Vacant Position – Ci Storage And Delivery Technical Lead Nrf / Sarao

Ska South Africa; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1 200 000 - 1 600 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization in Cape Town seeks a Management-level candidate to provide technical leadership for the MeerKAT telescope and SKA programme. This role involves overseeing storage systems, collaborating with international teams, and ensuring data lifecycle management. The successful candidate will have extensive experience in system design and architecture, particularly in large-scale storage solutions. Applications should include a CV and motivation letter by 21 May.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of experience in system design and architecture.
• Experience with large-scale storage implementations.

Responsibilities

• Developing and managing server and storage hardware.
• Overseeing operation and uptime of systems.
• Leading data storage and archival processes.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project Delivery

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science

Bachelor's Degree in Information Systems

Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

CEPH

Job description

Contract type : Permanent
Job Level : Management
Work Location : Cape Town, Western Cape
Closing Date : 21 May

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 across all fields of science and technology, including natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities.

The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) leads South Africa's involvement in the Square Kilometre Array Radio Telescope (SKA) project, focusing on engineering, science, and construction.

SARAO, a National Facility managed by the NRF, encompasses radio astronomy instruments and programmes such as the MeerKAT telescope in the Karoo, the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) in Gauteng, and the African Very Long Baseline Interferometry (AVN) programme across nine African countries. It also involves human capital development and commercialization efforts.

This role involves providing technical leadership, architecture, and research for the MeerKAT telescope and SKA programme.

Key responsibilities include:

1. Developing and managing server and storage hardware, science archives, data transfer systems, tape libraries, and database services.
2. Overseeing the operation and uptime of these systems.
3. Collaborating with international SKA consortia.
4. Working with the science team to develop, review, and implement the SARAO science data lifecycle management policy.
5. Ensuring the alignment of technical storage solutions with data lifecycle policies.
6. Leading the data storage, archival, and backup processes to ensure continuous availability and preservation of telescope data.
7. Supporting operational support and technical response to issues during storage system operations.
8. Implementing monitoring, early warning, and logging solutions for storage systems.
9. Managing storage solution change rollouts, ensuring stakeholder awareness and capability.
10. Charting the technical research path regarding high capacity, high availability, and long-term archival storage.
11. Supporting the development and maintenance of System Engineering deliverables such as documentation, verification, qualification, and baselining activities.
12. Supporting CI Storage administration.
13. Developing and maintaining data delivery policies and infrastructure for MeerKAT data to users.
14. Ensuring robust data delivery infrastructure and solutions for MeerKAT.

Minimum requirements:

1. Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Information Technology, or Electrical Engineering.
2. At least 10 years of experience in system design, architecture, and analysis with a strong focus on storage.
3. Experience with large-scale storage implementations, especially at petascale.
4. Experience with CEPH (advantageous).
5. Extensive experience in high-performance computing environments.
6. Proven experience in designing, implementing, and managing large-scale storage deployments.
7. Experience with diverse storage architectures, including high availability, high speed, and cold storage.
8. Experience in developing innovative solutions and strategic planning.
9. Experience managing distributed projects and technical teams.
10. Ability to work with and influence senior management.

Knowledge:

1. Budgeting, resource, and funding management.
2. Strong understanding of computing infrastructure.
3. Excellent communication skills for complex information.
4. Leadership and motivation skills for technical teams.
5. Track record of successful project delivery.

Applications should include a comprehensive CV, a letter of motivation, and contact details of at least three referees. The closing date is 21 May. NRF offers a competitive remuneration package and is committed to employment equity. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.