Backend Systems Engineer - IOT/Smart City - Part-Time

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Job Description

·      Join the Software Engineering team on a physical Operations Technology (OT) integration project. 

·      You will build and maintain the backend systems that connect OT field devices to the digital twin platform — handling real-time data ingestion, protocol translation, and system integration across industrial communication standards. 

 Key Responsibilities

·       Develop and maintain backend services and middleware for OT/IoT data ingestion using OPC-UA, MODBUS, and MQTT protocols. 

·      Build data pipeline components that normalise, process, and route telemetry from field devices to platform services and 3D visualisation layers. 

·       Integrate AI coding tools (e.g. Claude, Copilot) into daily development workflows for code generation, unit testing, and validation — this is an expected practice, not optional. 

·      Write and maintain automated test suites covering protocol adapters, data transformation logic, and integration endpoints. 

·      Collaborate with frontend Unity engineers and systems architects to define and implement API contracts (REST/WebSocket). 

·      Participate in code reviews, contribute to technical documentation, and support deployment through CI/CD pipelines. 

·      Troubleshoot field connectivity and protocol issues; work with OT/hardware teams on device commissioning and debugging. 

Required qualification/skills:: 

·      Hands-on experience with OPC-UA, MODBUS, and MQTT — protocol implementation, not just conceptual familiarity. 

·      Proficiency in backend development (Python, Node.js, Go, or Java — at least one). 

·      Active use of AI tools for coding, testing, and validation in prior roles or personal projects. 

·      Experience writing integration and unit tests; familiarity with test automation frameworks. 

·      Comfortable working with message brokers (MQTT brokers, Kafka, or similar) and time-series or event-driven data. 

 Good to Have:: 

·      Exposure to digital twin platforms or industrial IoT stacks. 

·      Familiarity with OT security considerations (network segmentation, secure protocol configuration). 

·      Experience with containerisation (Docker/Kubernetes) and CI/CD tooling. 

·      Knowledge of BACnet, DNP3, or other industrial protocols. 

Experience Required:: 

·      2–5 years in backend or systems software engineering, with at least some exposure to OT/IoT environments.

·       Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.