Vacant Position – Senior Systems Engineer

• Contract type: Permanent
• Job Level: Management
• Work Location: Cape Town, Western Cape
• Closing Date: 21 April 2026

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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.

To advance the maturity of the SARAO projects and products throughout their lifecycles by applying systems engineering leadership and recognised systems engineering competence and skills across multiple domains, teams and on multiple projects.

Key Responsibilities:

* Executing requirements engineering to ensure the delivered systems will meet the stakeholder’s needs through defining, analysing & managing requirements, establishing and maintaining traceability and developing system and sub-system design-to specifications

* To deliver systems with verified performance and quality by executing system integration and verification which entails implementing ICDs, physically assembling items, preparing & executing Verification Plans, Test instructions, ATPs & QTPs, compiling ATRs & QTRs and establishing baselines

* Executing and leading system design efforts by executing functional & physical architecting, analysis and synthesis, identifying and creating ICDs, performance analysis, FMECA, implementing safety in design and generating build-to and maintain-to specifications.

* Providing operational support (field engineering) to ensure the delivered systems continue to operate and deliver the expected performance, through performing root cause analysis and problem solving, identifying, designing and implementing modifications to eliminate failure modes while managing the baseline changes to the PBS in ALIM.

* Lead the technical work on projects through compiling SEMPs, technical schedules, WBS & SOWs and defining baselines & conducting design reviews

* Contribute to continuous improvement of organisational & engineering enabling processes, ensuring that engineering is consistently executed with integrity while managing risk.

Key Requirements:

Qualification:

* B.Tech (Eng) with 13+ years of relevant experience OR
* 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
* AND must meet the requirements for registration with ECSA as PrEng/PrEng Tech.

Experience:

* Physical, hands-on integration, testing and evaluation of electronic and mechanical systems.
* Undertaking 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.
* Leading engineering tasks and analysis without supervision, employing academic and practical knowledge gained on the job.
* 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 complex systems behaviour and operational environments.
* Coaching and mentoring in engineering, particularly systems engineering.

Knowledge:

* Advanced applied Systems Engineering.
* Integration, test and verification of complex systems.
* Baseline establishment and management.
* Engineering Change control.
* Hi-tech product development.
* Model-based Systems Engineering
* Development of systems engineering processes and procedures.
* Configuration management

Additional Notes:

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

Extreme Importance (Essential)
* Integration, test and verification of complicated systems which include RF, digital and mechanical elements.
* Baseline establishment and management.
* Interface identification, definition and implementation
* Experience in systems engineering methods, procedures, tools and techniques
* 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

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Application Information:

How to Apply: Applicants should submit a comprehensive CV by logging to https://ess.nrf.ac.za/Account/Recruitment and apply online.

Applications must be accompanied by:

1. A letter of motivation indicating the applicant’s suitability for the position.
2. The names and contact details of at least three referees.

Closing Date: 21 April 2026

Additional Information:

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