Company Background Established in 1970 and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (www.icipe.org) is distinct, being the only research organisation in Africa working primarily on insects and other arthropods. icipe is also the sole institution that combines research and development activities across plant health, human health, animal health, and environmental health. icipe generates world-class scientific knowledge and translates it into insectbased, nature-positive, One Health innovations that sustainably transform millions of livelihoods across Africa and beyond. Additionally, icipe nurtures Africa’s talent and leadership in insect science through the Centre’s long-standing programmes in doctoral and postdoctoral training, advancement of research and innovation in applied sciences, engineering, and technology, and the creation of a bioeconomy in Africa. The Centre has about 500 international and national staff, operations in more than 40 countries in Africa, and over 300 partnerships with diverse organisations across the world. For additional information, visit: (www.icipe.org). icipe is seeking to appoint an outstanding, dynamic, and self-motivated scientist for the position of Data and Software Engineering Scientist. The position is tenable at the icipe Duduville Campus in Nairobi and will be offered for an initial contract of 2 years, renewable subject to continued funding and the staff performance. A competitive and generous compensation package that includes housing and transport allowances, education allowance, comprehensive health and life insurance cover, and an offshore retirement package (all payable in US Dollars), will be offered to the right candidate. Furthermore, the incumbent will receive paid annual vacation and return airfare for themselves and their dependents to their nominated home base each year. If the successful candidate is appointed from outside Kenya, he or she will be offered support to relocate and settle in Nairobi. Qualified candidates from Africa (and especially females) are invited to apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged. Living in Nairobi, Kenya Nairobi, the vibrant capital and largest city of Kenya, is home to over three million residents and offers a dynamic blend of modern conveniences and rich cultural experiences. The city boasts a wide selection of excellent international schools, 24/7 access to quality medical facilities, and easy connectivity through numerous reputable international airlines. Nairobi is a hub for global research and development, hosting several CGIAR Centres, UN agencies, and other international organisations. Known for its warm hospitality, Kenyans welcome newcomers with openness and generosity. With its comfortable lifestyle, diverse amenities, and thriving professional community, Nairobi is an exciting and rewarding place to live and work. Overall Purpose of the Job The scientist is responsible for providing strategic leadership of in digital systems in research and development, such as data management, software, cloud pipelines and artificial intelligence. The scientist will manage data and serve as the technical coordinator for data throughout all stages of research and development. The scientist will develop/implement digital platforms and collate data for analysis and generate high-quality data products/outputs. The scientist will lead and coordinate all cloud and data engineering inputs, manage complex data stewardship in the Digital Earth Africa program, the Vector Atlas, and other related scientific software systems. The scientists will lead the development of machine learning (including large language models) solutions in various domains (such as entomology, ecology, diseases, etc.), for Africa and beyond. Specific Duties Manage and coordinate all research on-premises and cloud infrastructure with respective data and software systems to ensure the overall maintenance and evolution. Contribute to resource mobilization; grant writing, and proposal development to secure sustainable funding for data-driven research and software/cloud infrastructure development. Be the corporate leader in data management and work with staff to establish a vision and culture that embraces data management and accountability as a cross-corporate asset. Develop and align the institutional data management policy with relevant regulatory, legal, and ethical mandates. Develop and maintain data management standards for the Centre and regularly review emerging data management tools and skill and ensure timely introduction to the Centre. Supervise the development of relevant databases, web systems, and other software for the collection, storage, and distribution of research data. Develop and maintain data/software audit trails, controls on data quality and interoperability to manage corporate data related risks. Manage programmes that advance the roles of data management and oversee the integrity, security, usage and availability of institutional data management policy while ensuring compliance with data governance, protection, privacy, and security requirements across systems and architectures. Advance modelling and conduct research to implement optimized/novel artificial intelligence and machine learning (including large language models) initiatives and solutions. Deploy internal and external-facing artificial intelligence applications using cutting-edge data science and software engineering practices. Coordinate diverse scientific project components that require a centralized data clearing house to ensure interoperability and data accessibility. Optimize cloud resources and products for performance and cost-effectiveness. Develop and facilitate in-house data management training courses and the use of R and Python statistical software for scientists and students. Enhance capacity building by supervising and mentoring software developers, data analysts, and (post)graduate students. Contribute and lead the drafting and publishing of high-impact manuscripts. Requirements/Qualifications PhD in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Software Engineering, or a related field. At least 4 years postdoctoral experience in managing complex research data and software/cloud systems as well as modelling in machine learning artefacts. Minimum of 7 years’ experience in designing data collection and integration architectures and software/cloud solutions. Previous experience at an international/ regional research organization is an added advantage. Core Competencies Experience programming in Python, R, or related languages is required. Experience providing training and technical guidance to enhance the development of institutional capacity to use information systems, data science, and machine learning. Good understanding of version control systems, CI/CD, Agile (Scrum) development, data security, and governance. Publication of high-impact manuscripts Reporting This position reports to the Senior Research Scientist How to Apply Applications will be accepted up to 7 th May 2026. Interested applicants should submit: (a) a confidential cover letter; (b) a detailed CV with names and addresses of 3 referees (including e-mail addresses); (c) a statement illustrating suitability against the listed qualifications/ competencies/abilities and skills; (d) four published papers