Electronic Engineer: Digital Signal Processing/Radio Frequency/Sonar at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About The Job

• The CSIR has a vacancy for an Electronic Engineer (Digital Signal Processing/Radio Frequency/Sonar) in the Technology for Special Operations (TSO) impact area within the Defence and Security Cluster. The incumbent will be responsible to provide electronic engineering inputs, support and outputs for the design and validation process leading to the manufacturing of components, assemblies, and sub-systems to be used in a maritime and military environment. This position is based in Stellenbosch.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, model and test electronic engineering components with Computer Aided Design (CAD);
• Design, write, debug and test software and firmware;
• Provide concept and system designs to the required availability and acceptable cost of ownership;
• Design and integrate equipment, electronic systems, and installations;
• Complete data pack segments for configuration;
• Collaborate and communicate with other engineers, including proactive documentation of work and contribution to review and development processes;
• Analyse and capture user requirements in suitable documents;
• Conduct investigations, feasibility studies and functional designs for engineering change proposals (ECP’s);
• Conduct and perform acceptance trials for South African National Defence Force (SANDF) systems and sub-systems;
• Perform and assist with quality assurance on work completed for SANDF systems and sub-systems;
• Plan allocated tasks and delegate appropriately;
• Provide inputs to test and evaluation specifications;
• Report on test and evaluation results.

Qualifications, Skills And Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering or related fields;
• A Master’s degree will be advantageous;
• Knowledge and experience of Digital Signal Processing;
• Knowledge and experience of communication system development (Radio Frequency and/or underwater acoustic communication) and/or sonar;

Knowledge of and experience with the following will be advantageous:

• VHDL for CPLD or FPGA designs.
• STM microcontrollers.
• Qt framework development in C++.
• Git software version control.
• Inertial navigation and maritime sensors.
• Analog circuit design.
• Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design and layout.
• Control systems design.
• Digital hardware design.
• Embedded software design and development in C.
• Ability to read and interpret specifications, schematic diagrams and device data sheets;
• Ability to use lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, signal generators and power supplies effectively. Must have CAD background to provide concept and system designs to the required availability and acceptable cost of ownership;
• Ability to analyse user requirement statements and translate into engineering requirements;
• Ability to apply engineering knowledge to engineering problems to provide engineering solutions;
• Ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team;
• Have broad understanding of other engineering disciplines for integrated design/engineering solutions;
• Technical report writing skills;
• Ability to provide customer training and interaction;
• Must have applied electronic engineering skills in design and construction;
• Must be competent in basic electronic lab tasks such as soldering, wire stripping, crimping, assembly;
• Must be proficient in an object-oriented programming language;
• Must be able to register as a Candidate Engineer with ECSA;
• Must be a South African Citizen (dual citizenship not allowed);
• Must be able to attain and retain a South African Security Clearance in accordance with the work being conducted;
• May be required to travel to client locations and potentially do fieldwork on structures (e.g. scaffolding) and maritime equipment (e.g. high speed boats).