Junior Commissioning Scientist at Square Kilometre Array South Africa (SKA SA)
About the Position
SKA SA has an exciting career opportunity for two (2) Junior Commissioning Scientists to join our Cape Town based team. The successful incumbent will be responsible for the commissioning and science verification of the Karoo Array Telescopes.
Minimum education requirement:
- PhD qualification
Minimum work experience required:
- Up to 5 years’ experience working in the field of radio astronomy, or related field
Desirable additional education, work experience and personal qualities:
- Creative in approach to relevant models, techniques and methods, and the ability to develop new ones under some supervision
- High level analytical capability
- Ability to communicate complex information, and to encourage commitment to learn in others
- Ability to assess and organise resources
Duties include:
- Applying principles, techniques and processes to develop or improve the telescope system
- Take responsibility of the practical applications of the principles and techniques of physics or astronomy by developing software, operations procedures and documentations
- Conducting research and improving or developing concepts, theories, instrumentation, software and operational methods related to physics and astronomy
- Evaluating results of investigations and experiments, and expressing conclusions, mainly using mathematical techniques and models
- Observing, analysing and interpreting celestial phenomena an developing methods, numerical models and techniques to extend knowledge of fields such as navigation, satellite communication, space exploration, celestial bodies and cosmic radiation
- Preparing scientific papers and reports
- Testing, commissioning and evaluating equipment used in Astronomy
The ideal candidate will have the following competencies:
Ability
- write up research findings for publication and dissemination
- develop and carry out a plan to open up an area of personal research and expertise, or contribute as a research team member to a broader programme.
- work/collaborate on original research with colleagues from other institutions
- investigate models and approaches to test and develop them
- provide guidance to other staff and both undergraduate and post graduate students
- plan and carry out the work programme for own research contributions, using methodology and techniques appropriate to this type of research
- may supervise more junior research staff and/or contribute to the work as required
- work as part of a small research team, or research activities within a multidisciplinary team(s) as a researcher
Experience
- Python coding and Linux
- coordinating activities
- Radio Astronomy Software
- technical record keeping
Knowledge
- mechanics
- radiowaves
- electronics
- astronomy
About The Employer
The South African SKA Project (SKA SA) is a project of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), administered by the National Research Foundation (NRF). SKA SA is responsible for coordinating Africa’s involvement in the design and construction of the Square Kilometre Array Radio Telescope, the design and construction of the Karoo Array Radio Telescope (MeerKAT) and the African VLBI Network (AVN), as well as the development of skills required to design, build and operate these instruments.
As a business unit of the NRF, SKA SA is committed to employment equity and redress
Type of employment: Permanent
