Science operations: Data analyst

Location: Cape Town, Western Cape

Type of Employment: Full time

Closing date: 22 October 2021

About the Position:

The SKA precursor MeerKAT is a 64-dish radio interferometer located in South Africa, inaugurated in 2018. While transitioning to full science operations, numerous exciting discoveries have already been made with MeerKAT. In parallel with a robust science program, the development of new capabilities and improvements to telescope performance continues. As part of building up the science operations team, SARAO seeks to employ data analysts.

Purpose:

The successful candidate will join the science operations team in supporting telescope operations, by analysing telescope calibration and sensor data to improve telescope performance and provide user support.

Key responsibilities:

Duties and responsibilities may include:

• Provide quality assurance and quality control of the telescope data products
• Maintain calibration of the telescope
• Provide user support via the SARAO external helpdesk

 

Minimum education required

• MSc in radio astronomy or related discipline

Work experience:

• Experience in reduction and analysis of radio astronomy data (experience with MeerKAT would be beneficial), or knowledge of MeerKAT operations
• Ability to program in C/ Python/shell scripts
• Linux operating systems
• Technical report writing
• Data analysis

Knowledge

• radio astronomy reduction software
• radio telescope systems
• statistical data analysis techniques

As a business unit of the NRF, SARAO is committed to employment equity and redress

Company summary

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.

Business unit summary

The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) spearheads South Africa’s activities in the Square Kilometre Array Radio Telescope, commonly known as the SKA, in engineering, science and construction. SARAO is a National Facility managed by the National Research Foundation and incorporates radio astronomy instruments and programmes such as the MeerKAT and KAT-7 telescopes in the Karoo, the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) in Gauteng, the African Very Long Baseline Interferometry (AVN) programme in nine African countries as well as the associated human capital development and commercialisation endeavours.