About the Position

Role based in South Africa
The Mechanical Engineer will be part of the Domain Specialists group, a diverse and experienced team within SKAO. The Mechanical Engineer will work primarily with the Dish Product Delivery Team (PDT) which is responsible for delivering the antenna system of the SKA MID-Telescope. The Mechanical Engineer will act as technical authority providing engineering support and technical leadership at all levels of the project through formal design reviews; detailed technical assessment; identification and resolution of design issues; verification and qualification of sub-systems and systems; and telescope integration and commissioning activities. Full-time hours will be 35 hours per week. Flexible working may be considered compatible with reviews, milestones and site activities.

Key Responsibilities, Accountabilities and Duties:

• Provide technical leadership in the area of Mechanical Engineering for the SKA telescope, as a member of the Domain Specialist Team (DST), providing technical guidance and advice both at system level and product level.
• Work with Dish Project Manager and stakeholders across and outside the organisation to support and supervise the delivery of the Dish Structure through its lifecycle during pre-construction, tendering, procurement, construction and verification phases.
• Identify and manage technical issues through engineering analysis and verification.
• Review and recommend changes to designs and products to ensure compliance with requirements and standards.
• Participate in and lead project design and product acceptance reviews.
• Develop and maintain relationships and communication with key stakeholders to ensure effective delivery of engineering activities.
• Support and advise on system design and verification work for the MID Dish Structure.
• Identify, assess and understand any potential safety and security implications of proposed activities, taking relevant action to ensure a safe and secure working environment for all.
• Share learning to contribute to the development of SKAO capability.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as directed by the SKA Project Engineer or a member of SKA Organisation Senior Management.
• Occasional national and international travel, such as visits to site (within South Africa) and dish manufacturer to support the telescope construction (usually for 1-2 weeks a few times per year as required).

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience

1. Familiarity with international and national (i.e. South Africa) standards for production and installation of mechanical structures and quality systems.
2. Knowledge of Pressure vessels and Cryogenics.
3. Knowledge of mechanical challenges (i.e. structure, motion etc.) of RF systems used in Astronomy and Physics applications.
4. Knowledge of RF systems used in Radioastronomy.
5. Experience in design for volume production and/or in medium-large scale manufacturing and assembly.
6. Experience of leading diverse professional project teams with the ability to coach and mentor.
7. Membership of, or eligibility for membership of recognised national or international system engineering institutes.

Equal Opportunities Statement Equality, Diversity and Inclusion are at the core of the SKA’s agenda and we are committed to being an equal opportunities employer. Our aim is to recruit and retain the most talented individuals, regardless of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status, religion or nationality. Women have traditionally been under-represented in the fields of science and engineering; SKA Organisation welcomes and encourages female applicants. Where applicants with a disability need facilities or adjustments to enable them to participate in the recruitment process, these will be provided.