Vacant 3 – 6 Months Contract Position – Senior System Engineer

Website ska_africa NRF/SARAO

Contract type: Short Term Contract
Period of Contract: 3 – 6 Months
Job Level: Management
Work Location: Cape Town, Western Cape

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 guide and transfer explicit & tacit knowledge, to a recently employed Systems Engineer, of the systems engineering executed and planned for the design and construction and commissioning of the SKA Science Processing Centre and co-located operations and administrative facilities in Cape Town (CTHIS) along with the SKA Engineering Operations Centre and co-located facilities (EOC) at Klerefontein, Northern Cape. The SARAO Johannesburg Office refurbishment project systems engineering responsibilities are also to be transferred to a designated engineer.

Key Responsibilities:
– Providing detailed insight into the current baselines and their status, along with the rational and history of the establishment of these baselines.

– Briefing and guiding the new incumbent through all the relevant engineering processes for the EOC & CTHIS and infrastructure projects in general

– Assist in updating all Systems Engineering planning (Project SEMPs, technical schedules, WBS & SOWs) for the Host Country Infra Projects.

– Handing over all documentation, data and work in progress either created or gathered during the previous incumbent􀂷s tenure.

– Attending meetings and workshops with the new incumbent(s) to provide context and background to discussions and negotiations.

– Introducing the new incumbent(s) to stakeholders and contractors and establishing relationships.

– Participating in design reviews where applicable in support of SARAO and the new incumbent(s).

Key Requirements:
Qualification:

* B.Eng/B.Sc (Eng) with 9+ years of relevant experience OR
* M.Eng with 7+ years of relevant experience OR
* PhD/D.Eng with 5+ years of relevant experience

Experience:
* Undertaking engineering activities throughout all lifecycle phases of the system under development, with particular focus on
infrastructure projects.
* Coaching and mentoring in engineering, particularly systems engineering.
* Leading engineering tasks and analysis on infrastructure projects without supervision, employing academic and practical knowledge gained on the job.
* Physical, hands-on integration, testing and evaluation of electronic and mechanical systems.
* Functioning simultaneously across multiple domains, teams and on multiple systems.
* Leading the development and implementation of engineering processes.
* Using advanced interpersonal skills in order to influence change in a project context.

Knowledge:
* Infrastructure definition, design & development.
* Advanced applied Systems Engineering.
* Integration, test and verification of complex systems.
* Baseline establishment and management.
* Engineering Change control.
* Requirements Engineering
* Development of systems engineering processes and procedures.
* Configuration management
* SANS building codes
* Municipal zoning & regulations

Additional Notes:
The applicant should have the following skills/abilities/competencies:

Extreme Importance (Essential)
Infrastructure definition, design & development.
Baseline establishment and management.
Coaching and mentoring in engineering, particularly systems engineering.
Engineering change control.
Advanced applied Systems Engineering.
Infrastructure development processes.
Requirements Engineering

High Importance (Desirable)
Engineering for Radio Astronomy
Configuration management
Development of systems engineering processes and procedures.

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: 07 February 2025

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

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