Director (Software Development) (Contractual)

The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) is seeking experienced professionals for the position of Director (Software Development) on a contractual basis at its Islamabad headquarters. This role requires a seasoned leader with extensive expertise in software development, architecture, and compliance within large-scale, multi-project environments, preferably with experience in government or international enterprise systems. The ideal candidate will be responsible for driving the design, development, and delivery of scalable, secure software solutions while ensuring adherence to best practices, security standards, and architectural governance. Candidates must be under 55 years of age and possess a strong technical background combined with leadership skills to manage complex projects and diverse stakeholder requirements.

Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and implement Agile/Scrum methodologies, DevOps CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and quality assurance processes.
- Oversee the design and deployment of scalable national systems, enterprise architectures, integration platforms, and distributed microservices-based solutions.
- Ensure secure software development practices, including adherence to OWASP guidelines, vulnerability assessments (VAPT), and secure coding standards.
- Provide technical leadership in architecture design, compliance, and governance, including conducting architecture reviews, risk assessments, and design validation.
- Evaluate and integrate emerging AI technologies such as machine learning frameworks, natural language processing, and generative AI/LLM, with a focus on on-premise deployment models.
- Manage multi-project environments, coordinate with cross-functional teams including development, QA, information security, and infrastructure.
- Drive innovation, problem-solving, and decision-making under tight deadlines while maintaining high standards of communication and stakeholder management.
- Enforce engineering best practices, coding standards, and architectural governance to ensure system scalability, reliability, maintainability, and security.
- Maintain continuous learning to stay updated on industry trends and evolving technologies.

Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree (16 years of education) in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field from an HEC-recognized university (attested degrees required).
- Minimum of 10 years of professional experience, preferably 15 years, including at least 5 years in a senior technical leadership role.
- Strong knowledge of software development methodologies, enterprise architecture, security frameworks, API development, cloud and on-premise deployments.
- Proven experience working with national or international clients and large-scale enterprise systems.
- Age limit: 55 years (including 5 years general age relaxation).

Preferred Qualifications and Benefits:
- Master’s degree in a relevant discipline is preferred.
- Experience with government or large enterprise systems and international deployments is advantageous.
- Familiarity with AI technology integration and compliance frameworks.
- Candidates from female, minority, transgender, and differently-abled communities are encouraged to apply.
- Selected candidates will undergo a six-month probation period, extendable based on performance.
- No TA/DA will be provided for test/interview stages.
- Government or semi-government employees must provide a No Objection Certificate (NOC) at the time of the interview.
- Attested educational documents and certificates of medical fitness and character will be required upon joining.
- NADRA reserves the right to cancel or modify the recruitment process at any stage without prior notice.

Applications must be submitted online through NADRA’s official careers portal by 22nd November 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for testing and interviews. False information at any stage will lead to disqualification. Electronic devices are prohibited during assessments. This is an excellent opportunity for professionals seeking to contribute to national-level software development and architecture initiatives within a prestigious government organization.