The Apps Development Lead drives the design, development, and delivery of secure, scalable, and modern applications that integrate seamlessly with existing systems. This role ensures interoperability, supports digital transformation, and strengthens the JCU's technology ecosystem through leadership in architecture, development practices, and team supervision.
System architecture and integration
- Develop and execute enterprise architecture strategy to align systems with future digital infrastructure.
- Design interoperable solutions connecting existing platforms and services.
- Lead migration from legacy systems to modern, scalable platforms while ensuring data integrity, security, and accessibility.
Requirements Analysis & Solution Design
- Establish project standards and select appropriate frameworks, platforms, and environments to ensure optimal solution design.
- Validate requirements for completeness, feasibility, and compliance, ensuring alignment with institutional objectives and security standards.
Application development
- Architect, develop and deliver applications using contemporary frameworks and languages.
- Implement microservices, APIs, and event-driven integrations for core systems (Student, HR, Finance).
- Lead agile development practices across the team, including sprint planning, backlog grooming, and daily stand-ups. Ensure effective collaboration, continuous integration, and delivery pipelines (CI/CD) to accelerate development cycles and maintain high-quality standards.
- Ensure robust testing strategies, including functional, performance, user acceptance testing and document architecture and code to facilitate future upgrades and support.
Security and compliance
- Enforce secure development practices and compliance with PDPA policies and collaborate with cybersecurity teams for vulnerability management and penetration testing.
- Implement secure coding guidelines, maintain audit-ready documentation, and monitor security KPIs such as vulnerability closure rate and compliance adherence.
Project Management
- Manage outsourced application development projects, ensuring vendor deliverables are met.
- Coordinate with external and internal stakeholders to align outsourced solutions with enterprise architecture and compliance standards.
- Oversee project planning, risk management, and acceptance testing for outsourced deliverables.
Requirements
- Bachelor or Master of Engineering in Computer science, Communications Engineering, or related field.
- Preferred Certifications in AWS/Azure associatelevel or higher, Certified scrum master and having a Project Management Professional (PMP) would be a plus.
- Minimum 4+ years in software engineering, with at least 2 years leading teams or projects, preferably in Agile environments.
- Hands-on experience in Agile development practices, including sprint planning, backlog grooming, and CI/CD implementation.
- Strong understanding of enterprise architecture principles and experience in designing interoperable solutions.
- Expertise in API-driven integrations, microservices, and event-driven architectures for core systems.
- Proficiency in modern frameworks and languages: React, Angular, .NET Core.
- Solid knowledge of REST APIs, relational databases (SQL Server), and familiarity with data warehousing patterns.
- Experience with AWS or Azure (compute, storage, networking, identity).
- Skilled in CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, containerization (Docker), and deployment strategies (blue-green, rolling).
- Strong grasp of secure coding practices, vulnerability management, and compliance with PDPA.
- Familiarity with OWASP standards, identity and access management (SSO), secrets management, and encryption techniques.
- Advanced knowledge of message queues/events (e.g., AWS SQS/SNS, Azure Service Bus), ETL/ELT processes, and webhook patterns for asynchronous and scalable integrations.
- Manage in house developers and oversee modernization of 10 legacy systems and ensure integration with enterprise architecture.
Desirable Characteristics
- Strong communicator able to turn complex technical concepts into clear actions.
- Collaborative and effective with internal teams, vendors, and cross-border partners.
- Adaptable and proactive when handling legacy system and integration challenges.
- Detail-oriented with a strong focus on quality, security, and compliance.
- Analytical problem-solver skilled in evaluating modernization and integration strategies.
- Results-driven, delivering projects on time while meeting performance and security goals.
Closing date: 26 December 2025
We thank you for your interest and shortlisted candidates will be notified.
The Singapore campus of James Cook University (registered as James Cook University Pte Ltd in Singapore) is a wholly owned company of James Cook University Australia. The University offers Bachelor & Master Programs in Business, Psychology, Information Technology & Education at the Singapore campus of James Cook University.
