Position – System Analyst; Re-advertisement

Contract type: Permanent
Job Level: Skilled / Middle Management
Work Location: Cape Town, Western Cape
Closing Date: 29 June 2026

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.

The main purpose of the job is to plan & execute systems analysis tasks alone and under supervision, during design, construction, integration, verification, commissioning and operations of the various radio telescopes and associated supporting systems, focussing primarily on the telescope signal chain.

• Deliver systems with verified performance and quality through executing system and data analysis in support of design, qualification and commissioning of telescopes and guest instruments, by analysing performance requirements, providing inputs to systems engineering processes and telescope designs, defining verification procedures, developing mathematical models of the system of interest, performing verification tests and analysing test data and system non-compliances and compiling reports.
• Advancing the maturity of systems and products to ensure stakeholder satisfaction through executing systems analysis in support of design definition, verification, operations and continuous improvement programmes (ad-hoc & quick reaction tasks).
• Improving accuracy of analysis, increased efficiency (data processed vs time) and quality/maturity of reporting through developing analysis and engineering skills by researching tools and techniques of signal – based systems analysis.
• Ensuring the engineering is executed with integrity and risk is managed by supporting and participating in compiling the analysis component of Project SEMPs, technical schedules, WBS and SOWs and providing inputs into engineering process reviews of radio astronomy related systems.

Qualification:

• B.Eng/B.Sc (Eng) with 4+ years RELEVANT analysis experience in an Engineering or Research and Development Environment; OR
• M.Eng/M.Sc (Eng) with 3+ years RELEVANT analysis experience; OR
• PhD/D.Eng with 1+ years RELEVANT analysis experience, AND
• Meets the requirements for registration with ECSA as PrEng.

Experience:

• A background in development of systems in radio astronomy, radar, satellite or avionics systems is preferred.
• Application of methods, procedures, tools and techniques of signal processing (analogue and digital).
• Worked within systems engineering processes
• Worked in technology areas utilized in signal-based systems (RF, EM, analogue and digital electronics, etc.)
• Software programming
• Use of common analysis tools such as CASA

Knowledge:

• Recognised domain knowledge, based on theoretical aspects with practical experience in methods, procedures, tools and techniques of signal processing (analogue and digital), systems engineering life‑cycle processes, technology areas in signal-based systems (RF, EM, analogue and digital electronics, etc.) and software programming.
• Exposure to Radio Astronomy.
• Understanding of agile software development methodologies.

• Understanding of technology areas in signal-based systems (RF, EM, analogue and digital electronics, etc.).
• Industry experience including a high percentage of Research and Development content, analysing the performance of complicated…