Assignment title: Principal Backend Developer
Location: Onsite in Kigali, Rwanda
Job Type: Contract
Duration of Assignment: 12 months with the possibility of extension based on performance
Number of Positions: 2
About Us
The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) is spearheading the development of the Agriculture Management Information System (AMIS) as the Digital Public Infrastructure for Rwanda’s agriculture sector. Agriculture is a cornerstone of Rwanda’s economy, contributing significantly to the country’s GDP (25–27%), providing employment to a large portion of the population, and ensuring food security. AMIS will offer centralized registries of data, services for farmers and practitioners, support data-driven policymaking, and foster innovation. MINAGRI seeks talented and experienced individuals to help implement and deliver this crucial part of Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation (NST2).
Role Overview
As a Senior Backend Developer, you will play a pivotal role in designing, developing, and optimizing the server-side components of the AMIS. Utilizing a service-oriented and microservices architecture, your expertise in technologies such as Java, Spring Boot, PostgreSQL, NoSQL databases, Apache Kafka, and service meshes will ensure that our systems are robust, scalable, and efficient. Your work will directly contribute to the success of Rwanda’s agriculture sector and the broader NST2 objectives.
Key Responsibilities
- Architect and implement backend systems using primarily Java and Spring Boot within a microservices architecture.
- Develop and maintain RESTful APIs to ensure seamless integration with frontend services and third-party applications.
- Design, optimize, and manage database schemas using PostgreSQL and NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB), ensuring data integrity and performance.
- Utilize Apache Kafka for real-time data processing and event-driven architectures.
- Implement and manage service meshes to ensure efficient service-to-service communication, security, and observability.
- Analyze and enhance system performance, scalability, and reliability to meet the demands of a growing user base.
- Work closely with internal teams, including frontend developers, designers, project managers, data analysts, information managers, and systems administrators, to deliver high-quality solutions aligned with project goals.
- Conduct code reviews, write unit and integration tests, and uphold best practices in coding standards.
- Provide guidance and support to junior developers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.
- Advise on system architecture, technology stack choices, and implementation strategies to meet project objectives.
- Produce comprehensive technical documentation outlining system architecture, API specifications, and development processes.
- Stay updated with the latest backend technologies, trends, and best practices to ensure the AMIS remains at the forefront of technological advancements.
Qualifications:
- Education & Experience:
- Sc. in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
- At least 5 years of backend development experience, including substantial work with Java and Spring Boot or similar backend frameworks.
- Proven and verifiable experience in developing and deploying distributed systems or microservices and RESTful APIs.
- Participation in the design and development of applications that have been successfully deployed in the field.
- Technical & Soft Skills:
- Experience with microservices architecture and service-oriented design
- Proficiency in widely supported open-source languages, preferably Java, Python, and JavaScript, along with their associated frameworks.
- Strong understanding of REST API design, development, and consumption.
- Skilled in SQL query design and optimization.
- Experienced in source code optimization for efficiency and reliability.
- Knowledge of collaborative tools such as Git.
- Familiarity with DevOps practices and CI/CD pipelines.
- Experience with containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes).
- Software development experience on Linux using open-source tools and technologies.
- Familiarity with service mesh technologies (e.g., Consul, Istio, Linkerd) for managing microservices communication and Apache Kafka.
- Familiarity with application monitoring and logging tools like Elasticsearch, Kibana, Grafana, and Prometheus to ensure system reliability and performance.
- Excellent problem-solving abilities and understanding of basic coding patterns, including problem-solving strategies, code safety, and security models.
- Good communication skills, especially useful for the bilingual nature of the applications.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team.
- Ability to produce clear and comprehensive technical documentation.
- Good spoken and written English.
Work Environment:
At MINAGRI, we foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment that values innovation, dedication, and excellence. As a Senior Backend Developer Consultant, you will:
- Onsite Availability: Full-time onsite presence in Kigali, Rwanda, is required to ensure seamless collaboration and integration with the team.
- Reporting Structure: Report directly to the assigned line manager, with oversight provided by the Chief Digital Officer at MINAGRI.
- Team Collaboration: Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality solutions.
- Agile Methodologies: Engage in Agile/Scrum practices, ensuring iterative development, continuous feedback, and adaptive planning to meet project goals effectively.
- Cutting-Edge Tools: Utilize the latest open-source tools and technologies in a Linux-based development environment, promoting efficiency and innovation.
- Supportive Culture: Benefit from a culture that encourages knowledge sharing, continuous learning, and professional growth, supported by mentorship from experienced team members.
- Ad-Hoc Reports: The consultant may be required to prepare and submit additional reports as requested by the Chief Digital Officer.
Expected Deliverables and Timelines
- Monthly Progress Report:
At the end of each month, the consultant shall submit a set of deliverables to the Chief Digital Officer for the agriculture sector. The consultant must provide Quality and timely work outputs approved by the supervisor. This includes the following reports:
- Detail completed activities in line with the monthly work plan.
- Highlight planned activities for the next period.
- Explain any uncompleted tasks and reasons for delays.
- Outline encountered constraints.
- Provide recommendations for improvement and the plan for the upcoming month.
- Quarterly Progress Report: Every three months, the consultant must submit a progress report summarizing key achievements in line with the assignment’s terms of reference, the project’s quarterly work plan, and the overall work plan.
- Ad-Hoc Reports: The consultant may be required to prepare and submit additional reports as requested by the Chief Digital Officer or the delegated line manager.
Reporting Arrangements
The consultant shall report to the Chief Digital Officer, who will oversee and approve the deliverables. The Chief Digital Officer may delegate part or full responsibility to another member of the Digital Office.
How to Apply
Interested applicants must submit the following required documents:
- Notarized Diploma or Equivalent
- Relevant Certificates(if applicable)
- Updated CV
- Proof of Experience– Proven experience with certificates of good completion on the similar nature of the assignment
- Technical Proposal– Follow the provided template available in the advertised tender documents
- Detailed Remuneration Cost Proposal
The Evaluation criteria
Evaluation Criteria Breakdown is as follow:
| Category | Points | Criteria |
| Academic Qualifications & Certifications | 20 | – Academic qualification (15 pts)
– Relevant certifications (up to 5 bonus pts) |
| Relevant work experience & skills (demonstrated in CV & past projects in technical proposal) | 40 | – Years of experience in a similar role (15 pts)
– Expertise in key skills required for the role (10 pts) – Familiarity with industry tools, technologies, or methodologies (10 pts) – Experience working with agriculture-related digital platforms/solutions (5pts) |
| Technical Proposal (Approach, Problem-Solving, and Understanding of Role) | 20 | – Clear and structured problem-solving approach (10 pts)
– Demonstrated understanding of role expectations (10 pts) |
| Proof of Experience (Certificate of Good Completion, Recommendation Letters, References, Portfolio, Git Repositories, etc.) | 20 | – Certificate of Good Completion, Recommendation letter or strong references from previous employers or clients (10 pts)
– Portfolio, Git Repositories, case studies, or public contributions (10 pts) |
Only candidates who have obtained 70 points or more will be subject to further consideration. All candidates will be ranked in descending order and the first one on the list shall be asked to submit the financial proposal and invited contract negotiations and retained for the assignment if the proposed professional fees fall within the limits of the available budget. The same process will continue with the next ranked candidates if the negotiations fail to result in an acceptable contract.
The selected candidates shall be awarded a contract of twelve (12) months that may be renewed upon satisfactory performances as may be subsequently agreed upon by the parties in writing.
During negotiations, the client will agree with the candidates on the monthly payment inclusive of applicable taxes by the government of Rwanda.
Note:
- Technical proposals must not contain any financial information.
- Interested applicant who are not registered in the E-Procurement System are advised to register to be able to submit their expressions of interest
- MINAGRI is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.
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