Vacant Position – Business Process & Integration Engineer (Internal Position)

Contract type: Permanent
Job Level: Skilled / Middle Management
Work Location: Cape Town, Western Cape
Closing Date: 31 August 2026

The National Research Foundation (NRF) supports and promotes research and human capital development through funding, the provision of National Research Facilities and science outreach platforms and programmes to the broader community in all fields of science and technology, including natural sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities.

The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) implements South Africa’s strategic investments in radio astronomy, including the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project, which covers a broad range of engineering and scientific activities. SARAO is a National Facility of the National Research Foundation, and incorporates radio astronomy and space geodesy instruments and programmes such as the MeerKAT telescope in the Karoo, the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) in Gauteng, the Africa Radio Astronomy Programme across nine African countries, as well as associated human capital development and commercialisation endeavours.

The main purpose of the job is to identify, develop and implement the necessary business policies, procedures and processes required to ensure that SARAO Systems Engineering is effectively executed within the Engineering & Technology Development Department across all projects and domains, both in the facilities in Cape Town and on site at Carnarvon in the Northern Cape.

Key Responsibilities:
* Improving the overall performance of the systems engineering function through applying domain knowledge of technology development, systems engineering and analysis in the deriving, modelling and development of systems engineering business processes and artefacts such as policies, procedures and processes from business and system requirements, while conforming to NRF norms and standards.
* Ensuring that the developed business processes are implemented with verified impact and quality through addressing processes across multiple disciplines, preparing and executing business process Verification Plans and associated Test Instructions and implementing change management for policies, procedures and processes.
* Ensuring the developed processes continue to evolve and improve as the organisation becomes more proficient through continuous monitoring and analysis of business process effectiveness and relevance and identifying process improvements.
* Maintaining the business processes within the selected configuration management environment while managing baseline changes via the approved change control processes, publishing and promulgating changes, etc.
* Ensuring application and adherence to relevant engineering policies, processes & standards.
* Specifying, procuring, evaluating process engineering tools.
* Contribute to improving the engineering team’s overall performance and level of competence by initiating and executing research into the advanced use of tools and techniques in business process engineering and their application.
* Supporting or conducting in-house training in various aspects of engineering processes while preparing and presenting papers of interest to user groups or conferences.

Key Requirements:
Qualification:
* B.Tech (Eng) with 6+ years RELEVANT experience; OR
* B.Eng/B.Sc (Eng) with 4+ years RELEVANT experience; OR
* M.Eng/M.Sc (Eng) with 3+ years RELEVANT experience; OR
* PhD/D.Eng with 1+ years RELEVANT experience

Experience:
* A background in development of systems in radio astronomy is preferred.
* Development of engineering processes, procedures and systems.
* Integration, test and verification of systems and in particular business processes.
* Systems Engineering and Project Management.
* Experience in systems engineering methods, procedures, tools and techniques.
* Baseline establishment and management.
* Engineering Change control.

Knowledge:
* Domain knowledge of technology development, systems engineering/analysis and/or software in the radio astronomy domain.
* Business process modelling to develop and apply business process engineering outputs such as policies, procedures and processes
* Application of systems engineering processes (ISO15288/ISO15289) within hi-tech product development and infrastructure environments.
* Integration, test and verification of processes and systems.
* Baseline establishment and management through change control processes.
* Configuration management
* Knowledge of SHEQ standards, regulations and requirements, such as ISO9001, the OHS Act, etc.

Additional Notes:
* The applicant should have the following skills/abilities/competencies:
* Leading task teams and collaborating across multiple disciplines to evolve and implement of improved engineering processes.
* Use of advanced interpersonal skills in order to influence engineering attitudes in development and operational environments.
* Executing business process engineering tasks and analysis without supervision, employing academic and practical knowledge gained on the job.
* Ability to tailor business processes in support of the systems engineering process (ISO15288).
* Reviewing and integrating multiple processes into system level procedures to ensure quality and integrity of workflows.
* Process modelling and development
* Integration, testing and evaluation of workplace processes and tools.
* The Business Process and Integration Engineer will operate within a matrix engineering organisation and thus may be deployed between various functional areas and teams with different specific roles as dictated by the current organizational needs.
* INCOSE ASEP/CSEP accreditation will be an advantage

Information:
The website www.nrf.ac.za provides more details on the NRF initiatives and activities.

Applications:
Applicants should submit a comprehensive CV by logging to https://ess.nrf.ac.za/Account/Recruitment and apply online. Applications should be accompanied by a letter of motivation indicating the applicant’s suitability for the position. The names and contact details of at least three referees should be provided.

Closing Date: 31 August 2026

The NRF offers a challenging career and competitive remuneration package which is commensurate with qualifications and experience.
The NRF is committed to employment equity and redress and the appointment to the position will be made in line with the NRF Employment Equity Plan.
The NRF reserves the right not to make an appointment.
Correspondence will be sent to short-listed candidates only