Services Development Engineer: South African National Research Network (SANReN)

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is a leading scientific and technology research organisation that researches, develops, localises and diffuses technologies to accelerate socio-economic prosperity in South Africa. The organisation's work contributes to industrial development and supports a capable state. The CSIR has a vacancy for a Services Development Engineer: South African National Research Network (SANReN) in the South African National Research Network (SANReN) programme within the National Integrated Cyberinfrastructure System (NICIS), which is hosted by the Next Generation Enterprises and Institution (NGEI) cluster. The incumbent will be responsible for leading, developing, and maintaining cybersecurity and related services for NICIS and SANReN, as well as providing cybersecurity support and consulting to the SANReN constituency. The position is based in Pretoria and will report to Research Group Leader.

For more information about the division/cluster/portfolio, please visit SANReN, NICIS and CSIR Next Generation Enterprises and Institutions.

Key Responsibilities

1. Services (and Software) Development and Incubation
   • Design, build, and maintain software solutions and platforms that enable advanced services for SANReN beneficiaries.
   • Oversee and contribute to the full Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), including requirements gathering, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
   • Implement and manage Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines in a fast-paced development environment.
   • Ensure services meet high standards of availability, scalability, and security.
   • Continuously monitor, troubleshoot, and improve existing services.
2. Senior Developer and Code Ownership
   • Review code developed by junior developers and/or interns before merging into the main branch in GIT or other version control systems (e.g., SVN).
   • Provide mentorship and technical guidance, ensuring best practices are followed.
   • Take ownership of the environments codebase, driving improvements and overall code quality.
3. Network Engineering Support
   • Work collaboratively with the network engineering teams to ensure seamless integration of network technologies and advanced services.
   • Engage in the lifecycle management of network-related hosting infrastructure, ensuring that software services are optimally deployed and maintained.
4. Project and Stakeholder Management
   • Take a supporting role in multiple high-complexity services development and/or incubation of new services projects annually.
   • Assist with formulating functional requirements and evaluating tenders related to advanced services.
   • Support project management tasks: define project charters, scopes, work breakdown structures, and track project plans.
5. Mentoring and Technical Coaching
   • Provide technical coaching, mentorship, and leadership to junior engineers and interns.
   • Contribute to SANReNs succession planning by transferring knowledge and fostering a culture of continuous learning.
6. Quality Assurance and Documentation
   • Ensure all technical solutions and associated documentation meet quality standards and best practices.
   • Contribute to the improvement of operational effectiveness and efficiency by refining processes, standards, and methodologies.
7. Innovation and Thought Leadership
   • Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in software development, network engineering, and advanced ICT services.
   • Represent the SANReN group in relevant conferences, symposiums, and forums, both nationally and internationally.

Qualifications, Skills And Experience

1. A Bachelor's degree in computer/electronic engineering, computer science, information technology, or related fields with at least six years of professional software development experience, of which two years should be full-stack development, covering both front-end (e.g., React, Angular, or Vue) and back-end (e.g., Node.js, Python, or Java) technologies;
2. A Master's degree in computer/electronic engineering, computer science, information technology will be advantageous;
3. Demonstrated ability to manage or mentor junior developers and take ownership of a codebase;
4. Solid programming and scripting skills in C/C++, Python, and Bash. Proven track record of delivering software solutions through the entire SDLC (requirements gathering through to deployment);
5. Hands-on experience in modern software development practices, including CI/CD, version control, code reviews, and automated testing;
6. Exposure to containerization (e.g., Docker) or orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes) would be advantageous;
7. Networking knowledge or certifications (e.g., CCNA, CCNP) would be advantageous;
8. Exposure to federated identity management (e.g., SAML authentication, OAuth) will be advantageous;
9. Exposure or knowledge of OpenStack will be advantageous;
10. Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the ability to see initiatives to completion;
11. Proven ability to mentor and guide junior staff;
12. Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
13. Initiative and a proactive approach to work, able to drive projects from concept to completion;
14. Adaptability and resilience in a dynamic environment;

What's in it for you?

The CSIR Offers

1. Flexible hybrid work arrangement;
2. Learning and development opportunities.
3. Competitive and market-related remuneration packages.
4. Total guaranteed salary packages which encompass contributions to the pension fund, risk insurance and medical scheme.
5. We openly acknowledge and reward our employees' contributions and accomplishments through our esteemed CSIR Excellence Awards.

PLEASE NOTE THAT FEEDBACK WILL BE GIVEN TO SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES ONLY.

For more info, please contact the CSIR Recruitment Centre on 012841 4774 or email us at Recruitmentinfo@csir.co.za.

The CSIR is an equal opportunity employer. As such, it is committed to the employment Equity Act and will through the filling of this vacancy, give preference to candidates from designated groups in terms of the Employment Equity Act. By applying for this position at the CSIR, the applicant understands, and agrees that the CSIR may solicit a credit and criminal report from registered credit bureau and/or South African Police Services (in relation to positions that require trust and honesty and/or entail the handling of cash or finances), and may also verify the applicant's educational qualification and employment history. The CSIR reserves the right to remove the advertisement at any time before the stated closing date and it further reserves the right not to appoint if a suitable candidate is not identified.