SKA Mid - Telescope Engineering Manager at NRF National Research Foundation
National Research Foundation
- R Undisclosed
- Permanent Specialist position
- Observatory
- Posted 28 Mar 2024 by National Research Foundation
- Job 2557733 - Ref 606
About the position
Postion Summary:
The Telescope Engineering Manager is part of the Engineering Operations team and will be responsible for managing the telescope engineering team. The telescope engineering team are essential to the construction, commissioning, and operational success of the SKA-MID radio telescope project. They will be responsible for ensuring that the telescope and its associated infrastructure are maintained to the highest industry standards, while enabling the telescope's reliability and availability, and the success of the science mission. The SKA-MID Telescope Engineering Manager must have extensive experience in managing multi-disciplinary engineering teams and programmes. They should also have a strong understanding of developing maintenance strategies, maintenance planning, execution, coordination and asset life cycle management. In addition to this, it is essential that the Telescope Engineering Manager has excellent communication and interpersonal skills in order to effectively manage their team and liaise with other departments. The SKA-MID Telescope Engineering Manager will be responsible for building a team of engineers with extensive domain knowledge of all technologies that are fundamental to the operation and maintenance of a radio telescope. The successful incumbent will report to the SKA-MID Head of Engineering Operations.
Key Responsibilities:
Minimum Qualification:
Minimum Experience:
Experience:
Knowledge:
Additional Notes:
Related Skills:Working on R&D or science related projectsProven history of delivering on large projectsWorking in a multi-national project environmentSystems Engineering/ Product development processesConfiguration Management and Maintenance of Product ConfigurationProduction processes relevant to their functional areaDevelopment and implementation of operational plansProject management (extensive)Writing technical proposals/documentsDeveloping and implementation of revised or new work methods, designs, policies and processesParticipate and oversee in PDR/CDRs on programs/projects in the engineering divisionCompetency Requirements: Extreme Importance (Essential):Professional registration: must be registered as a professional engineer or [URL Removed] and Collaboration: Cooperates with others to achieve organisational objectives and may share team resources to do this. Collaborates with other teams as well as industry [URL Removed] and Communication: Identifies critical stakeholders and influences them via an influential third party, for example through an established network, to gain support for sometimes contentious, proposals / [URL Removed] Management/Leadership: Provides leadership that fosters an environment that encourages new ideas and provides support for the development of emerging skills. Creates trust by displaying consistency, understanding, integrity and patience. Plans, seeks, allocates and monitors resources to achieve outcomes. 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 [URL Removed] Importance (Desirable):Government certificate of competency – desirable ProactivenessStrong leadership qualitiesOrganised and systematic way of workingDocumentation rigour, quality and maintaining configuration Adherence to development processes and quality systemsPlanning and time managementDisplay problem-solving skillsDisplay excellent interpersonal skillsWork independently as well as in a team environmentStrategic thinkingOrganisational ValuesThe SKA-Mid Telescope Engineering Manager 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:Diversity and Inclusion ExcellenceCollaborationCreativity and InnovationSustainabilitySARAO’s values are:Passion for ExcellenceWorld-class servicePeople-centredRespectIntegrity and EthicsAccountabilityBoth 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] NOTE: Candidates who previously applied for the vacancy need not apply again and will be contacted should they meet the requirements and be shortlisted for the [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 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-ho