About the position
Postion Summary:
The Senior Platform Engineer works as part of the SKA-Mid Site Reliability Engineering team to ensure the operational systems are developed, deployed and managed in a way that is highly automated and well understood. The position also works with software engineers from around the world to support the delivery of the software systems and the CI/CD pipelines that ensure their reliability when deployed. The Senior Platform engineer will be expected to guide and work with more junior team members to accomplish their tasks. Senior engineers are expected to be accountable for their deliverables. As part of the SKA-Mid Operations team, they are expected to provide a senior level of systems support, able to investigate, diagnose and resolve complex issues with minimum guidance.
Key Responsibilities:
Minimum Qualification:
Minimum Experience:
Experience:
Knowledge:
Additional Notes:
SKILLS/ COMPETENCIES/ ABILITIES Essential Competency:• Experience in using infrastructure provisioning tools (such as Docker, Helm, Ansible, Terraform) in a cloud environment or in a virtualized environment (AWS, OpenStack, GCP). • Working knowledge of the git distributed version control system and related best practices.• Proficiency with one or more Continuous Integration and automated test execution tools (Jenkins, GoCD, Gitlab, Travis-CI).• Demonstrated understanding and enthusiasm for team based working based on lean/agile principles.• Ethernet network technologies and management of switches and routers.• Linux operating system and standard [URL Removed] Ability to develop or script in Python programming language.• Experienced in administering application servers, web servers and databases.• Experienced in integrated security practices such as secrets management into the DevOps pipelines, SSO, platform and application hardening.• Ability to communicate effectively to a wide audience and a wide range of stakeholders, gathering information and distilling information and tailoring it appropriately for the target audience.• Ability to develop and convey a technical solution as part of a team• Ability to reliably estimate and plan work as part of a team.• Agile approaches to systems development• Engineering systems architecture concepts• An understanding of DevOps processes• Services, Operations and Support management• Risk managementSkills:• Modern software collaboration tools such as Github, Containers, Google Drive, JIRA etc.• Understanding and experience in implementation of project management and system engineering principles.• Experience with test-driven development and integration testing techniques, methodologies and frameworks; and supporting systems like revision control and build systems.• Experience with quality assurance processes and software development processes and willingness to participate in improving software development processes and software quality procedures.• Teamwork and Collaboration: Cooperates with others to achieve organisational objectives and may share team resources in order to do this. Collaborates with other teams as well as industry colleagues.• Judgement and Problem Solving: Anticipates and manages problems in ambiguous situations. Develops and selects an appropriate course of action and provides for contingencies. Evaluates, interprets and integrates complex bodies of information and draws logical conclusions, synthesises proposals and defends options with reasoned arguments.• Adaptability: Demonstrates flexibility in thinking and adapts to and manages the increasing rate of organisational change by adjusting strategies, goals and priorities. • Willingness to participate in formal and informal learning and mentorship programs. Organisational Values:The SKA-Mid Senior Platform Engineer will be expected to demonstrate the SARAO and SKAO’s values, and to work actively to instil those behaviours in all SKA-Mid staff in South [URL Removed] values are:1. Diversity and Inclusion 2. Excellence3. Collaboration4. Creativity and Innovation5. SustainabilitySARAO’s values are:1. Passion for Excellence2. World-class service3. People-centered4. Respect5. Integrity and Ethics6. AccountabilityBoth SARAO and SKAO value and respect difference and are committed to building an inclusive culture by creating an environment where you can balance a successful career with your commitments and interests outside of work. We believe that you will do your best at work if you have a work / life balance. Some roles lend themselves to flexible options more than others, so if this is important to you, please raise this during your interview, as we are open to discussing flexible working opportunities during the hiring [URL Removed] 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·s suitability for the position. The names and contact details of at least three referees should be provided.
Desired Skills:
- Skilled in applied field of position
- Knowledge to be relevant
- Responsible in performing duties
About The Employer:
The National Research Foundation (NRF) (wwww.nrf.ac.za) 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) (www.sarao.ac.za) spearheads South Africa's activities in the Square Kilometre Array Radio Telescope, commonly known as the SKA, in engineering, science and construction. SARAO is a National Facility managed by the National Research Foundation and incorporates radio astronomy instruments and programmes such as the MeerKAT in the Karoo, the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) in Gauteng, the African Very Long Baseline Interferometry (AVN) programme in nine African countries as well as the associated human capital development and commercialisation endeavours. The Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) (www.skao.int) is a next-generation global radio-astronomy facility that will revolutionise our understanding of the Universe and the laws of fundamental physics. It is one observatory with two telescopes – SKA-Mid in South Africa and SKA-Low in Western Australia. South Africa is a co-host member of the SKAO, an intergovernmental organisation headquartered at Jodrell Bank (near Manchester in the United Kingdom) responsible for SKAO construction and operations globally.
