Application Engineer at Lwala Community Alliance (LCA)

Overview

Lwala is pursuing a growing portfolio of innovative community-based health interventions backed by robust data systems to generate organizational learning and evidence as we scale. Lwala’s extensive data system is heavily based on innovative digital health tools and platforms that generate high-quality data for decision making and concurrently act as job aids for front line health workers, reaching 125,000 clients.

The applications engineer is responsible for the oversight of all technical software systems at LCA that relate to digital health and support of program teams. This includes data collection applications, data pipelines, analysis and reporting dashboards. The position holder will maintain various existing database and digital data/information systems, including Salesforce, OpenFN, Commcare and other internal applications in support of Lwala’s Community Health digitization efforts. The position will also be responsible to review, implement, and manage quality of new systems or additional components of existing systems. The position may also support data and technology systems beyond Lwala’s community health data as needed.

Lwala is entering into a new partnership with Migori County MOH as they digitize over 2500 Community Health Workers via the eCHIS (Kenya’s electronic Community Health Information System) and link to Kenya’s new DHP (Digital Health Platform). You will also work to help adapt eCHIS to work with Lwala’s existing systems.

You’ll especially impress us if you have worked in public health, implementing mHealth technologies in low-resource settings. This position reports to Lwala’s Director of Digital Systems based in Nairobi.

Key Responsibilities

The Applications Engineer will strengthen Lwala Community Alliance ability to holistically serve and improve the well-being of all customers through the support of technology solutions.

• Provide software architecture and design leadership for application development
• Conduct tests, and implement various software applications under Lwala Community Alliance’s portfolio of systems
• Ensure complete integration of all data sources such as Commcare, Salesforce and other reporting systems.
• Support the implementation of Open Source software(eCHIS), participate in communities and engage with other partners in software development
• Provide the technical leadership to adapt Kenya’s eCHIS to Lwala’s needs.
• Manage Lwala Community Alliance’s data pipelines, dashboards and reporting systems through setup and management of the data pipelines and ETL jobs as required
• Support integration of data systems such as OpenFN and other dashboard and reporting systems such as PowerBI, Superset from multiple data sources.
• Ensure scalability of existing systems to accommodate expansion to new program areas, including making forecasting recommendations for system upgrades and expansion
• Identify and address issues with system data quality in collaboration with Research and Learning , product management, field support, and program teams.
• Working with both onsite and remote external consultants and partners including Ministry of Health technical teams as deemed necessary
• Provide technical application and data analysis support across all systems including KenyaEMR, Commcare, PowerBI, Salesforce, OpenFN, eCHIS, and other applications as needed.
• Triage and Troubleshoot errors, resolve bugs and issues, and improve the overall efficiency of the software.
• Evaluate new applications for suitability to the processes as provided by other internal and external departments
• Operate, configure, maintain and manage software applications to ensure optimal software performance and high availability
• Maintain versatility to work with other technologies and teams or partners as directed by the reporting line manager to tackle the needs of the organization

Qualifications & Experience

(The knowledge, skills and abilities may be acquired through a combination of formal schooling, self-education, prior experience, or on-the-job training)

Level of Education

• Diploma or degree in computer science, statistics, information technology or a related field.

Job experience:

• Minimum 3 years of experience working with Electronic Medical Records as an applications engineer, software developer, database administrator, data system analyst or similar position, particularly in health informatics.
• Experience working with community-based projects in Kenya.
• Experience in working with Open Source software and tools

Specialized Skills/Training/Professional Qualifications:

• Working Experience with different types of Databases, OpenFN, Commcare, SalesForce is preferred
• Experience in working with Front End applications, Javascript, JSON, and XLS Forms OpenMRS, SQL, Google AppScripts an added advantage
• Working knowledge in eCHIS software which is based on the Community Health Toolkit developed by Mobile Medic. To adapt the Community Health Toolkit you need to have competencies in Javascript, working with JSON format and XLS Forms, and using databases similar to CouchDB and PostgreSQL
• Programming languages for Front End applications: Javascript, ReactJS, NodeJS or any other relevant development language

Characteristics

• Strong communications skills.
• Ability to take initiative and be proactive
• Ability to understand community-based programs and how to link them to technology.
• Dedication to the mission of Lwala Community Alliance.
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Attention to details and problem solving skills.
• Ability to learn new systems and software quickly.
• Creative thinking in problem solving