This position is based in Baghdad. Please apply only if you are willing to relocate to Baghdad.
Primary Responsibilities
The Development Lead will spearhead the design, development, and integration of digital platforms and applications for a major port and logistics project. The role requires strong alignment with the organization's Applications Manager to ensure that all solutions comply with corporate standards, governance frameworks, and best practices. The Development Lead will be the bridge between the project team, corporate IT governance, and external stakeholders, ensuring both local delivery excellence and corporate alignment.
Duties and Essential Job Functions
1. Leadership & Governance
- Report to and align development activities with the Applications Manager
- Ensure all development follows corporate standards, policies, and governance frameworks
- Provide transparent reporting, documentation, and escalation to the Applications Manager on project risks, issues, and progress
- Act as a local development authority while ensuring adherence to enterprise-wide architecture and coding standards
2. System Design & Development
- Lead the design, development, and customization of systems supporting port operations, logistics, customs, shipping, security, and financial workflows
- Ensure developed systems are scalable, secure, and interoperable with corporate applications and ERP platforms
- Implement modern technologies (microservices, APIs, LLM/AI integration, blockchain, cloud-native applications)
3. Integration & Data Management
- Ensure seamless data flow between project systems and corporate central platforms
- Establish alignment of data governance, master data management (MDM), and access controls with corporate-level policies
- Drive the development of APIs, integration middleware, and secure data exchange models
4. Quality Assurance & Delivery
- Coordinate with the Applications Manager to establish quality assurance standards, secure development practices, and DevSecOps pipelines
- Ensure compliance with corporate security, audit, and regulatory standards
- Deliver systems on time, on budget, and aligned with both local project requirements and corporate-wide strategy
5. Stakeholder & Vendor Management
- Act as the technical focal point between project stakeholders, vendors, and the Applications Manager
- Align vendor deliverables with corporate architecture and compliance frameworks
- Provide regular updates to both project management and the Applications Manager to ensure governance consistency
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field
Experience
- 10+ years in software development, with 5+ years in a lead/architect role
- Demonstrated experience in system integration for logistics, port management, ERP, or large-scale digital transformation programs
- Experience working in corporate governance environments is a plus
Technical Expertise
- Enterprise application development, API management, microservices
- Integration with ERP/CRM platforms and port/logistics systems
- Cloud (AWS/Azure), containerization (Docker/Kubernetes), DevSecOps practices
- Knowledge of cybersecurity standards and compliance frameworks (ISO 27001, COBIT, PCI DSS)
- Familiarity with AI/LLMs and blockchain-enabled applications
- Preferred Certifications: PMP/Prince2, TOGAF, ITIL, COBIT, or equivalent
Key Competencies
- Strong leadership with a governance-first mindset
- Ability to balance local project requirements with corporate-wide alignment
- Effective communicator with both technical and business stakeholders
- Strategic yet hands-on problem solver
- Strong vendor and partner management skills
Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Alignment of all development activities with Applications Manager policies and standards
- Successful integration with corporate-wide applications and platforms
- On-time delivery of development milestones
- Compliance with cybersecurity and governance requirements
- Stakeholder satisfaction at both project and corporate levels
