Software Engineer, TradeNet

GovTech is the lead agency driving Singapore’s Smart Nation initiatives and public sector digital transformation. As the Centre of Excellence for Infocomm Technology and Smart Systems (ICT & SS), GovTech develops the Singapore Government’s capabilities in Data S

As a software engineer, you will:

• Build prototypes to demonstrate technological opportunities

• Design system architectures

• Write production quality code

• Manage deployments to cloud infrastructure

• Maintain systems to a high level of reliability

Because our team focuses on pushing new initiatives, you will also have to:

• Identify potential projects that improve the public good

• Design novel systems that work around bureaucratic constraints

• Advocate and explain these technical ideas to other government agencies

We are also looking for experienced software engineers! In addition to the above, more experienced software engineers will be expected to:

• Establish best practices for developer operations

• Provide technical leadership across multiple product teams

• Share your expertise and mentor other engineers

• Help with recruiting

You're not just here to write code, but also to figure out what we should be building and how we should build it. You will work on meaningful projects that solve problems pertinent to our society. The public sector is full of opportunities where even the simplest software can have a big impact on people’s lives. Rather than work on commercial ventures commonly found in the startup scene, we're here to improve how we live as a society through what we can offer as a government.

Your job will be to bring expertise and capability to the public sector. Sometimes this means coding new systems from scratch. Other times this means using the best solutions the development community has to offer. We use cloud services, open-source software, and commodity hardware as far as possible. These often include, but are not limited to: GitHub, AWS, React Native, MongoDB, and Stripe amongst others. Knowing what to build and what to reuse lets us avoid wasting time on solved problems and focus on delivering actual value.

What it is like working here:

• Rapid Prototyping - Instead of spending too much time debating ideas, we prefer testing them. This identifies potential problems quickly, and more importantly, conveys what is possible to others easily.

• Ownership - In addition to technical responsibilities, this means having opinions on what is being done and having ideas on what should be done next. Building something that you believe in is the best way to build something good.

• Continuous Learning - Working on new ideas often means not fully understanding what you are working on. Taking time to learn new architectures, frameworks, technologies, and even languages is not just encouraged but essential.

[What we are looking for]

About TradeNet

TradeNet is Singapore’s National Single Window for trade permit processing. It processes over 9 million permit applications annually across import, export and transshipment. As one of Singapore’s key trade systems, TradeNet is being brought in-house to strengthen technology ownership and long-term sustainability.

How we build

Designated as critical IT infrastructure, we favor simple, durable technology choices over the latest trends. We prioritize systems that are easy to reason about, operate, and maintain for the long term.

We operate with high autonomy. Engineers are expected to think deeply, exercise sound judgement, and take ownership of technical decisions. You own the code from technical design through to production. We practice and value honest feedback, practical decision-making and real impact.

What you'll do

• Design, build, and support the software products underpinning the TradeNet Rebuild
• Take complex problems from an ambiguous brief through to a production-ready state, including testing, deployment, monitoring, and incident response.
• Advocate for your technical proposals using data and sound judgment, while remaining receptive to feedback and diverse perspectives
• Identify bottlenecks and improvements to our systems, tooling, and ways of working and drive those changes through to completion
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and non-technical stakeholders to translate complex trade requirements into resilient, performant systems

[What we are looking for]

• Relevant degree or diploma in Computer Science or a related field
• Around 3-4+ years of experience in software engineering, ideally with experience working on complex, large-scale systems or projects
• Solid engineering fundamentals across the full development lifecycle, including testing, CI/CD, observability, and security
• Experience deploying and operating applications on cloud platforms, with familiarity in containerisation and orchestration
• Either full stack specialist with Kotlin and ReactJS experience, or backend specialist with deep experience in Kotlin and relational databases (such as PostgreSQL).
• Proactive ownership: A self-starter who takes accountability for code from initial design through to production support
• Collaborative growth mindset: Dedicated to continuous learning and fostering a transparent culture through knowledge exchange
• Technical courage: Ability to challenge assumptions respectfully with reasoned and practical technical proposals

What we offer you:

GovTech is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that values diverse voices and perspectives, as we believe that diversity is the foundation to innovation.   

Our employee benefits are based on a total rewards approach, offering a holistic and market-competitive suite of perks. These include leave benefits to meet your work-life needs and employee wellness programs. 

We champion flexible work arrangements (subject to your job role) and trust that you will manage your own time to deliver your best, wherever you are, and whatever works best for you. 

Learn more about life inside GovTech at go.gov.sg/GovTechCareers.
Stay connected with us on social media at go.gov.sg/ConnectWithGovTech