Vacant Post – Senior System Engineer (SKA-Mid)

Location: Cape Town, Western Cape
Job Level: Management
Contract type: Permanent
Closing date: 08 August 2024

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) 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 telescope 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.

To take overall systems engineering responsibility for all the SARAO elements of SKA-Mid during pre-construction, construction and commissioning, reporting to the System Engineering Manager. This involves both personal systems engineering responsibilities as well as co-ordination of systems engineering performed by multiple engineers across various SKA-Mid elements.

Key Responsibilities:

* Responsible for all SKA-Mid systems engineering elements of design and development through to integration, test & verification.
* Co-ordinate all the systems engineering activities and interfaces across all the SKA-Mid elements, ensuring compliance with requirements.
* Lead the definition of architectures and solutions derived from vague or abstract requirements.
* Responsible for the baselines and design configuration of the SARAO responsible SKA-Mid elements, including leading and managing engineering changes to the baselines.
* Provide “field engineering” services for telescopes and sub-systems to aid in fault diagnostics and rectification
* Review and integrate multiple activity reports into system level analysis and reports to ensure quality and integrity of results and recommendations within uncertain contexts.
* Coach or mentor up to 5 young engineers in the field of engineering and specifically systems engineering.
* Use experience to employ innovative and unique methods and techniques to improve the efficiency and integrity of the systems engineering outcomes.
* Advance the maturity of systems and products through application of recognised engineering competence and skills.
* Provide systems engineering support across multiple domains, teams and on multiple products, subsystems and systems.
* Contribute to- and advance- organisational maturity through leading the development and implementation of engineering processes within his/her realm of responsibility.
* Contribute to strategic leadership within Programme(s) and SARAO through experience-based inputs and conceptual/ strategic thinking.

Key Requirements:

Qualification:

* B.Tech (Eng) with 13+ years RELEVANT experience; OR
* B.Eng/B.Sc (Eng) with 9+ years RELEVANT experience; OR
* M.Eng/M.Sc (Eng) with 7+ years RELEVANT experience; OR
* PhD/D.Eng with 5+ years RELEVANT experience.
* Meet the requirements for registration with ECSA as PrEng.

Experience:

* Systems Engineering and development of Radio Astronomy Telescopes, specifically the SKA-Mid.
* General advanced applied Systems Engineering
* Integration, test and verification of radio astronomy telescopes
* Baseline establishment and management, specifically leading design reviews.
* Engineering Change control
* RF for radio astronomy product development
* Use of Computer-aided Systems Engineering Tools (e.g. CORE)
* Development of systems engineering processes and procedures
* Coaching and mentoring

Knowledge:

* In-depth knowledge of the SKA-Mid Telescope requirements.
* In depth knowledge of the SKA-Mid Dish element design & performance.
* Acknowledged in-depth competence in systems engineering, technology and/or software.
* Configuration management and configuration management systems
* Systems Engineering Standards, e.g. ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 & 15289,
* Knowledge of the PFMA and related procurement regulations

Additional Notes:
Operate independently or lead teams to deliver systems engineering, typically at all levels of the systems hierarchy.

Undertake engineering activities throughout all lifecycle phases of the system under development, with particular focus on the concurrent engineering aspects and the design for supportability aspects.

Lead engineering tasks and analysis without supervision.

Function simultaneously across multiple domains, teams and on multiple systems.

Lead the development and implementation of engineering processes.

Use advanced interpersonal skills in order to influence change in complex systems behaviour and operational environments.

The Senior Systems Engineer will operate within a matrix engineering organization and thus be deployed between various projects and teams with different specific roles as dictated by the current organizational needs.

CSEP accreditation will be an advantage

Extreme Importance (Essential)
* Integration, test and verification of complicated systems which include RF, digital and mechanical elements.
* Baseline establishment and management.
* Engineering change control.
* Advanced applied Systems Engineering.
* Hi-tech product development processes.
* Model-based Systems Engineering

High Importance (Desirable)
* Engineering for Radio Astronomy
* Configuration management
* Development of systems engineering processes and procedures.
* Operational support / field engineering

Closing Date: 08 August 2024

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.

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.