Program Associate - Software Engineer

Overview

Software Engineer role at WRI India to contribute to open-source digital platforms and geospatial tools across Programs such as Food, Land, Water, Mobility, Cities, and Energy, building web applications, interactive maps, data pipelines, and AI-assisted tools for research and programmatic work.

What you'll do

• Build and maintain full-stack web applications using JavaScript frameworks (React or Vue.js) and Python or Node.js backends, following WRI India's engineering standards.
• Build RESTful APIs to expose environmental and geospatial data to internal tools and external partners.
• Implement automated tests, write clear documentation, and follow version control and code review practices using Git and GitHub.
• Deploy and maintain applications on cloud platforms (AWS or GCP), using containerisation tools such as Docker.
• Assist in integrating AI and ML tools into research and programmatic workflows, including LLM APIs, geospatial classification models, and automated data extraction pipelines.
• Build lightweight AI-assisted tools such as document analysis utilities, chatbots for internal use, or RAG (retrieval-augmented generation) pipelines using open-source frameworks (LangChain, LlamaIndex).
• Support researchers and program staff in using and accessing digital tools, providing troubleshooting and basic training where needed.
• Stay current on open-source AI, geospatial, and web technologies and contribute ideas for improving WRI India's technical stack.
• Work closely with senior engineers, program managers, and UX designers to translate user needs into technical requirements and deliver high-quality features.
• Participate in agile ceremonies (sprint planning, standups, retrospectives) and contribute to a collaborative engineering culture.
• Contribute to open-source projects and communities relevant to WRI India's technology stack.
• Document features, APIs, and deployment processes clearly for internal and external audiences.

What you'll need

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Geoinformatics, or a related technical field.
• 2–4 years of professional experience in software engineering, including internships and academic projects.
• Proficiency in JavaScript (React or Vue.js preferred) and Python for web application development.
• Basic experience with relational databases (PostgreSQL preferred) and RESTful API development.
• Familiarity with version control using Git and GitHub, and comfort working in an agile development environment.
• Strong problem-solving ability, attention to detail, and willingness to learn new technologies.

Nice to have

• Working knowledge of geospatial concepts and tools; familiarity with PostGIS, GDAL, GeoJSON, or any mapping library (Leaflet, Maplibre GL, OpenLayers) is a strong advantage.
• Exposure to cloud platforms (AWS or GCP), Docker, or CI/CD pipelines is desirable.
• Interest in or familiarity with AI and ML tools, including LLM APIs, prompt engineering, or Python ML libraries, is a plus.
• Interest in environmental sustainability, public policy, food systems, or related domains is preferred.
• A portfolio of projects (GitHub, deployed apps, academic work) demonstrating technical ability is encouraged.

Details

• Location: Mumbai/New Delhi/Bangalore/Remote.
• Potential salary: INR 9,50,000 - 12,00,000, commensurate with experience, skills and internal parity.
• Documents to attach: Cover Letter and Resume.
• Applications must be submitted online through the career portal; a writing test is conducted with final candidates.