Vacant Position – Senior System Engineer Nrf

Contract type Permanent Job Level : Management Work Location : Cape Town, Western Cape About the NRF and SARAO 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. The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) spearheads South Africa's activities in the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Radio Telescope in engineering, science, and construction. SARAO is a National Facility managed by the NRF and incorporates instruments such as the MeerKAT telescope in the Karoo, the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) in Gauteng, and the African Very Long Baseline Interferometry (AVN) programme. Job Purpose To advance the maturity of the SKA Mid Dish through assembling, integrating and verifying the SKA Mid Dish systems and products. This role involves applying systems engineering leadership and recognised engineering competence across multiple domains, teams, and projects. Key Responsibilities Defining, analysing & managing requirements. Establishing and maintaining traceability. Developing system and sub‑system design‑to specifications. Functional & physical architecting, analysis and synthesis. Generating performance specifications, build‑to, and maintain‑to specifications. Executing performance analysis. Executing FMECA and implementing safety in design. Identifying, creating, and implementing ICDs, including the physical assembly of items. Preparing & executing Verification Plans, Test instructions, ATPs & QTPs, ATRS & QTRS. Establishing baselines (DBL, QBL, OSBL). Defining baselines & performing design reviews. Maintaining the PBSs in ALIM. Root cause analysis and problem solving. Design modifications to eliminate failure modes. Spiling Project SEMPs, technical schedules, WBS & SOWs. Revising engineering processes. 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. 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 a particular focus on concurrent engineering and 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 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. Skills / Abilities / Competencies 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. Application Information How to Apply: Applicants should submit a comprehensive CV by logging to ess.nrf.ac.za/