The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) hiring for multiple positions
Data Analyst
SARAO is hiring a Data Analyst on a permanent contract to join its facility in Cape Town, Western Cape. The successful candidate will join the science operations team to support the Commissioning and Assembly, Integration and Verification (AIV) team. The team will also be expected to provide input and
feedback to the software development teams regarding operations and science processing user interfaces. The team will be expected to contribute to both the designing and documenting of operating procedures for SKAO. Once construction is complete the team will be responsible for the day-to-day observing of the SKA-Mid Telescope and provide analysis of the initial telescope data for quality assurance and science verification.
Key Responsibilities
- Contribute to the designing and documenting of operating procedures for SKAO;
- Conduct, monitor and calibrate astronomical observations and use appropriate computing resources towards the successful operation of the telescope array;
- Undertake quality assurance of data; and
- Support communication between engineering and technical staff and scientific stakeholders.
Qualification
- MSc in physics, astronomy or related discipline, coupled with a minimum of two years relevant experience; OR
- BSc (Hons) in physics, astronomy or related discipline, coupled with three years of relevant experience.
Knowledge
- Awareness of radio astronomy principles and interferometric calibration;
- Astronomical reduction software;
- Control and monitoring systems; and
- Scientific computing in Python.
Additional Notes
Candidates must possess the following skills and competencies:
- Linux operating systems;
- Control and monitoring software;
- Technical report writing;
- Data analysis;
Competency Requirements
- Domain knowledge: Experience in astronomy observations and data reduction pipelines;
- High-level analytical capability: Demonstrated problem-solving ability;
- Teamwork and collaboration: Cooperates with others to achieve organisational objectives and may share team resources to do this;
- Collaborates with other teams;
- Communication: Well-developed verbal and written communication skills in English;
- Documentation: Aptitude to contribute to the definition and development of operational procedures, monitoring dashboards and documentation. Rigor in maintaining reports and documentation.
- Scientific computing: Understanding of software development and data analysis using Python, C or C++ in a Linux environment;
- Equity, diversity and inclusivity: An awareness of, and commitment to, equitable practices, including accessibility, to facilitate broad access to the Observatory;
- Must be able to work on a 24/7 rotational basis including weekends and public holidays;
- Aptitude to control and operate a scientific research facility including familiarity with monitoring, controlling, and scheduling;
- Demonstrated ability to work and cope under pressure in time-sensitive environments with multiple priorities;
- Ability to work independently as well as part of a multidisciplinary team;
- Familiarity with SAFe or Agile code development practices;
- Experience working with scientific instruments, where the experience may include scheduling experiments/ observations;
- Designing interfaces and user modules for operating the instrument;
- Analysing instrument data for calibration and data quality purposes; and
- Day-to-day health checks and status of the instrument.
How to Apply
Applicants should submit a comprehensive CV by logging in here before 30 June 2024. Furthermore, applicants should include a letter of motivation indicating their suitability for the position in their applications. In addition, the applicants must provide the names and contact details of at least three referees.
South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF) offers a challenging career and competitive remuneration package commensurate with qualifications and experience. Also, the NRF is committed to employment equity and redress, and appointments to the position will be made in line with the NRF Employment Equity Plan. In addition, the NRF reserves the right not to make an appointment and will send correspondence to short-listed candidates only.
For more information, click here.
Senior Data Analyst
SARAO is hiring a Senior Data Analyst on a permanent contract to join its facility in Cape Town, Western Cape. The successful candidate will be responsible for the development of operator procedures and documentation and the mentoring and training of the data analyst/operators under their supervision.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage the performance of the data analyst/operator team;
- Play a leading role in the designing and documenting of operating procedures for SKAO;
- Conduct, monitor and calibrate astronomical observations and use appropriate computing resources towards the successful operation of the telescope array;
- Undertake quality assurance of data; and
- Support communication between engineering and technical staff and scientific stakeholders.
Key Requirements
- MSc in physics, astronomy or related discipline, coupled with four years of experience in a technical or scientific environment; OR
- BSc (Hons) in physics, astronomy or related discipline, coupled with five years experience in a technical or scientific environment.
Knowledge
- Experience in leading a team;
- Principles of radio astronomy and interferometric calibration;
- Radio astronomy reduction software;
- Control and monitoring systems; and
- Scientific computing in Python
Additional Notes
Skills/Ability/Competencies
- Linux operating systems
- Control and monitoring software
- Technical report writing
- Data analysis
- Domain knowledge: Experience in radio astronomy observations and data reduction pipelines;
- High-level analytical capability: Demonstrated problem-solving ability;
- Teamwork and collaboration: Cooperates with others to achieve organisational objectives;
- Well-developed verbal and written communication skills in English;
- Documentation: Aptitude to contribute to the definition and development of operational procedures, monitoring dashboards and documentation. Rigor in maintaining reports and documentation;
- Scientific computing: Understanding of software development and data analysis using Python, C or C++ in a Linux environment;
- 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 and 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;
- Equity, diversity and inclusivity: An awareness of, and commitment to, equitable practices, including accessibility, to facilitate broad access to the Observatory;
- Must be able to work on a 24/7 rotational basis including weekends and public holidays;
- Aptitude to control and operate a scientific research facility including familiarity with monitoring, controlling, and scheduling;
- Demonstrated ability to work and cope under pressure in time-sensitive environments with multiple priorities; and
- Familiarity with SAFE or Agile code development practices.
How to Apply
Applicants should submit a comprehensive CV by logging in here before 30 June 2024. Furthermore, applicants should include a letter of motivation indicating their suitability for the position in their applications. In addition, the applicants must provide the names and contact details of at least three referees.
South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF) offers a challenging career and competitive remuneration package commensurate with qualifications and experience. Also, the NRF is committed to employment equity and redress, and appointments to the position will be made in line with the NRF Employment Equity Plan. In addition, the NRF reserves the right not to make an appointment and will send correspondence to short-listed candidates only.
For more information, click here.
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