Tech Lead

Zia & Rabia Bhatti Foundation (ZRBF), a non-profit organization based in Islamabad, Pakistan, is seeking an experienced Tech Lead to spearhead the development of Maktab, an innovative unified platform designed to manage student records, ERP, classroom activities, and AI tutoring for Barkat International College (BIC), its first client. This full-time, on-site role offers the unique opportunity to build a scalable education platform aimed at serving 100,000 students nationwide and beyond. The Tech Lead will play a critical role in shaping the system’s architecture, guiding a high-caliber engineering team, and integrating cutting-edge AI tools into the development process. The position demands a leader with proven experience in scaling systems, strong technical judgment, and a passion for transforming higher education through technology.

Key Responsibilities
- Own and evolve Maktab’s architecture from initial launch to supporting 100,000 students, documenting key technical decisions along the way.
- Define and manage the use of AI coding agents in the development workflow, including setting trust boundaries, review processes, and maintaining specifications as the source of truth.
- Lead, mentor, and grow the engineering team while ensuring code and architectural standards are consistently met, regardless of whether code is written by humans or AI agents.
- Integrate and extend existing platforms such as ERPNext, Moodle, and Keycloak, making strategic build-versus-buy decisions as the platform scales.
- Oversee platform governance including container orchestration, service boundaries, multi-tenancy, data management, and cost optimization.
- Collaborate closely with academic and operational stakeholders to translate college needs into effective software solutions.
- Recruit exceptional engineering talent to build and expand the team as Maktab grows.

Required Qualifications
- Minimum of 10 years in professional software development with at least 3 years in leadership roles involving engineering teams or architectural ownership.
- Mastery of at least one programming language among Python, Java, TypeScript, or Go, with working proficiency in another. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their code in detail.
- Demonstrated experience managing significant system growth in users, data, or team size, with clear insights into the decisions made and lessons learned.
- Hands-on production experience with container technologies and a thoughtful perspective on when orchestration tools like Kubernetes and microservices are justified.
- Proven expertise working on major cloud platforms, preferably AWS.
- Strong background in relational database design and API development.
- Extensive practical use of AI coding tools in production environments, with sound judgment on their limitations.
- Excellent communication skills, capable of explaining complex technical concepts clearly to non-technical colleagues, with strong written English.

Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with products built on large language models such as Claude or OpenAI, including evaluation, cost management, and safety considerations.
- Familiarity with ERPNext/Frappe, Moodle, Keycloak, or broader EdTech and higher education sectors.
- Background in multi-tenant, cloud-native SaaS platforms.
- Knowledge of infrastructure as code (Terraform), GitOps, or DevSecOps practices.
- Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related discipline.

What We Offer
- Competitive compensation at the top of the market for outstanding candidates, with a commitment to retaining the right person beyond salary considerations.
- Performance bonuses linked to platform milestones and team achievements.
- Access to state-of-the-art equipment and AI development tools.
- Support for professional development including conferences, certifications, and learning resources.

Location
This position is based in Islamabad, Pakistan, and requires on-site presence.

ZRBF is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Candidates interested in this challenging and rewarding role are encouraged to apply by submitting a CV along with a brief note describing a project they are proud of, highlighting key decisions and reflections on what could be done differently.