Data Engineer, Public Health Surveillance

Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) is a US-based, global public health organization with a mission to prevent 100 million deaths from heart disease and to make the world safer from epidemics. Since 2017, Resolve to Save Lives has partnered with low-and middle-income country governments, multilateral agencies, academic and other civil society partners, and communities to implement policies and programs to treat and control hypertension, reduce sodium intake, eliminate artificial trans fats, and strengthen systems for epidemic prevention. 

Resolve to Save Lives' Prevent Epidemics program works closely with Ministries of Health and national public health institutes in Africa to strengthen epidemic preparedness capacity, accelerate disease detection and response, and effectively use data to inform action. In addition to direct partnerships with governments, we also work with implementing partners, including the US CDC, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, to implement programs, prototype innovations, and ensure sustainability through increased national ownership, including domestic budget allocations.

Position Purpose

RTSL is seeking a Public Health Surveillance Data Engineer to be embedded within the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). The Data Engineer will provide engineering support for key public health digital platforms, including SORMAS, Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), SitAware and their integrations. This role is critical in ensuring the optimal performance, interoperability, and sustainability of NCDC's digital surveillance systems, strengthening disease surveillance, outbreak response, and laboratory data management.

Beyond system maintenance and troubleshooting, the engineer will work closely with NCDC technical teams to build institutional capacity by training and mentoring relevant staff on system operations, troubleshooting, and to identify, design and implement internal process improvements to optimize data delivery as well as digital public health surveillance data management systems best practices.

This position sits within the Department of Surveillance and Epidemiology, NCDC. The role will have a matrix reporting structure, reporting to both the Divisional Head of the Public Health Informatics Division and the Senior Technical Advisor for Health Security and Event-Based Surveillance at RTSL. The incumbent will also have regular reporting, technical support, and collaboration on outputs with global members of the RTSL team.

Length of Engagement: This is a fixed-term appointment through December 2026 with the possibility of extension. 

Core Duties and Responsibilities

The Data Engineer will provide technical support and evolve the systems-level and architectural framework for digital solutions at NCDC. Responsibilities will span across the data lifecycle but are not limited to the following:

• Provide technical guidance in defining and implementing data integration solutions, including APIs, middleware, and data pipelines, to support system interoperability and collaborative surveillance needs at NCDC
• Drive the integration of priority platforms such as SitAware, SORMAS, and LIMS, ensuring seamless data exchange for laboratory, surveillance, and decision-making processes
• Collaborate with the Legal and Data Governance and Architecture consultants, along with the NCDC and RTSL staff, to develop a data governance plan to inform architecture requirements
• Support the development of a roadmap for NCDC data architecture that enables data sharing both within the NCDC and between NCDC and the other sectors
• Design and launch a digital governance framework to clarify authority for decision-making for digital systems related to surveillance
• Provide technical support for the implementation of several surveillance digital solutions, including SORMAS, SITAware, and LIMS
• Collaborate with the NCDC ICT team to ensure continuous uptime, functionality, and security of relevant surveillance information systems by proactively addressing technical issues, performing software updates, patches, and regular maintenance
• Develop technical documentation, user manuals, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for system use and troubleshooting
• Conduct hands-on workshops, training and mentorship sessions for NCDC technical staff and other system users to enhance institutional knowledge of system architecture and functionality
• Work with development partners to explore scalable and sustainable digital solutions for public health
• Participate in technical working groups, community of practice, and other knowledge-sharing forums on health information systems
• Perform any other incident-specific related duties, as required by supervisor

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's or master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Health Informatics, Information Technology, or a related field

Experience

• At least 8 years of experience in software development, system integration, or digital health implementation
• Strong expertise in programming languages (Python, Java, JavaScript, C#), database management (SQL, PostgreSQL, etc.) and frameworks (Angular, React etc.), and DevOps
• Experience working/familiarity with health information systems (SORMAS, mSERS, DHIS2, LIMS, etc.) or similar platforms

Skills & Abilities

• Familiarity with API development, cloud computing (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), and DevOps practices
• Familiarity with healthcare informatics standards (HL7, FHIR, LOINC, etc.)
• Experience developing and providing training and mentorship to technical teams in public health settings through day-to-day collaboration, developer guides, and presentations
• Knowledge of cybersecurity principles, data privacy regulations, and health data governance
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills
• Familiarity with machine learning, AI, or blockchain applications in health data management
• Ability to work in fast-paced, high-pressure environments and manage multiple priorities

Preferred Skills & Attributes

• Experience with public health surveillance and laboratory information systems
• Experience with managing digital health implementations, including strong knowledge of digital health and data governance

Compensation and Benefits 

Resolve to Save Lives prides itself on cultivating a supportive, connected remote team doing work that matters. We do everything possible to ensure our employees are connected and set up for success.

The salary for this role is competitive and set according to national labor rates for the international NGO sector in Nigeria. The exact offer will be determined by various factors, such as the candidate’s skills and experience relative to the requirements of the role.

In addition to a competitive salary, Resolve to Save Lives provides a generous package of benefits, including: 

• Health insurance for you and your dependents 
• Contributions toward retirement  
• Paid annual leave and sick leave, in addition to public holidays 
• Two paid, week-long organization-wide breaks at mid-year and end-of-year  
• Professional development and home office setup benefits 
• Up-to-date computer equipment 

RTSL believes its programs are strengthened when they are developed and supported by individuals with diverse life experiences whose understanding of social and cultural issues can help make our work and workforce more inclusive. We encourage applications from and provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, organ donor status, or status as a veteran. Resolve to Save Lives complies with all applicable US EEO laws.