Vacant Post – Ska-Mid – Network Engineer Nrf/Sarao

Contract type: Permanent

Job Level: Skilled / Middle Management

Work Location: Cape Town, Western Cape

Closing Date: 30 June 2024

The National Research Foundation (NRF) (www.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.

The SKA-Mid Network Engineer is responsible for the deployment, configuration and support of the networking infrastructure of the SKA-Mid Telescope and the Engineering Operations Centre (EOC). This position works alongside the SKAO's Network Architect, Computing Infrastructure Lead, other domain specialists, project managers and system engineers to ensure the networks for the SKA Mid telescope are fit for purpose, providing the quality needed for a system that will have to last, and be continually developed for decades. (Work more with the local teams and the MID Engineer / Senior Engineer and the Local Operations Team with an availability target / KPI) They will also respond to calls and implement fixes and changes to the network according to organizational standards, processes and policies, as part of SKA-Mid Computing and Software Operations team.

Key Responsibilities:

* Install, configure, change and maintain SKA-Mid network

* Participate in the acquisition of the SKA-Mid networks, their respective components, and services

* Support the delivery of the array deliveries of the SKA Project in line with the Observatory objectives

* Perform network and IT security establishment and maintenance duties

Key Requirements:

Qualification: BTech/Degree/ Master's/ PHD in Computer Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Electrical Engineering, similar; or Information Technology.

Experience:

* A BTech in Computer Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Electrical Engineering, similar; or Information Technology coupled with 6 years' relevant work experience; or

* BSc in Computer Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Electrical Engineering, similar; or Information Technology coupled with 4 years' relevant work experience;

* Master's Degree in Computer Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Electrical Engineering, similar; or Information Technology coupled with 3 years' relevant work experience,

* PHD in Computer Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Electrical Engineering, similar; or Information Technology coupled with 1 years' relevant work experience.

Relevant work experience is to include:

* Working as a technical resource on network infrastructure

* Experience in network operations and service support

* Experience working with helpdesk as a support technician

* Experience monitoring and responding proactively to network and IT issues

* Experience monitoring, implementing and updating network security services

* Experience working with virtual networks, namespace management

* Experience interpreting and updating network designs

Knowledge:

* Data Centre Environment

* Software defined. Networking systems,

* Zero trust networking principles,

* Long haul networking technologies.

* Automation,

* Cloud based security services,

* System Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems and Syslog tools,

* Telemetry.

* Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders including gathering and distilling information and tailoring it appropriately for the target audience.

* Knowledge and background with IT Service Management disciplines and Frameworks such as ITIL and Change Management.

Additional Notes:

Related Skills: 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.

Influence 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/ideas.

Resource 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 arguments.

Independence: Assesses the risk and opportunity of identified strategies, options and actions. Overcomes problems and setbacks in achieving goals. Invariably includes consideration of value-added future impact on the bottom line when determining the optimal and efficient use of resources.

Adaptability: Demonstrates flexibility in thinking and adapts to and manages the increasing rate of organisational change by adjusting strategies, goals and priorities and willingness to learn.

Competency Requirements:

Extreme Importance (Essential):

Networking Skills

Ability to create, interpret and modify detailed network diagrams

Ability to analyse and design networks to workloads

Network troubleshooting skills

CISCO Networking Experience

Experience planning, executing and closing network rollout projects

Knowledge of network routing and switching

Network Fault Resolution

Identity and Access management, AD, DNS, LDAP, IP address management, etc.

High Importance (Desirable):

CISCO IOS-XE

Meraki Dashboard (Enterprise N/W)

Networking requirements of High-performance computing environments

Long haul WAN networking technologies.

Low latency Networking to support High Performance Computing

Ability to work independently without supervision, sometimes remotely

Network architecture

SDN – Software defined. Networking systems,

Zero trust networking principles

Cloud based security services,

Network Management Capability

System Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems and Syslog tools

Telemetry.

Telecommunications Services

Knowledge of major network providers and ISPs, their services and topologies

Knowledge and awareness of National, Regional and City level major network topologies

Familiarity with Research Network infrastructure (NICIS, TENET)

Organisational Values

The SKA-Mid Network Engineer will be expected to demonstrate the SARAO and SKAO's values, and to work actively to instill those behaviours in all SKA-Mid staff in South Africa.

SKAO's values are:

1. Diversity and Inclusion

2. Excellence

3. Collaboration

4. Creativity and Innovation

5. Sustainability

SARAO's values are:

1. Passion for Excellence

2. World-class service

3. People-centred

4. Respect

5. Integrity and Ethics

6. Accountability

Both 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 process.

Information:

The website www.nrf.ac.za provides more details on the NRF initiatives and activities.

Applications:

Applicants should submit a comprehensive CV by logging to https://ess.nrf.ac.za/Account/Recruitment and apply online. Applications should be accompanied by a letter of motivation indicating the applicants suitability for the position. The names and contact details of at least three referees should be provided.

Closing Date: 30 June 2024 The NRF offers a challenging career and competitive remuneration package which is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The NRF is committed to employment equity and redress and the appointment to the position will be made in line with the NRF Employment Equity Plan.

The NRF reserves the right not to make an appointment.

Correspondence will be sent to short-listed candidates only



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