Backend Systems Engineer - IOT/Smart City -12 Months Contract - Part-Time

Role Overview

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.

Must-Have Requirements

• 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:

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.