API development, quality assurance, and performance optimization—particularly within resource-constrained environments typical in agricultural settings.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
1. Backend Systems Development
- Collaborate with the development team to architect, design, and implement scalable and high-performance backend systems.
- Focus on the integration of phenotypic data pipelines for collection, storage, and processing, supporting agricultural research objectives.
- Ensure backend infrastructures are resilient, secure, and optimized for performance in low-resource contexts.
2. Interface and API Development
- Take the lead in designing and maintaining user-friendly, well-documented APIs to allow seamless interaction between hardware systems, software modules, and end-users.
- Develop interfaces that facilitate integration with sensors, cameras, and other data-gathering tools deployed in field or laboratory settings.
- Work closely with front-end developers and data scientists to ensure consistency in data communication across platforms.
3. Data Validation and Quality Assurance
- Implement robust data validation frameworks that enforce consistency, accuracy, and compliance with pre-defined research protocols.
- Collaborate with domain experts to ensure all data captured meets the quality thresholds required for meaningful analysis and scientific reporting.
- Integrate validation steps throughout the data lifecycle from ingestion to output.
4. Performance Optimization
- Continuously monitor system performance, identify bottlenecks, and implement improvements to enhance efficiency.
- Optimize for power consumption, latency, and network bandwidth, particularly for systems deployed in the field.
- Provide expert guidance on infrastructure configurations to suit rural or remote environments with limited technical resources.
5. Testing and Quality Assurance (QA)
- Develop and execute unit tests, integration tests, and system tests across all software components.
- Establish automated testing pipelines to ensure continuous integration and timely delivery of reliable code.
- Conduct periodic code reviews, regression testing, and post-deployment monitoring to uphold software robustness and reliability.
6. Cross-functional Collaboration
- Engage closely with data scientists, agricultural researchers, and systems engineers to tailor solutions for the end-user.
- Contribute to interdisciplinary teams by translating research needs into technical specifications.
- Provide feedback on user interface design, workflow logic, and deployment strategy to ensure holistic software development.
Professional and Technical Requirements
To perform effectively in this role, candidates should possess the following core competencies and experience:
- A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related discipline.
- Currently enrolled in a Master’s program in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or an equivalent field.
- A minimum of three years of professional experience as a Full Stack Developer or in a comparable software engineering role.
- Strong programming proficiency in languages such as Python, JavaScript, and SQL.
- Demonstrated expertise in front-end technologies, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Solid experience with cloud computing platforms such as Google Cloud, AWS, or Microsoft Azure.
- Hands-on knowledge in building and maintaining web, desktop, and mobile applications.
- Experience in RESTful API development and third-party integrations.
- Proven ability to design user interfaces that are intuitive, functional, and visually engaging.
- Knowledge of quality assurance protocols, including testing strategies for large-scale systems.
- Familiarity with optimization techniques in resource-constrained or rural computing environments.
- Proficiency in data validation protocols, ensuring integrity across data workflows.
- Effective communication, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.
- High adaptability to dynamic work environments and a strong orientation towards innovation.
Terms of Employment
This is a nationally recruited position based in Arusha, Tanzania, with occasional duties extending to Nairobi, Kenya, or remote collaboration as needed. The contract is offered for one year, subject to a three-month probationary period, and is renewable depending on performance and resource availability.
The position is graded at BG07 under the Alliance’s job classification framework, with a starting minimum basic salary of TZS 3,929,704 per month. The compensation package includes competitive benefits such as:
- Comprehensive health and medical insurance
- Staff retirement plan
- Training and professional development opportunities
- Generous paid leave policy
- Flexible work arrangements, including remote work considerations where applicable
A Culture of Inclusion and Innovation
At the Alliance Bioversity-CIAT, diversity, equity, and inclusion are integral to our work culture and mission. We actively promote an inclusive work environment where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect. We believe that a diverse workforce fuels creativity, innovation, and excellence.
We especially encourage female candidates and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. The Alliance ensures that recruitment, hiring, and employment decisions are made without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Application Process
Interested applicants are required to apply online through the Alliance career portal. To submit your application:
- Visit the Alliance careers page: https://alliancebioversityciat.org/careers
- Locate the position using the reference number RFP300573
- Prepare a single document containing your cover letter and CV, saved in the format: LastName_FirstName
- Complete the online application form and upload your document accordingly
Please note:
- Applications submitted via email will not be accepted
- The application deadline is 11th July 2025
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews
- Personal data will be collected and processed in accordance with data protection regulations
To learn more about the Alliance and its work in advancing agricultural research and development, visit:
http://alliancebioversityciat.org
We look forward to your application and your potential contribution to building climate-resilient, equitable, and sustainable food systems.
