Backend Systems Engineer - IoT/Smart City -12 Months Contract

Role Overview Join the Software Engineering team on a physical Operations Technology (OT) integration project. You will build and maintain the backend systems that connect OT field devices to the digital twin platform — handling real-time data ingestion, protocol translation, and system integration across industrial communication standards. Key Responsibilities Develop and maintain backend services and middleware for OT/IoT data ingestion using OPC-UA, MODBUS, and MQTT protocols. Build data pipeline components that normalise, process, and route telemetry from field devices to platform services and 3D visualisation layers. Integrate AI coding tools (e.g. Claude, Copilot) into daily development workflows for code generation, unit testing, and validation — this is an expected practice, not optional. Write and maintain automated test suites covering protocol adapters, data transformation logic, and integration endpoints. Collaborate with frontend Unity engineers and systems architects to define and implement API contracts (REST/WebSocket). Participate in code reviews, contribute to technical documentation, and support deployment through CI/CD pipelines. Troubleshoot field connectivity and protocol issues; work with OT/hardware teams on device commissioning and debugging. Must-Have Requirements Hands-on experience with OPC-UA, MODBUS, and MQTT — protocol implementation, not just conceptual familiarity. Proficiency in backend development (Python, Node.js, Go, or Java — at least one). Active use of AI tools for coding, testing, and validation in prior roles or personal projects. Experience writing integration and unit tests; familiarity with test automation frameworks. Comfortable working with message brokers (MQTT brokers, Kafka, or similar) and time-series or event-driven data. Good to Have Exposure to digital twin platforms or industrial IoT stacks. Familiarity with OT security considerations (network segmentation, secure protocol configuration). Experience with cont…