---
title: 'Creative Software Engineer for Innovation Lab at QED.ai'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/creative-software-engineer-for-innovation-lab-qed-ai-global-666xkzcej2jk'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-05'
---

# Creative Software Engineer for Innovation Lab at QED.ai

- **Company:** QED.ai
- **Location:** Global
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-09-21
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-05
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/qed-ai/5a9dd51a-1cf3-48d4-9629-ce576ddda3d1

## Job description

QED (https://qed.ai) is a tech company focused on public health, agricultural security, and education in Sub-Saharan Africa. We build the digital infrastructure and AI used at the intersection of aid and scientific inquiry, including surveillance of HIV and malaria, and nutrient analysis of crops and soils, working at national-scale in multiple African countries. Our funding comes from philanthropic and governmental organizations, such as the Global Fund and the Gates Foundation. We are looking for a software engineer to join our Innovation Lab, a special projects division that focuses on rapid prototyping and R&D. We build new products to disrupt the status quo and remind everyone what tech was made for --- improving the lives of everyday people!

## Basic Requirements

- Ability to conceive logical software architectures and express yourself clearly, both verbally and in writing
- Highly preferred full-time employment of at least 40 hours per week.
- +3 years of experience with software engineering in a professional environment requiring strict code review
- +2 years of experience with modern software engineering with AI tools
- Good fluency in English speaking and writing, or you can use AI to write it quick too.
- Critical thinking skills, expressiveness, and team-oriented attitude.
- Possession or pursuit of a degree in computer science or software engineering, or comparable professional experience.
- Basics of efficient algorithms and data structures.
- Willingness to participate in regular code reviews, using disciplined version control, and working in teams.
- Development primarily on UNIX-based or OSX-Darwin platforms.
- You have to care about the work that you do!

Nice to haves

- +10 years of experience with software engineering in a professional environment requiring strict code review
- Willingness to travel and go on an adventure! By visiting Africa, you can better understand the context of the problems we aim to solve.
- Experience with Django, React, Android, or PyTorch.
- Proficiency with software design patterns.
- Experience with programming and/or math competitions.
- Genuine interest in positive applications of tech for medicine and agriculture and education.
- Experience with ethical hacking and computer networking is useful

## About QED.ai

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: QED.ai (Quantitative Engineering Design) builds AI-driven data systems and solutions for global health and agriculture in developing countries.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Bootstrapped/Mission-Driven)
- **Headquarters**: Global presence with offices in USA, Kenya, Poland, and Malawi
- **Founded**: 2008
- **Founders**: Dr. William Wu (CEO, Co-Founder), Dr. Jiehua Chen (Chief Statistician, Co-Founder)

## Core Business
- **Primary Industries**: Global Health, Agriculture, International Development, AI/Data Systems
- **Target Customers**: Governments (e.g., Ministries of Health), NGOs, and international organizations (CDC, Gates Foundation, USAID, CIMMYT) in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America
- **Mission/Purpose**: To empower local organizations in developing countries by using technology to build their capacity, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and 15 (Life on Land).

## Products & Services
- **ScanForm**: An AI-powered mobile app that digitizes and analyzes handwritten data on paper forms (e.g., medical registers) using a smartphone camera. Integrates with systems like EMR and DHIS2. Used at national scale for HIV testing in Malawi and other countries.
- **ScanSpectrum**: A rugged handheld visible/near-infrared spectrometer (400-1100 nm) for field measurements of plants and environmental science.
- **PACK (Portable Automated Carbon Kit)**: A low-cost, lunchbox-sized device for measuring soil carbon in the field.
- **Geospatial Mapping**: Remote sensing and AI services for classifying land-use at regional and national levels, focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
- **Data Systems & Analytics**: Custom data processing pipelines for surveillance of malaria, child mortality, crop disease, and soil health; clinical trial support.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not publicly available (private, mission-driven firm)
- **Key Metric**: Since 2008, has provided mission-critical support to health and agriculture projects in 23+ countries.
- **Notable Partners/Clients**: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Gates Foundation (BMGF), International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
- **Growth Signals**: National-scale deployment of ScanForm for HIV testing in Malawi (expanded to PrEP, PCR, STI); expansion to multiple other countries (South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroon, others); COVID-19 pandemic accelerated demand for ScanForm; featured in The Gates Notes as one of Bill Gates' Goalkeepers.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Deep Domain Expertise**: 15+ years of on-the-ground experience in developing countries with a pragmatic, infrastructure-aware approach.
- **Proprietary AI/Data Stack**: ScanForm is a proven, scalable solution for digitizing handwritten data in low-resource settings, a critical gap in global health data systems.
- **Strong Partner Network**: Long-standing collaborations with top-tier global health and development organizations.
- **Mission-Driven Model**: Fully focused on impact, not profit maximization, allowing for unconventional, high-impact projects.

