IT Support Technician at NRF National Research Foundation

About the position

Postion Summary:

The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) is seeking qualified candidates for the position of IT Support Technician.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support desktop computer, laptops and , as well as support of remote office
• Troublesshoot basic network connectivity
• Video conferencing experience, particularly around setup, maintenance and troubleshooting
• Printer Support
• Standby Duties in Cape Town and Sutherland
• Installation of hardware for dekstops and laptops
• Install hardware and software on linux, windows
• Installation of network equipment
• Responding to tickets on the ticketing system
• Wifi support
• Support desktop application like MS Office and others

Minimum Qualification:

• National Diploma in IT or Related Field
• Drivers License (Code EB or similar)

Minimum Experience:

• 2 years' experience as a support technicianExperience:
• Experience with troubleshooting, setting up, and managing Windows and Linux machines
• Experience with VPN server and client configuration (across different platforms), IP Phones (SIP), printer configurations, configuring and troubleshooting cloud based Office 365 Suite as well as local installation
• Experience SSO, SSH

Knowledge:

• Windows (7,10,11)
• Linux
• Apple Mac OSE
• Email systems like gmail and outlook or zimbra
• Virtualisation
• DNS
• DHCP

Additional Notes:

ADDITIONAL EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & PERSONAL QUALITIES:

Attention to detail, ability to see a task through to completion, passion for excellent client service, self-motivated, able to work unsupervised, curious, persistent, dedicated.
A+, Net+ certification
Ability to solve problems quickly and automate processes.
In-depth troubleshooting of technical problems as well as solving of more complex software and hardware problems.
A good understanding of networking.
Routing and switching.
A solid understanding of storage systems
Basic understanding of scripting in python, powershell or bash
Works well alone or on a team (must be able to work well in a team)
Technical certification (e.g: Microsoft certification, Linux certification, other professional qualifications)

The NRF website provides more details on the initiatives and activities Applicants should submit a comprehensive CV by registering and apply online through the NRF Recruitment and Selection Portal. Applications should be accompanied by a letter of motivation indicating the applicant suitability for the position. The names and contact details of at least three referees should be provided.

Desired Skills:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

About The Employer:

The National Research Foundation (NRF) is established by an Act of Parliament and mandated to contribute to national development by supporting, promoting and advancing research and human capacity development, through funding and the provision of the necessary research infrastructure, in order to facilitate the creation of knowledge, innovation and development in all fields of science and technology, including humanities, social sciences and indigenous knowledge; and supporting and promoting public awareness of, and engagement with, science.

The NRF is a well-established organisation that is highly networked within the knowledge system, nationally and internationally. It is the principal organisation responsible for promoting the national research enterprise and is the primary public funder of postgraduate students and researchers and provider of research infrastructure in the country. It has well-developed, best practice research evaluation and support systems.

The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) is the National Facility for Optical and Infrared Astronomy of the National Research Foundation (NRF). Its headquarters are in Cape Town, while its telescopes are at Sutherland in the semi-arid Northern Cape. Distributed between the two sites, SAAO employs roughly 130 people, many of them scientists and engineers, and is contracted to operate the 10-m Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), on behalf of the international SALT Foundation.
SAAO is the premier optical/infrared research facility on the African continent, with global research and outreach collaborations and contributing human capacity development for South Africa.