Software Site Support Engineer at NRF National Research Foundation

About the position

Postion Summary:
Support engineering, deployment and commissioning activities of the telescopes in the karoo

Key Responsibilities:

• Investigating support issues reported on site
• Coordinating tests, fault finding and tracking down of cross-subsystem issues
• Supporting user requests for data and trend analysis
• Fixing minor bugs in the deployed software where possible
• Engaging with different subsystems to identify problems, perform system integration tests, support commissioning tests on site
• Deploying and maintaining development infrastructure
• Deploying software subsystems on production systems and manage/monitor site deployments
• Documentation and project management input as required
• Site visits as required
• Training of operators and commissioners on the software subsystems
• Lab integration tests of subcontractor deliverables with the software systems; feedback/inputs to subcontractors
• Assist in developing and performing integration tests to test the full software subsystems on lab machines before deploying to karoo systems
• Configure, install and help troubleshoot operating system software and server hardware
• Configure and manage subsystem network
• Monitor and maintain performance of servers

Minimum Qualification:

• Diploma / Advanced Certificate / NQF 6

Minimum Experience:

• 2-6 years

• N
• D (Comp Sci) with 6+ years; ORB
• Tech/B
• Sc (Comp Sci) with 5+ years; ORB
• Eng/B
• Sc Hons (Comp Sci) with 4+ years; ORM
• Eng/M
• Sc (Comp Sci) with 2+ years; OREngineering (with a software focus) or related field

Experience:

• Testing, deployment, commissioning, release and support of large scale projects
• Test-driven development and integration testing techniques, methodologies and frameworks; and supporting systems
• Quality assurance processes and software development processes

Knowledge:

• Modern software collaboration tools such as Github, Containers, Google Drive, JIRA etc
• Knowledge of continuous integration, testing and deployment techniques and tools
• Knowledge of the Linux operating systems and networking
• Knowledge of the Python programming language is beneficial

Additional Notes:
Ability to:Work independently and be a good team [URL Removed] and thrive in a collaborative [URL Removed] English oral and written [URL Removed] issues [URL Removed] attention to [URL Removed] knowledge of and experience in software testing and quality [URL Removed] experience in Python and software developmentSome experience with operating systems (Linux, OS X, Windows) and [URL Removed] and proven fault finding [URL Removed] oral and written communication [URL Removed] motivated and ability to work [URL Removed] interest in engineering and how systems [URL Removed] attention to [URL Removed] to learn more and expand [URL Removed] player and ability to thrive in collaborative [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) 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) 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 telescope 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.