Back-End Support Engineer (Subcontractor) - ERC Project KITAB Transform in London

Aga Khan University – Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations (AKU-ISMC) invites qualified subcontractors to apply for the Back-end support engineer position to provide technical maintenance and support to the IT back-end infrastructure for the European Research Council-funded project KITAB-Transform. This engagement is offered on a subcontracting basis and does not constitute an employment relationship.

Duration: 59 months (starting from 15 February 2026 – 31 December 2030). The engagement will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Host Institution's subcontracting agreement.

The engagement is expected to be delivered on a flexible, service-based basis over the project duration. Workload levels will be agreed in advance and may vary according to project needs.

• Provide ongoing maintenance and technical support for KITAB-Transform applications, including for the current web application and for data evaluation and visualisation.
• Ensure the smooth functioning and optimisation of all KITAB-Transform-related applications.
• Manage and maintain the back-end infrastructure of the KITAB-Transform server.
• Troubleshoot and resolve server-related issues to ensure uninterrupted operations whenever required.
• Provide technical support for KITAB-Transform data management.
• Assist in related reporting.

Please note that the above deliverables are expected to be produced in coordination with the Project team.

The sub-contractor should meet the following criteria:

• A minimum of five years of experience in managing and maintaining web applications and server infrastructure.
• Demonstrated experience in technical support and application development in academic, research, or digital humanities contexts.
• Proven track record in collaborative projects, particularly those involving cross-disciplinary teams in digital humanities or related fields.
• Experience with data visualisation frameworks (e.g., D3.js, Plotly, or similar).
• Demonstrable experience with Linux-based server administration and cloud hosting services (such as Amazon Web Services) for deploying and managing applications.
• Experience with version control systems (GitHub or GitLab).
• Ability to provide clear technical guidance and support to non-technical members of the project team.
• Experience in documenting technical procedures and producing reports for project deliverables.
• Effective communication skills and ability to work closely with institutional IT departments and project leadership.
• Legally eligible to work as a subcontractor in the UK.
• Able to invoice for services rendered and comply with institutional procurement and data security policies.
• Willingness to comply with institutional policies on data protection, confidentiality, and information security, including GDPR requirements.

Desirable but not required:

• Prior experience in Digital Humanities projects.
• Experience with data management practices relevant to humanities data.
• Familiarity with Arabic script.

Interested bidders must submit the following:

• Company profile and legal registration documents, if applicable.
• Individual subcontractors must submit their CVs along with a cover letter.

Tender Submission – [Tender Reference Number] – [Bidder Name]. The submission deadline is Saturday, 31 January 2026. Please note that we will review the tender and CVs as soon as we receive them and contact shortlisted candidates.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Aga Khan University – Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations (AKU-ISMC) is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of background, protected characteristics, or personal circumstances.

Applications should be submitted latest by January 31, 2026.