Digital Advisor (Open-Source Spectrum Rights Registry)

ABOUT THE COMPANY

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.

JOB SUMMARY

Education RequirementsRequiredAn advanced University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) preferably in mathematics, computer science, IT, engineering or a related field is required.A first level University Degree (Bachelor`s degree or equivalent) preferably in the above-mentioned areas or in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the Advanced University Degree.Experience RequirementsRequired:A minimum of 7 years of experience in software engineering, system architecture, or distributed systems is required.Experience in designing and delivering complex technical systems is requiredExperience in backend services, APIs, and data modeling is required.Proven record of producing and maintaining open-source software is required.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Senior Advisor, Digital Inclusion, the contractor will be responsible for the following:Technical Architecture & System DesignDesign the overall system architecture for the spectrum-rights registry, including data models, identity assumptions, authorization logic, and audit loggingDefine machine-readable spectrum-rights objects covering frequency range, geography, time window, and basic constraintsDesign a modular architecture that can accommodate future extensions, including optional distributed-ledger anchoring of rights history (conceptual only in this phase)Software Development & Open-Source DeliveryImplement the MVP backend service supporting:creation, update, and revocation of spectrum-rights objectsauthorization checks for test radios or clientsstructured logging and auditabilityDevelop a minimal web-based graphical interface allowing regulators and operators to:view spectrum bands and test allocationscreate, modify, and revoke allocationsreview audit logsDevelop a software-defined radio (SDR) test harness or equivalent simulation demonstrating allow/deny behavior based on registry responsesPublish all code in a public GitHub repository with clear documentation and version control.Engagement with Regulators and PartnersProvide technical explanations and diagrams to support UNICEF Digital Inclusion engagement with regulators exploring sandbox testsTranslate regulator questions and feedback into concrete system refinementsSupport the design of safe, regulator-approved test scenarios involving authorized operators or test entitiesTesting, Evaluation, and IterationSupport at least one laboratory or field-based sandbox test using the MVPEvaluate system behavior, limitations, and usabilityPropose refinements and architectural improvements based on observed outcomesResearch & Forward PlanningDocument architectural options for future phases, including:deeper authorization integration patternsmulti-operator allocation logicidentity and security considerationsoptional tokenization or distributed-ledger representations (non-financial, conceptual)Produce clear technical documentation to inform future decision-making by UNICEF and partners

REQUIRED SKILLS

Systems design, Mathematics, IT support, System architecture

REQUIRED EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree