SKA-Mid EMS Engineer

At the SKAO we are coordinating a global effort to deliver one of the largest science facilities on the planet. The SKAO telescopes will be next-generation instruments that will help to answer key questions in astrophysics, drive technological innovation and support human capital development. 

More than a dozen partner countries and over a thousand scientists and engineers around the world are already on board, making the SKA project an international collaboration like no other, and one of the most ambitious science and engineering endeavours of the 21st century.

Headquartered in the UK, with telescope sites in Australia and South Africa, the SKAO will be one observatory operating two telescopes, an endeavour spanning three continents. Multinational by design, in early 2021 the SKAO became an intergovernmental organisation, one of only a select handful of science infrastructures to do so worldwide.

Construction activities for the SKAO's telescopes in Australia and South Africa started in 2021, along with a ramping up of SKAO staff in both countries. It is expected that the transition from the Construction Phase to the Operations Phase will happen around 2028.

SKAO Operations in South Africa will be conducted in partnership with the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO). SKAO Operations in Australia will be conducted in partnership with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The Observatory will also partner closely with a global network of SKA Regional Centres through which astronomers will access science data products and a suite of tools and resources to further analyse the SKA telescopes' data.

For more information on the SKA project visit https://www.skao.int/

The SKA Observatory offers a competitive salary and a generous pension and benefits package. As an employee of an intergovernmental organisation, an appointee who is not a national of the country in which the role is based may be subject to personal Privileges and Immunities.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a skilled software engineer to join the SKA-Mid Computing and Software team as part of the global effort to bring the Square Kilometre Array Observatory into operation. As part of a SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) development team, you will help build and support the Engineering Management System (EMS) — the platform that integrates maintenance, configuration, logistics, and operational data across the telescope, giving Engineering Operations teams a unified view of the systems they run and maintain.

We are looking for an EMS Engineer to support the development of engineering operations tooling for the SKA-Mid and SKA-Low telescopes. The role is based in South Africa, working closely with colleagues in the UK and Australia as part of a globally distributed SAFe Agile team. You will work under the direction of the SKA-Mid Controls Manager, contributing to a system that will underpin engineering decision-making for the lifetime of the Observatory.

Job Location Cape Town, South Africa

As part of the SKA-Mid Computing and Software team, the EMS Engineer will contribute to the design, development, and integration of the Engineering Management System, working within a Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) team. The EMS combines Logistic Support Analysis, Configuration Management, Maintenance Management, Problem Reporting, Finance, and Sensor Data into a single, coherent platform, improving the efficiency and reliability of engineering operations across all SKA sites.

You will work closely with the SKA-Mid Operations team to implement and support EMS functionality, and with the wider SAFe system team to adopt and apply DevOps practices. The role involves both front-end and back-end development, and requires someone comfortable working across the stack — from API integrations and databases through to user-facing tools that engineering and maintenance teams rely on daily.

This is a two-year fixed-term appointment and will be based in Cape Town, South Africa.

SKAO is committed to providing an inclusive and flexible working environment, meeting the requests of our Colleagues whilst also fulfilling the needs and objectives of the Observatory.

This role requires the post holder to work across different time zones and, in line with SKAO policy, flexible working hours will be supported in agreement with the line manager.

Key Responsibilities, Accountabilities and Duties

• Design, develop, and test EMS features (front-end and/or back-end), aligned with the requirements of the SKA-Mid Engineering Operations team.
• Build and refine integrations between enterprise systems used by Engineering Operations, including maintenance management, configuration management, and sensor data platforms.
• Work in collaboration with the SKA-Mid Operations team to implement, roll out, and support EMS systems.
• Work with the SAFe system team to support and help agile development teams in adopting DevOps practices.
• Support and relentlessly improve the integration and delivery of high-quality software products.
• Investigate, diagnose, and resolve technical issues within your area of ownership, escalating and collaborating as needed.
• Maintain the operational stability of existing EMS functionality, including monitoring, troubleshooting, and applying fixes.
• Communicate openly, effectively, and respectfully with all staff, clients, and suppliers, in the interests of good collaboration and SKAO's reputation.
• Contribute to project management and activity management processes, including planning, estimation, and risk tracking.
• Participate in code reviews, testing, and documentation practices that support long-term maintainability.
• Stay current with relevant technologies and propose improvements to tools, architecture, or process where appropriate.
• Adhere to the spirit and practice of SKAO and SARAO's Values, Code of Conduct, and Health, Safety and Environment policies.

Mandatory Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent programming experience.
• Minimum of 3 years' experience in full-stack software development, preferably using Python-based frameworks such as Django or Flask.
• Proficient in front-end development in JavaScript and/or frameworks such as React or Angular.
• Experience with API development and integration, including RESTful and/or GraphQL APIs.
• Working knowledge of relational databases (e.g. PostgreSQL, MS SQL Server) or ORM frameworks.
• Comfortable working in a hybrid mode, collaborating online with teams located across the globe.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to work directly with engineering and operations end-users to understand and translate their needs.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Experience integrating third-party systems such as ERP, JIRA, or CMMS platforms, including API management and integration troubleshooting.
• Experience with infrastructure containerisation tools (such as Docker) in a cloud environment (e.g. AWS).
• Experience with DevOps practices, including managing deployment pipelines and CI/CD processes.
• Knowledge and experience of SAFe Agile methodology and working in an Agile team.
• Understanding of systems engineering processes, including configuration control and logistic support analysis.
• Understanding of maintenance processes, including maintenance management, asset management, and problem reporting.
• Previous experience in a (radio) astronomy observatory or similar large-scale scientific facility.
• Proficiency in collaboration tools such as Confluence, GitHub, and JIRA.

Equality Diversity and Inclusion Statement

SKA Observatory recognises that our diversity is a strength. We aim to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong, and diverse perspectives and ideas thrive. As such, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion are at the core of SKA Observatory’s agenda.

Our aim is to recruit and retain the most talented individuals, regardless of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, nationality or background.

Women have traditionally been under-represented in the fields of science and engineering; SKA Observatory welcomes and encourages female applicants. 

Where applicants with a disability need facilities or adjustments to enable them to participate in the recruitment process, these will be provided.

SKA Observatory welcome all candidates, especially those from member countries.

The “How to Apply” information contained within the SKA Observatory recruitment portal provides more detail regarding our application and selection approach.

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