Lead Backend Developer — Pro Bono / Volunteer

ABOUT SCIP

SCIP's mission is to enlighten, employ, and empower the next generation of global leaders, particularly those focused on STEM and business fields. We connect high-achieving, diverse talent with transformative corporate opportunities through mentorship, professional development, and exclusive internship placements. We believe in providing real-world experience through hands-on project work that has a lasting organizational impact.

We are actively seeking accomplished mid-level, senior, and executive professionals from corporate, industry, and nonprofit backgrounds who are ready to give back, contributing their expertise to mission-driven work that upskills communities, advances equity, and creates lasting impact at scale and scope.

POSITION OVERVIEW 

SCIP is seeking experienced Backend Developers to architect and build the core infrastructure powering the SCIP global platform. This is a high-visibility, estimated 3+ months digital transformation project requiring deep technical expertise, systems architecture experience, and the ability to deliver production-ready, scalable services at velocity.

WHAT YOU'LL DO: 

• Architect and implement scalable, secure backend services using Python (Django, FastAPI, or Flask) with PostgreSQL as the primary database
• Design and optimize complex database schemas, including advanced indexing, caching strategies (Redis), and query performance for high-throughput environments
• Build and maintain RESTful APIs and GraphQL endpoints with comprehensive documentation (OpenAPI/Swagger)
• Integrate third-party services, including Shopify Plus, payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal), and communication platforms (SendGrid, Twilio)
• Design for scale, supporting 100K+ concurrent users through microservices architecture, load balancing, and horizontal scaling strategies
• Lead technical architecture decisions, establish backend engineering standards, and drive code review processes
• Conduct performance profiling and load testing using tools such as k6, Locust, or Artillery
• Upskill internal technical staff through mentorship, documentation, and hands-on knowledge transfer

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR: 

• 2+ years of backend development experience with Python frameworks (Django, FastAPI, or Flask) in a corporate, agency, or nonprofit environment
• Proficiency in PostgreSQL with demonstrated optimization expertise and experience with Redis caching strategies
• Proven experience building and maintaining systems serving large-scale, production-grade user bases
• Experience with cloud infrastructure (AWS preferred) and containerization tools is strongly preferred
• Experience with job portal, talent pipeline, or data-intensive platform architecture is a plus
• Strong communication skills with the ability to lead, mentor, and collaborate cross-functionally
• A GitHub portfolio or project documentation demonstrating scalable backend systems is required
• Nonprofit technology experience is a plus, but not required

Commitment: Project-based engagement (estimated 3+ months, depending on scope) | High-visibility role | Remote-friendly | Unpaid (volunteer consulting/ pro-bono)