Vacant Position – Senior Logistics Engineer

SKA South Africa; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Job summary

SARO is seeking a senior Logistics Engineer to lead product development logistics activities for SKA-Mid and MeerKAT projects in Cape Town. The role focuses on making products more supportable through PBS definition, PCAs, LSA delivery, and OsBL establishment.

You will analyze RAM data, guide maintenance tasks, and drive design-for-supportability, while mentoring engineers and ensuring readiness across lifecycle stages.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years in a product development environment with logistic/Systems engineering focus.
• Experience with RAM analysis, FMECA, and maintenance planning across lifecycle stages.
• Strong knowledge of configuration management systems and related standards.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement Physical Breakdown Structures (PBSs) across multiple products.
• Lead Physical Configuration Audits (PCAs) and manage data packs in CMS (e.g. ALIM).
• Execute Logistics Support Analysis (LSA) and deliver the Operational Support Baseline (OsBL).
• Develop reliability estimations and lead RAM data reviews.
• Propose design/operation/support amendments and drive engineering changes.

Skills

Logistics engineering

FMECA

RAM analysis

Configuration management

Maintenance planning

Education

B.Tech Eng + 13+ yrs

B.Eng / M.Tech Eng + 9+ yrs

M.Eng + 7+ yrs

PhD / D.Eng + 5+ yrs

Tools

RAMLog

CMS

ALIM / CMS RAMLog

Job description

Contract type: Permanent
Job Level: Skilled / Middle Management
Work Location: Cape Town, Western Cape
Closing Date: 23 September 2026

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 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) 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 and KAT-7 telescopes 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.

To execute and lead elements of the logistic engineering on the SKA-Mid and MeerKAT radio telescopes and supporting infrastructure in order to influence design for supportability and deliver their operating support baselines to the SARAO/SKA Operations. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT LOGISTICS ENGINEERING POSITION, NOT A BUSINESS/OPERATIONS LOGISTICS POSITION.

Key Responsibilities

• To ensure the integrity of product data packs through defining and implementing Physical Breakdown Structures (PBSs) on multiple products, leading and executing Physical Configuration Audits (PCAs) and initiating corrective actions and change management on deficient/as-built data packs while managing and structuring the data packs in the Configuration Management System (CMS) (e.g. ALIM).
• To execute Logistics Support Analysis (LSA) and deliver the Operational Support Baseline (OsBL) to ensure that the prime equipment is supportable, using and guiding others in the use of the SARAO LSA Data Base (e.g. Ramlog IME), to:
  • Develop Reliability Estimations
  • Lead and execute Failure Modes, Effects & Criticality Analysis (FMECA)
  • Identify and document Preventive & Corrective Maintenance Tasks
  • Analyse Maintenance Procedures and Resources
  • Draw conclusions from LSA data and provide LSA Information Reports
  • Propose Design/Operation/Support amendments
  • Lead reviews of LSA data and OsBL
• To provide operational support in maintaining operational availability targets by leading investigations into failures, conducting root cause analysis, initiating and collaborating on engineering changes to resolve deficiencies and leading the development of work instructions / amended task descriptions.
• To ensure products are designed for supportability by leading the definition of the logistic components while influencing the system architectures, functional/performance specifications, Interfaces, system designs, analysis & trade study reports. To lead the verification and validation of the system supportability and logistic elements
• Execute support planning to ensure the logistic work is correctly tailored to the intended operational context through developing system level support concepts, Logistic Engineering Plans e.g. (LEMP) and preparing the ILS statement of compliance
• To increase the overall ILS competence of the SARAO engineering team and ensure continuation through knowledge transfer and mentorship

Key Requirements

Qualification:

• B.Tech (Eng) with 13+ years RELEVANT experience in a product development environment; OR
• B.Eng / M.Tech(Eng) with 9+ years RELEVANT experience in a product development environment; OR
• M.Eng with 7+ years RELEVANT experience in a product development environment; OR
• PhD / D.Eng with 5+ years RELEVANT experience in a product development environment.

Experience

• Advanced Applied Logistic & Systems Engineering across the complete lifecycle of a system or product and at all levels of the systems hierarchy
• Use of Computerised Maintenance Management Systems (CCMS e.g. RamLog) in managing operational support and performing Logistic Support Analysis (LSA)
• Using Configuration Management Systems (CMS) and preparing Product Breakdown Structures and data packs
• Conducting RAM Analysis
• Executing Failure Modes, Effects & Criticality Analysis (FMECAs)
• Preparing Preventive and Corrective Maintenance Procedures, Schedules and Resources
• Compiling Logistic Support Analysis Reports (LSARs)
• Hi-tech product support development and production
• Operating support baseline establishment and management

Knowledge

• Acknowledged in-depth knowledge of logistic engineering, technology and/or software, based on theoretical aspects and experience in logistic & systems engineering methods, procedures, tools and techniques
• Configuration management and configuration management systems
• Systems & Logistic Engineering Standards, e.g. ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288, MIL-STD 1388-1A & 2B, DEFSTAN 00-60(0), MIL-STD 1629A and S1000D / S3000D
• Quality assurance systems (ISO 9001)
• The PFMA and related procurement regulations
• Product/System Development and Production processes for complex systems

Additional Notes

Extreme Importance (Essential):

• Logistic Support Analysis, inclusive of PBS, RAM, FMECA and Task and Resource Analysis
• Lead the development and implementation of logistic engineering processes
• Interpreting and updating engineering drawings for civil, mechanical and electrical designs
• Operate independently or lead teams to deliver logistic engineering, typically at all levels of the systems hierarchy, including the enterprise or organisational aspects, including systems of systems aspects
• Undertake logistic engineering activities throughout all lifecycle phases of the system under development, with particular focus on the concurrent engineering aspects and the design for supportability aspects

High Importance (Desirable):

• Communicating effectively in English (both written and verbally)
• Function simultaneously across multiple domains, teams and on multiple systems
• Procurement processes for the realisation of Support Resources
• Coaching and mentoring of engineers in the field of logistic engineering

Information

The website www.nrf.ac.za provides more details on the NRF initiatives and activities.

Closing Date: 23 September 2026

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