IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE:  please note that the deadline for applications is indicated in local time as per the time zone of the applicant’s location.

This post is a limited-term fixed-term post.

a.    Organizational Setting

The position is in the Brand and Design Database Section of the Global Databases Division. This Section is responsible for the WIPO Global Brand Database and Global Design Database, which include millions of harmonized records from the collections of Madrid, Lisbon, Hague and Paris 6ter emblems and from an expanding number of national collections contributed by IP Offices. These systems offer advanced Trademark and Industrial Designs search functions to the public. They are used by thousands of users daily and are essential components of WIPO Global IP Infrastructure on the internet.

b.    Purpose Statement

WIPO Global Brand Database and Global Design Database are built and deployed on a common cloud-based platform, which also ensures the operation of various APIs, as well as the daily ETL and indexing of trademark and industrial design data from multiple data sources. The goal of the Senior Cloud Application Architect is to ensure from an end-to-end perspective that the Section’s applications built on this platform are first-class internet systems, attracting the largest possible user base by providing premier search services using the latest technologies.

The Senior Cloud Application Architect understands the Section business requirements, designs and implements scalable and resilient solutions, taking advantage of relevant cloud-native principles and integrating the best current technologies. The incumbent participates to new development and projects, ensuring the strategic evolution of the cloud-based platform to successfully maintain its performance over time following the current and future business needs of the Section.

The incumbent also collaborates with IP office technical teams to integrate their national trademark and design data collections into WIPO Global Databases, to identify their new business requirements and to develop adapted solutions.

c.    Reporting Lines

The incumbent reports to the Head of the Brand and Design Database Section.

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a.  Identify and plan new developments for Global Brand Database and Global Design Database to establish them as leading applications for searching brand and industrial design information, while being easily usable by the general public.

b.  Lead the development of Global Brand Database, Global Design Database and their data ingestion pipelines in the cloud, making appropriate use of technological advances, ensuring control and security mechanisms are established, developing programming standards and continuous monitoring.

c.  Conduct database analyses, prepare, implement and document system processes and user operating procedures. Specify and implement additional processes for normalizing, enriching and improving the data, possibly involving machine learning techniques.

d.  Provide technical support for web applications and API to all IP Offices as well as all necessary technical assistance to stakeholders for their participation in the Section’s Global Databases.

e.  Develop the monitoring and observability capacities of the current cloud platform to ensure efficient, cost-effective operation and daily maintenance of the systems managed by the Section.

f.   Provide advice and support to the Head of the Section on all relevant technical issues.

g.  Participate in training sessions, international conferences and seminars/workshops on IP matters to promote WIPO databases and applications.

h.  Identify user needs, perform feasibility studies particularly for new features that can be integrated with existing systems and technologies, and explore new technological solutions.

i.   Perform other related duties as required.

Education (Essential)

Advanced university degree in information technology, computer science, engineering, technical fields with programming or other related fields. A first-level university degree plus two years of relevant professional experience in addition to the experience requested below may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Education (Desirable)

Cloud Certifications such as AWS Solution Architect Certification; Azure.

Experience (Essential)

At least seven years of professional experience in software engineering, including experience in the management of complex web projects involving data and search.

Experience in project management.

Experience with designing and delivering solutions using cloud base tools, integration of standard cloud components.

Experience with testing, integration, and maintenance of machine learning-based components.

Experience (Desirable)

Experience in using and designing neural networks (CNNs, RNNs, transformer models etc.).

Experience with machine translation (especially neural machine translation).

Experience in implementing Machine Learning projects and/or making significant scientific contribution in Machine Learning.

Language (Essential)

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.

Language (Desirable)

Knowledge of other UN official languages.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Extensive knowledge in data engineering including data analysis and modelling, database design, large database systems (relational and NoSQL databases), JSON/XML, ETL dataflow and pipelines.

Strong knowledge of Amazon Web Services technologies, including experience in several of CloudFormation, AWS Security Model and IAM, DynamoDB, serverless services such as Lambda, Fargate and API Gateway.

Strong knowledge of web technologies, including SOLR or Elasticsearch, as well as UI design CSS, HTML and related technologies.

Strong software development skills, including several of the following languages/frameworks: Python, TypeScript, Angular, JAVA, as well as CI/CD, containerization, testing.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multicultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

Knowledge of IP information tools, products and standards, in particular WIPO standards for IP data exchange and business understanding of IP data (Trademarks and Industrial Designs).

Job Related Competencies (Desirable)

Knowledge of Neural Networks frameworks: (Tensorflow, Pytorch, Keras, …).

Understanding of new capabilities brought by latest technologies, including Machine Learning.

Critical thinking and creativity skills.

1.    Communicating effectively.

2.    Showing team spirit.

3.    Demonstrating integrity.

4.    Valuing diversity.

5.    Producing results.

6.    Showing service orientation.

7.    Seeing the big picture.

8.    Seeking change and innovation.

9.    Developing yourself and others.

Mobility:  WIPO staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the Director General and may be assigned to any activities, office or duty station of the Organization.  Accordingly, the selected candidate may be required to move from time to time to new functions and/or to another duty station.

Annual salary:

Total annual salary consists of a net annual salary (net of taxes and before medical insurance and pension fund deductions) in US dollars and a post adjustment.  Please note that this estimate is for information only.  The post adjustment multiplier (cost of living allowance) is variable and subject to change (increase or decrease) without notice.  The figures quoted below are based on the December 2024 rate of 89.9%

Please refer to WIPO’s Staff Regulation and Rules for detailed information concerning salaries, benefits and allowances.

Additional Information

* Initial fixed-term appointment of two years, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and other applicable conditions.  The selected candidate’s appointment will be subject to an overall term of five years in this position, with normally no possibility of renewal beyond that term.  S/he may, however, apply and be considered for other positions at WIPO.

This is not applicable to WIPO staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointments, who were recruited following a competition under Staff Regulation 4.10 (“Appointment Boards”).

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill other posts at the same grade with similar functions in accordance with Staff Rule 4.9.5.

Applications from qualified women as well as from qualified nationals of unrepresented Member States of WIPO and underrepresented geographical regions are encouraged. Please click on the following links for the list of unrepresented Member States and the list of underrepresented regions and the WIPO Member States in these regions.

The Organization reserves the right to make an appointment at a grade lower than that advertised.

By completing an application, candidates understand that any willful misrepresentation made on this web site, or on any other documents submitted to WIPO during the application, may result in disqualification from the recruitment process, or termination of employment with WIPO at a later date, if that employment resulted from such willful misrepresentations.

In the event that your candidature is shortlisted, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of your identification and the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WIPO recognizes higher educational qualifications obtained from institutions accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list maintained by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed here: http://www.whed.net/. Some higher educational qualifications may not be listed in WHED, and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Additional testing/interviewing may be used as a form of screening.  Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory professional references.

Additional background checks may be required.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements