Apps Development Lead Senior Manager

JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY PTE. LTD.; Singapore; On-site; SGD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in Singapore is seeking an experienced Apps Development Lead to drive the design and development of secure and scalable applications. The role requires at least 4 years of software engineering experience, along with strong leadership skills in Agile environments. Responsibilities include managing outsourced application development projects and ensuring compliance with security standards. The ideal candidate will possess strong coding skills and a deep understanding of enterprise architecture, along with proficiency in modern frameworks.

Qualifications

• Preferred certifications in AWS/Azure and PMP preferred.
• Minimum 4 years in software engineering, 2 years leading teams or projects.
• Experience with CI/CD implementation.
• Strong understanding of enterprise architecture principles.

Responsibilities

• Drive the design and development of secure, scalable applications.
• Manage outsourced application development projects.
• Lead agile development practices and ensure collaboration.
• Enforce secure coding practices and compliance.

Skills

Software engineering

Agile development

API-driven integrations

Microservices

Exact coding practices

Project management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor or Master of Engineering in Computer Science or related field

Tools

React

Angular

.NET Core

AWS

Azure

SQL Server

Docker

Job description

The Apps Development Lead drives the design, development, and delivery of secure, scalable, and modern applications that integrate seamlessly with existing systems. This role ensures interoperability, supports digital transformation, and strengthens the JCU’s technology ecosystem through leadership in architecture, development practices, and team supervision.

System architecture and integration

• Develop and execute enterprise architecture strategy to align systems with future digital infrastructure.
• Design interoperable solutions connecting existing platforms and services.
• Lead migration from legacy systems to modern, scalable platforms while ensuring data integrity, security, and accessibility.

Requirements Analysis & Solution Design

• Establish project standards and select appropriate frameworks, platforms, and environments to ensure optimal solution design.
• Validate requirements for completeness, feasibility, and compliance, ensuring alignment with institutional objectives and security standards.

Application development

• Architect, develop and deliver applications using contemporary frameworks and languages.
• Implement microservices, APIs, and event-driven integrations for core systems (Student, HR, Finance).
• Lead agile development practices across the team, including sprint planning, backlog grooming, and daily stand‑ups. Ensure effective collaboration, continuous integration, and delivery pipelines (CI/CD) to accelerate development cycles and maintain high-quality standards.
• Ensure robust testing strategies, including functional, performance, and user acceptance testing and document architecture and code to facilitate future upgrades and support.

Security and compliance

• Enforce secure development practices and compliance with PDPA policies and collaborate with cybersecurity teams for vulnerability management and penetration testing.
• Implement secure coding guidelines, maintain audit‑ready documentation, and monitor security KPIs such as vulnerability closure rate and compliance adherence.

Project Management

• Manage outsourced application development projects, ensuring vendor deliverables are met.
• Coordinate with external and internal stakeholders to align outsourced solutions with enterprise architecture and compliance standards.
• Oversee project planning, risk management, and acceptance testing for outsourced deliverables.

Requirements

• Bachelor or Master of Engineering in Computer science, Communications Engineering, or related field.
• Preferred Certifications in AWS/Azure associate‑level or higher, Certified scrum master and having a Project Management Professional (PMP) would be a plus.
• Minimum 4+ years in software engineering, with at least 2 years leading teams or projects, preferably in Agile environments.
• Hands‑on experience in Agile development practices, including sprint planning, backlog grooming, and CI/CD implementation.
• Strong understanding of enterprise architecture principles and experience in designing interoperable solutions.
• Expertise in API‑driven integrations, microservices, and event‑driven architectures for core systems.
• Proficiency in modern frameworks and languages: React, Angular, .NET Core.
• Solid knowledge of REST APIs, relational databases (SQL Server), and familiarity with data warehousing patterns.
• Experience with AWS or Azure (compute, storage, networking, identity).
• Skilled in CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, containerization (Docker), and deployment strategies (blue‑green, rolling).
• Strong grasp of secure coding practices, vulnerability management, and compliance with PDPA.
• Familiarity with OWASP standards, identity and access management (SSO), secrets management, and encryption techniques.
• Advanced knowledge of message queues/events (e.g., AWS SQS/SNS, Azure Service Bus), ETL/ELT processes, and webhook patterns for asynchronous and scalable integrations.
• Manage in house developers and oversee modernization of >10 legacy systems and ensure integration with enterprise architecture.

Desirable Characteristics

• Strong communicator able to turn complex technical concepts into clear actions.
• Collaborative and effective with internal teams, vendors, and cross‑border partners.
• Adaptable and proactive when handling legacy system and integration challenges.
• Detail‑oriented with a strong focus on quality, security, and compliance.
• Analytical problem‑solver skilled in evaluating modernization and integration strategies.
• Results‑driven, delivering projects on time while meeting performance and security goals.

Closing date: 30 January 2026

We thank you for your interest and shortlisted candidates will be notified.

The Singapore campus of James Cook University (registered as James Cook University Pte Ltd in Singapore) is a wholly owned company of James Cook University Australia. The University offers Bachelor & Master Programs in Business, Psychology, Information Technology & Education at the Singapore campus of James Cook University.