Vacant Post – Ska Mid – Senior Electrical Engineer Nrf/Sarao

Job level: Management
Work location: Cape Town, Western Cape
Contract type: Permanent
Closing date: 05 January 2025
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.
Purpose: The SKA MID – Senior Electrical Engineer is part of the Engineering Operations team and will be responsible for leading a team of engineers/technicians to develop solutions to fulfil requirements at subsystem and system levels. They will be responsible for ensuring the availability and reliability of electrical plants through effective planning, maintenance, and repairs in accordance with standards, procedures, policies, directives and work practices.
The SKA MID – Senior Electrical Engineer should have a strong understanding of developing maintenance strategies, maintenance planning, execution, coordination and asset life cycle management. They must also oversee the construction (from a client's perspective), maintenance and repairs of electrical distribution equipment and assume professional responsibility for providing proven specialist/technical expertise and leading a diverse team, including external suppliers/stakeholders to achieve relevant objectives.
In addition, the SKA MID – Senior Electrical Engineer may be legally appointed as GMR2 in terms of OHS Act (1993) and should assume accountability for meeting requirements associated with the electrical power system to ensure that overall organisational objectives are achieved.
The SKA-MID Senior Electrical Engineer will also mentor team members and transfer specific technical knowledge in order to effectively manage their team and liaise with other departments.
Key Responsibilities: Legal appointment as GMR2 in terms of OSHA (1993);Ensure the availability and reliability of the electrical plant through effective planning, maintenance, and repairs per standards, procedures, policies, directives and work practices;Oversee the construction, from a client perspective, related to the establishment, upgrades and expansion of the electrical network both in the Karoo as well as Cape Town (if required);Oversee maintenance and repairs of electrical distribution equipment;Assume professional responsibility for providing proven specialist/technical expertise and leading a diverse team and resources, including external suppliers/stakeholders, to achieve relevant objectives;Lead a team of engineers/technicians to develop solution(s) to fulfil requirements at subsystem and system levels and take professional responsibility for these solutions;Innovate and perform parallel trade studies toward providing optimal solutions including compliance with relevant statutory laws and regulations;Assume accountability for meeting all requirements associated with the electrical power system to enable overall organisational (or system level) objectives to be achieved. This may also include ensuring that construction activities are carried out per the design (NEC4 Supervisor Duties);Make technical and operational decisions independently of higher level authority based on sound knowledge of organisational processes, directives and guidelines and applicable laws;Mentor team members and transfer specific technical knowledge;Maintenance and Reliability Engineering, i.e. Maintenance plans, D-level maintenance, asset life cycle management, asset care strategies, critical spares analysis, asset condition monitoring and asset condition assessment. Collaboration with Engineering Performance to ensure reliability targets are achieved.Key Requirements: Qualification: B-Tech (coupled with +13 years' experience) in electrical engineering or similar equivalent relevant, orBSc./B.Eng Degree (coupled with +9 years' experience) in electrical engineering or similar equivalent relevant, orMasters Degree (coupled with +7 years' experience) in electrical engineering or similar equivalent relevant, orPhD Degree (coupled with +5 years' experience) in electrical engineering or similar equivalent relevantAND
* Professional registration with ECSA: must be registered as a professional engineer or technologist.
* Must have or be eligible for Government certificate of competency (GCC).
* Must have or be eligible for PMP professional registration.
Experience:
* Extensive domain knowledge with a minimum of 8 years practical experience in the construction, operation, maintenance and repair of low and medium voltage electrical power distribution systems and renewable energy installations.
* Broad experience with high voltage power systems.
* Broad domain understanding of technologies and methodologies relevant to Radio Astronomy (Antennas/Receivers, Cryogenic cooling systems, control systems, mechanical systems, electrical systems)
Knowledge:
* Construction, operation, maintenance and repair of electrical distribution systems and renewable energy installations.
* Ability to innovate and perform parallel trade studies towards providing optimal solutions – including compliance with relevant statutory laws and regulations.
* Radio infrastructure astronomy projects.
* Make technical and operational decisions independently of higher-level authority based on sound knowledge of organizational processes, directives and guidelines and applicable laws.
* Ensure equipment is operated safely, procedures are adhered to and statutory requirements are complied with (GMR2 requirements)
* Structure and manage a team of engineers, electricians and artisans that will be able to deliver on projects assigned to the engineering division and engage strategically and technically with stakeholders.
* Responsibility and accountable for designs and project delivery
* Facilitation of effective communication and workflow both internally and externally.
* Monitoring and management of project appointed consulting engineers, construction contractors, design engineers or specialists.
* Develop and implement maintenance and operations strategies for Engineering Operations.
* Manage and participate in multi-disciplinary projects
* Communicate effectively in English (both written and verbally).
Additional Notes:
Competency – Essential:
Professional registration: must be registered as a professional engineer or technologist.
Government certificate of competency: GCC Factories.
Teamwork 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 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.
Skills:
Proven history of delivering on large electrical infrastructure projects.
Experience in renewable energy projects (PV and BESS).
Working in a multi-national project environment.
Development and implementation of maintenance and operational plans.
Project management.
Writing technical proposals/documents.
Developing and implementation of revised or new work methods, designs, policies and processes.
Ability to lead and work in a diverse team.
Organisational Values
The SKA-Mid Senior Electrical Engineer will be expected to demonstrate the SARAO and SKAOs values, and to work actively to instill those behaviors in all SKA-Mid staff in South Africa.
SKAO's values are:
Diversity and Inclusion
Excellence
Collaboration
Creativity and Innovation
Sustainability
SARAO's values are:
Passion for Excellence
World-class service
People-centered
Respect
Integrity and Ethics
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: 05 January 2025 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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