Tupande Automation Engineering Lead (Fixed-term) at One Acre Fund in All, Nairobi, Kenya

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    Tupande Automation Engineering Lead (Fixed-term)

    One Acre FundAll, Nairobi, Kenya

    Posted

    1 week ago

    Apply by

    23 Oct

    Contractor
    On Site
    Senior
    Agriculture & Agribusiness
    Data, Analytics & AI

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    Job Description

    Seeking an exceptional AI and automation engineering leader to build Tupande's automation capability, lead high-impact solutions, and help scale farmer impact through hands-on engineering, business partnership, and technical leadership.

    Key Responsibilities

    • Set and drive Tupande's AI strategy, automation and engineering
    • Partner with senior leadership to identify how automation, AI, engineering, and technology can accelerate Tupande's strategic priorities and farmer impact
    • Translate business needs into a clear engineering and automation roadmap aligned to the organization's long-term vision
    • Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend investments that improve customer experience, operational efficiency, scalability, and financial sustainability
    • Act as a strategic thought partner to business leaders on opportunities, trade-offs, risks, and innovation priorities
    • Lead the design and delivery of scalable AI, automation, and business solutions
    • Ensure automation, AI, enterprise systems, integrations, and software solutions are designed to solve real business problems and deliver measurable value
    • Guide solution architecture and engineering decisions to balance speed, quality, sustainability, and scalability
    • Personally contribute to the design, review, prototyping, and delivery of high-priority automation, AI, integration, and software initiatives
    • Conduct architecture reviews, solution reviews, and technical quality assessments to ensure solutions remain reliable, maintainable, secure, and scalable
    • Establish and oversee integration standards across enterprise systems, AI platforms, automation solutions, middleware, APIs, and third-party technologies
    • Ensure business systems exchange information reliably and efficiently through well-designed integration patterns and architectures
    • Oversee the successful delivery, adoption, and performance of Tupande's automation and engineering portfolio
    • Build and strengthen Tupande's AI & automation engineering capability
    • Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing engineering team, fostering a culture of ownership, innovation, and disciplined execution.
    • Establish robust governance and performance standards SOPs to ensure consistent delivery excellence, reliability, and continuous improvement.
    • Build long-term technical leadership and succession pipelines by mentoring specialists in AI, automation, and integration aligned with strategic goals.
    • Drive organizational transformation through automation and AI
    • Champion the adoption of automation, AI, and modern engineering practices across the organization
    • Identify opportunities to simplify processes, improve decision-making, reduce cost-to-serve, and enhance customer experience
    • Ensure automation and AI initiatives are delivering measurable operational and business impact
    • Position Tupande as a leader in the practical application of technology within agricultural operations
    • Provide stewardship of the AI & automation engineering portfolio
    • Monitor the health, performance, value realization, and sustainability of engineering investments across the organization
    • Proactively manage technical, operational, and delivery risks
    • Balance immediate delivery priorities with long-term platform, capability, and organizational needs

    Required Qualifications

    • Master's degree in a relevant technical field Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science, AI, Information Systems or a Bachelor's degree with relevant certifications.
    • Comprehensive understanding of how AI, automation, and software engineering drive organizational strategy and business performance.
    • Expert knowledge of enterprise systems, automation platforms, digital transformation, and organizational change management.
    • Deep understanding of Tupande's operating model, customer journeys, and long-term strategic ambitions.
    • Demonstrated expertise building and deploying production-grade AI, automation, and software solutions, including complex enterprise system integrations APIs, middleware, third-party platforms.
    • Strong solution architecture and systems-thinking, with the ability to translate strategic business priorities into scalable technical roadmaps and identify practical applications for emerging technologies.
    • Proven ability to guide technical decision-making, evaluate complex trade-offs, and conduct rigorous architecture and code reviews.
    • Robust portfolio management and prioritization capabilities to ensure sustained, high-impact delivery.
    • Proven track record in hands-on delivery of production-grade technology solutions, balancing deep engineering contribution with effective leadership and capability building.
    • Strategic leader with strong commercial and operational acumen, capable of influencing senior stakeholders and driving organizational change amidst ambiguity.
    • Ownership-driven mindset, accountable for delivering measurable business outcomes and passionate about leveraging technology to maximize farmer impact

    Job Details

    Job Function

    Data, Analytics & AI

    Education Level

    Master’s Degree

    Area of Study

    Engineering

    Field of Study

    Computer Science

    Additional Information

    How to Apply: Visit the application link provided on this page to submit your application.

    Show AI Leadership That Moves Farmer Impact

    This role sits at the intersection of deep tech and agricultural operations. Hiring leaders will probe how you've turned AI and automation into measurable business outcomes, not just proofs of concept.

    1. Lead with a portfolio of shipped AI solutions: Highlight 2-3 production-grade AI or automation projects you personally delivered. For each, state the business problem, your technical role, and the quantified impact (e.g., cost saved, time reduced, scale reached). Avoid vague claims like 'led AI initiatives' — be specific about models, integrations, and outcomes.

    2. Prove your architecture chops: Be ready to walk through a complex system integration you designed. Explain how you balanced speed, quality, and scalability, and how you ensured reliability and security. Use diagrams if possible — but in a CV, describe the architecture in clear, concise terms.

    3. Show you can influence senior stakeholders: This role demands strategic partnership with leadership. Prepare a story where you convinced a skeptical executive to invest in a technical initiative. Highlight how you translated technical concepts into business language and got buy-in.

    4. Demonstrate hands-on engineering depth: Even as a lead, you'll be expected to contribute to design and prototyping. Refresh your skills in relevant languages (Python, Java, etc.) and frameworks. Be ready to discuss code you've written recently — bring a sample or be prepared to whiteboard.

    5. Understand Tupande's mission: Research One Acre Fund and Tupande's work in agricultural operations. Show genuine passion for using technology to maximize farmer impact. Mention specific ways AI and automation could improve efficiency or customer experience in this context.

    6. Prepare for change management questions: You'll drive organizational transformation. Have examples of how you've championed adoption of new tools or practices. Discuss how you handle resistance and build a culture of innovation.

    7. Emphasize portfolio management: You'll oversee a portfolio of engineering investments. Show you can prioritize, monitor performance, and manage risks. Talk about how you've balanced short-term wins with long-term platform health.

    8. Ask sharp questions: In your interview, ask about the current tech stack, team structure, and how success is measured for this role. Show you're thinking about integration with existing systems and how you'll deliver value quickly.

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    Tags

    AI
    automation
    engineering leadership
    solution architecture
    enterprise integrations