Back-End Software Engineer (Node.js, MongoDB, Elasticsearch)

Job Title: Back-End Software Engineer (Node.js, MongoDB, Elasticsearch)

Location: Remote (global team)

Type: Full-time (100%)

Reports to: Chief Technology Officer

About HURIDOCS

HURIDOCS (Human Rights Information and Documentation Systems, International) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering human rights defenders through innovative technology solutions. Our flagship open-source platform, Uwazi, is utilised worldwide to manage collections of human rights information, facilitating justice and accountability.

Our remote-first team spans across continents, collaborating to develop tools that address the complex needs of human rights organisations. We are committed to integrating AI responsibly, adhering to open-source principles, and fostering a culture of transparency and inclusivity.

HURIDOCS is seeking an experienced Back-End Software Engineer to join our diverse global team and contribute to our open source product Uwazi.

Why Join Us?

• Meaningful Impact: Contribute to projects that support human rights defenders globally.
• Global Collaboration: Work with a diverse, distributed team committed to social justice.
• Innovative Technology: Engage with cutting-edge tools, including AI integrations, to enhance human rights documentation.
• Supportive Environment: Enjoy a culture that values work-life balance, continuous learning, and mutual respect.
• Competitive Compensation: Receive a salary that is competitive within the NGO sector, particularly in regions like Southern Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

What Will You Do?

• Develop and maintain scalable back-end features for Uwazi and related systems.
• Utilise Node.js, MongoDB, and Elasticsearch to manage complex data workflows.
• Integrate AI-powered tools and APIs (e.g., embeddings, classification, NLP features).
• Collaborate with product teams, front-end developers, and human rights partners.
• Ensure robust security, performance, and maintainability across codebases.
• Contribute to planning, testing, documentation, and deployment processes.
• Provide mentorship and support to less experienced developers as needed.

You Should Apply If You Have:

Required:

• Proficiency in Node.js for back-end development.
• Experience with MongoDB and/or Elasticsearch.
• Ability to write clean, testable, maintainable code.
• Experience working in a collaborative, asynchronous, remote environment.
• Professional proficiency in English.
• Passion for open-source development and social impact.

Nice to have:

• Experience with AI integration (e.g., LLMs, embeddings, ML models).
• Familiarity with React or other front-end frameworks.
• Knowledge of digital security best practices.
• Contributions to open-source projects.
• Understanding of human rights documentation practices.

What We Offer

• Salary: USD 30,000 – 55,000 USD annually (depending on experience and location)
• Paid Vacation: 20 days annually, plus year-end break and local bank holidays
• Flexible Hours: Accommodate various time zones and personal schedules
• Remote Work: Fully remote team with a supportive and inclusive culture
• Professional Development: Opportunities for growth, learning, and contributing to open-source projects

Highlighted Projects

• SOS-Defenders: Developed a platform documenting cases of human rights defenders in arbitrary detention, enabling connections between cases, campaigns, and perpetrators, and allowing visualisation of key trends such as gender disparities in persecution.
• North Korean Prison Database: Supported Korea Future in creating a database that compiles verifiable evidence of human rights violations in North Korean penal systems, including satellite imagery and detailed testimonies.
• Justice Watch Archive: Collaborated with the Committee for Justice to document human rights violations within Egypt’s justice system, providing access to credible information and raising awareness about patterns of abuse.
• Environmental Justice in Bolivia: Assisted CEDIB and CONTIOCAP in developing a database revealing the struggle for human rights and environmental justice in Bolivia, highlighting attacks against environmental defenders.
• Machine Learning Integration: Integrated machine learning features into Uwazi to reduce manual workloads and improve data accessibility, aiding human rights defenders in organising and analysing information more efficiently.