## Strategic Focus
- **Current Priorities**: Scaling ScanForm to more countries and disease areas (HIV, malaria, STIs); expanding geospatial mapping and soil health work; building local capacity through training and partnerships.
- **Direction**: Deepening its role as the go-to technology partner for governments and donors in the Global South for data systems and AI, particularly in health and agriculture.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Described as the "opposite of a big corporation" with extremely light bureaucracy, no matrix organization, and a focus on mission and delivering excellent work. They seek people eager for challenge, passionate about their craft, and genuinely interested in international development.
- **Work Style**: Unconventional, rapid scientific experimentation. High expectations for commitment and responsibility, reciprocated with devotion to the cause.
- **Perks**: Opportunity to work on meaningful, socially conscious projects that clearly benefit others; travel to exotic places around the world (e.g., Malawi, Kenya, Nigeria, Nepal, Cambodia); little bureaucracy.
- **Remote/Hybrid**: Offers both remote and in-office roles depending on the position (e.g., Data Scientist – Warsaw is in-office; Data Engineer – Cameroon is remote). Offices in USA, Kenya, Poland, and Malawi.
- **Engineering Culture**: Values pragmatic innovation, learning through rapid experimentation, and working in highly demanding environments. Founders have strong technical backgrounds (NASA JPL, UC Berkeley, bioinformatics).

## Sources
1. [QED.ai Official Website](https://about.qed.ai/)
2. [QED.ai About Us](https://about.qed.ai/about-us)
3. [QED.ai Careers Page](https://about.qed.ai/careers)
4. [QED.ai LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/quantitative-engineering-design)
5. [Built In - QED.ai Careers](https://builtin.com/company/qedai)
6. [Ashby Careers Page](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/qed-ai)

## Other roles at QED.ai

- [Data Engineer -  Abuja, Nigeria](https://feeny.ai/job/data-engineer-abuja-nigeria-qed-ai-nigeria-2jd43dy0cehq) — Nigeria
- [Infrastructure Engineer for Innovation Lab](https://feeny.ai/job/infrastructure-engineer-for-innovation-lab-qed-ai-global-wr8b7pjrtx5j) — Global
- [Inspiring High School STEM Teacher](https://feeny.ai/job/inspiring-high-school-stem-teacher-qed-ai-malawi-vnt5525yv88m) — Malawi
- [ScanForm Country Lead - Cote d'Ivoire](https://feeny.ai/job/scanform-country-lead-cote-d-ivoire-qed-ai-cote-d-ivoire-prww27f7y22v) — Côte d'Ivoire
- [ScanForm Operations Manager - Côte d'Ivoire](https://feeny.ai/job/scanform-operations-manager-cote-d-ivoire-qed-ai-cote-d-ivoire-h2bs597jea88) — Côte d'Ivoire
- [STEM Operations Intern](https://feeny.ai/job/stem-operations-intern-qed-ai-malawi-w40cmcrq4bqx) — Malawi
- [Lead Infrastructure Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-infrastructure-engineer-qed-ai-warsaw-hvfhm9nbg2bc) — Warsaw, Poland
- [Administrative Coordinator](https://feeny.ai/job/administrative-coordinator-qed-ai-malawi-8y6s594zvyr7) — Malawi
- [IT Operations Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/it-operations-specialist-qed-ai-warsaw-j6y70nc3bq6d) — Warsaw, Poland
- [Assistant(e) d'impression - Côte d'Ivoire](https://feeny.ai/job/assistant-e-d-impression-cote-d-ivoire-qed-ai-cote-d-ivoire-snsg5ecz6jkw) — Côte d'Ivoire