Position: Senior Systems Developer
Number of Positions: 2
Reporting to: IT Project Manager/ Systems Architect
Location: Full-time, on-site role based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Contract type: Fixed-term consultancy opportunity
Duration: 12 months
Tentative Start Date: 1st May 2026
Remuneration Package: A competitive consultancy package will be offered, commensurate with 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 36 staff members spread across our three offices in Greater London (UK), Nairobi (Kenya), and Canberra (Australia), we work alongside a global network of trusted consultants. As an employer, we prioritise our staff’s well-being, champion flexible working practices, and foster 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 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.
Development Pathways’ Digital Technology Team currently has openings for two Senior Systems Developers to be based in Nairobi for a period of 12 months. The successful candidates will support the enhancement and upgrade of an existing client Social Protection Information System, built using C# .NET (web application and API gateway), backed by a SQL Server RDBMS, and .NET MAUI (mobile application) with SQLite for local data storage.
Purpose of the position
The Senior Systems Developers will develop a thorough understanding of the business, user, and system requirements for social protection projects through review of existing documentation and close consultation with current system developers and the client project team. This will inform the execution of code enhancements and upgrades under the direction of the IT Project Manager/System Architect. Throughout the development lifecycle, the role will ensure that source code is properly version-controlled and consistently backed up in designated company repositories.
The Senior Systems Developers will work closely with the Systems/Business Analyst to elicit, validate, and refine requirements, and with the Quality Assurance Specialist to resolve defects and align outputs with the project’s testing strategy. The role will also contribute to system architecture discussions, support deployment to test environments, and ensure that all source code is well-documented in line with established standards.
This position is expected to be delivered on a full-time basis over a period of 12 months, based at the Project Office in Nairobi.
Main Responsibilities and Duties
- Contribute to system architecture and technical design decisions, ensuring scalability, maintainability, interoperability, and alignment with overall solution architecture.
- Design and develop robust APIs and integration components to support interoperability with external systems (e.g. payment service providers, registries, and third-party platforms).
- Optimise existing application (web and mobile components) and database performance through query tuning, indexing strategies, and efficient code design to ensure high system responsiveness and scalability.
- Implement and enforce secure coding practices, including input validation, authentication/authorisation mechanisms, and data protection in line with industry standards (e.g. OWASP, ISO/IEC 27001).
- Support deployment, configuration, and release management processes across development, testing, and production environments, including CI/CD pipelines where applicable.
- Participate in code reviews and provide technical guidance to junior developers, promoting knowledge sharing and adherence to development standards.
- Develop and maintain technical documentation, including system design, API specifications, and deployment guides, to support long-term system sustainability.
- Monitor system performance and logs, proactively identifying and resolving issues to ensure system stability and availability.
- Contribute to data management practices, including database design, migration, and data integrity controls across the system lifecycle.
- Engage with stakeholders, including technical teams and client representatives, to support requirement clarification, demonstrations, and continuous improvement of system functionality.
Your Profile
ESSENTIAL:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Science, or a related field.
- At least 8 years of 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.
- Familiarity with biometric systems and technologies, and the ability to work with third-party SDKs and APIs (e.g. for fingerprint, facial recognition, or deduplication systems such as ABIS) to support system integration and implementation.
- 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.
- 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 consultants, 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 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 recruitment@developmentpathways.co.uk
Applications should include:
- 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.
- A detailed Curriculum Vitae (maximum of two pages) specifying your qualifications, education, and relevant work experience.
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 on 17th April 2026.
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 applications 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.
