Systems Architecture Specialist

The UNOPS IT Group (ITG) is at the forefront of digital transformation, designing, delivering, and managing all of UNOPS IT infrastructure and business applications. We are a global team, dedicated to harnessing cutting-edge technology to address critical business needs and empower UNOPS personnel worldwide. ITG provides the essential IT systems and tools that underpin the successful implementation of UNOPS projects and the delivery of corporate initiatives. From maintaining robust enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and developing bespoke business applications to managing our cloud infrastructure and supporting global collaboration platforms, our work ensures operational excellence. We are committed to continuous improvement, driving effectiveness and efficiency in UNOPS products and services, ultimately helping people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.

The Client IT Projects (CPIT) function within ITG exists to provide direct support for UNOPS projects, leveraging technology to help achieve their outputs while retaining an overall perspective on how solutions can provide benefits for UNOPS and its projects’ partners globally.

We are building a talent pool of experienced System Architects to support upcoming Client IT projects over the next months and years. Successful candidates may be engaged in ongoing or short-term, ad hoc contracts, depending on their interest and project budget availability. Positions may be office- or home-based.

The successful candidate must be able to maintain a work schedule aligned with Copenhagen time (CET/CEST) +/- 1 hour. Additionally, because the role involves working with cloud-based environments and AI-assisted tools, a highly reliable internet connection and a stable power infrastructure are essential for day-to-day performance.

Under the supervision of the Head of Client Projects IT, the Systems Architect will design and deliver the architectural blueprints, APIs, and reusable components that power UNOPS digital services. The role combines hands-on design and development with developer mentoring and the embedding of Responsible AI principles into system architecture.

1. Architecture & Design

Design and deliver sustainable, scalable, and secure architectural blueprints for CPIT solutions, adhering to ITG best practices and clean architecture principles.

Define and maintain API design standards, including RESTful conventions, versioning strategies, authentication patterns, and documentation requirements.

Conduct in-depth analysis of emerging architectural patterns and industry best practices to optimise internal system designs.

Design reusable project templates and starter kits that enable developers to spin up new applications quickly while following CPIT's architectural standards.

Ensure all CPIT-built solutions are resilient, secure, scalable, and interoperable with enterprise systems, legacy platforms, and external partner systems, using standardised APIs and integration patterns.

Ensure CPIT-built solutions are, as far as possible, technology vendor-agnostic and portable to enable handover to third parties at any point.

2. Development and Team mentoring

Guide and mentor CPIT developers through code reviews, pairing sessions, and architectural guidance, raising the team's overall engineering capability.

Lead the development of core product components, writing code where necessary and ensuring all implementations adhere to architectural principles and performance standards.

Translate business requirements into technical specifications, data models, and solution designs.

3. AI & Responsible Technology

Embed Responsible AI principles into system architecture, including data privacy, transparency, fairness, explainability, audit trails, and human oversight mechanisms.

Provide technical expertise on the implementation of modern AI/ML techniques, prediction algorithms, and advanced data processing patterns.

Evaluate and recommend platforms, open-source frameworks, and cloud services, including AI-specific ones, aligned with organizational risk and procurement frameworks.

4. Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

Work with project stakeholders to ensure CPIT-built solutions meet business application delivery requirements.

Work with project stakeholders to ensure appropriate knowledge and experience is provided to assist them with IT hiring processes.

Work with project stakeholders to ensure appropriate knowledge and experience is provided to assist them with IT procurement processes.

Work with the Core Engineering, CSOC and Enterprise Architecture teams to ensure that CPIT solutions align with ITG's ongoing maturity journey.

5. Knowledge Management

Establish and maintain a catalogue of reusable components, templates, and integration patterns (both AI and general-purpose) that CPIT can deploy.

Maintain and enforce comprehensive technical documentation for all CPIT products and infrastructure to ensure long-term maintainability and clarity.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), preferably in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Technology Management, Mathematics or related fields with 7 years of relevant experience

  OR

  Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields with 5 years of relevant experience is required

Required

• At least 5 years of professional experience in a senior IT development capacity. Experience in systems architecture, solutions design, or similar roles is highly desirable.
• Experience writing and reviewing production code with a working knowledge of clean architecture principles or domain-driven design.
• Experience defining API standards, including RESTful design conventions, versioning strategies, and authentication patterns.
• Experience with at least one major cloud platform (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
• Experience mentoring or technically leading a development team, including through code reviews and architectural guidance.
• Experience producing technical documentation (e.g., system blueprints, component catalogues, or handover materials).

Desired

• Experience with front-end architectural patterns, including modern JavaScript frameworks (e.g., React, Angular).
• Experience with DevOps practices and CI/CD pipelines.
• Experience working in international organisations or multi-country environments.
• Experience working in an IT capacity within UNOPS in the last 5 years.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.