Current Vacancies at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About the job: 

The CSIR has a vacancy for an Analyst Developer in the Smart Places Cluster. The successful incumbent will assist the Impact area to expand reporting the capability of the current information management system, specify the tools and applications design requirements based on the project teams needs and facilitate engagement within the Cluster. This position is based in Pretoria.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead the identification, design, development, and maintenance of in-house and or outsourced systems and application tools through the full software development life cycle (SDLC);
• Lead the development of solution design specifications and user specifications and related data components (such as relational database hierarchies) to address client requirements including verification Acceptance Test Procedures (ATP’s) and Use Cases and overseeing/facilitating the acceptance of the concept demonstrator;
• Design, develop and test software applications for web, mobile (Android, iOS) and desktop (Windows, ARM) environments;
• Document and demonstrate solutions by developing documentation, flowcharts, layouts, diagrams, charts, code comments and clear code;
• Contribute to the identification of risks that arise from technical solution architectures.
• Collaborate with clients as part of formal and informal consultancy engagements and understand client requirements by collecting data and delivering analysis; Manage and facilitate communication between CSIR, clients and their stakeholders;
• Ensure effective and efficient data and communication interfaces between different platforms and applications are in place and functional as and where needed;
• Oversee Data management (including electronic capturing) to ensure that the electronic data collected using tablets and other such devices can be consolidated into a comprehensive database;
• Contribute to the development of proposals to attract funding for the research group;
• Provide mentoring and coaching to junior staff and students;
• Manage medium size projects, and ensure project outputs are delivered on time, on budget and on brief to the expected quality.
• Select and employ standard techniques to get information required by feasibility assessment;
• Facilitate stakeholder input, provide constructive challenges and enable effective prioritization of requirements;
• Analyse and report on test activities, results, issues and risks and include the work of others.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A Bachelor’s Degree or National Diploma in computer science or engineering, information technology with at least six years’ of relevant ICT experience together with proven track record in system analysis and application development with large projects;
• A proven track record in planning, scheduling and monitoring work to meet given objectives and processes on time;
• Facilitating collaboration between stakeholders who share common objectives;
• Experience in one of the following: PHP/JAVA/BDMS (MY SQL, MS SQL, Oracle);
• Knowledge or is competent in the provision of ICT database services.

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About the job:

The CSIR has a vacancy for a Research Group Leader: TIME in the e-Government Impact Area within the Next Generation Enterprises and Institutions Cluster. The incumbent will be responsible for the provision of strategic and technical leadership to a research group, including people management, business development, financial sustainability and operations management. This position is based in Pretoria.

Key responsibilities:

• Contribute to strategic investment goal setting and development of RDI strategy;
• Implement the research, development and innovation (RD&I) strategy for the impact area;
• Lead researchers and engineers;
• Promote a culture of science, engineering and technology (SET) excellence and provide RDI leadership of multiple disciplines such as electronics, mechanical, computing, radiometry, modeling, simulation, testing and evaluation;
• Ensure that the area remains industry and/or service delivery relevant with national and international standing that is directed at cutting edge;
• Propose and/or contribute to the strategic investment plan and implement Parliamentary Grant, Contract Research and Development and other grant-funded projects;
• Develop and implement a business plan for operation, sustainable growth, impact and robustness of area (including strategy, goals, mission, HR, finances, technology transfer, IP and commercialization);
• Assume leadership in the provision of technical solutions to client programmes;
• Deeply understand the needs of the industry by integrating sector knowledge in multi-dimensional research and development programs in order to deliver industry aligned RDI;
• Ensure staff development and strategic Human Capital Development;
• Ensure a well-balanced cutting edge SET capability, in terms of the elements of research, engineering design, or systems/enterprise engineering;
• Ensure SET outputs are achieved;
• Deliver on all KPIs of the area and ensure that all outputs are achieved, including transformation, profit and loss, quality, health, safety and environment as per agreed targets;
• Implement and comply with appropriate financial, business systems requirements, including operational approvals; 
• Network with peers in the fields  expertise  within and outside the CSIR;
• Engage with clients and industry partners to develop long term relationships;
• Provide technical support on business development and participate in client interactions;
• Manage projects through planning of appropriate processes and policies to ensure Intellectual Property (IP) protection and technology transfer;

In collaboration with the Business Development and Commercialization portfolio: 

• Drive the transfer of technology and solutions design to industry/user environment;
• Package technologies for commercialisation or develop an “investment ready business” through financial modelling market assessment and business plan development.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A Doctoral degree in computer science, any engineering discipline, physics, information technology, applied mathematics, mathematical statistics, geographical information systems, remote sensing, geoinformatics or related field;
• At least five years’ experience in technologies domain research within an RDI environment;
• Sound experience in managing a team of multi-disciplinary professions;
• Proven track record in project management and research project leadership;
• Ability to provide thought leadership and high level conceptualisation;
• Ability to work independently as well as in teams;
• Business Development and financial acumen;
• Excellent communication and presentation skills;
• Conflict management skills;
• Decisiveness and action orientation;
• Project Management skills.
• Appropriate national and international RDI networks;
• An understanding of the research to market ‘innovation’ value chain.

Closing date: 12 July 2023

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About the job:

The CSIR has a vacancy for a Senior Engineer: Airframe Designer (Aerostructures). in the Aeronautics Systems Impact Area within the Defence and Security cluster. The incumbent will be responsible to support the integration of stores with aircraft and the provision of aeronautical services to industry and be part of the design team of an innovative and unprecedented unmanned aircraft. This position is based in Pretoria.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead the design, development and testing of new composite, metallic and plastic lightweight aircraft structures;
• Define part requirements, create designs, perform simulation tests and validate final hardware components;
• Use modern tools and techniques to optimise designs in multidisciplinary teams;
• Implement and improve manufacturing processes;
• Support the development of project engineering plans;
• Document design work and support justification of compliance with aviation regulators.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A Bachelor’s degree in aeronautical/mechanical engineering with at least five years’ experience working in an aircraft/unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) design environment.
• A Master’s degree in aeronautical/mechanical engineering will be advantageous;

Experience in the following is essential:

• Testing aircraft structures;
• Structural manufacturing methods and processes;
• Unmanned aircraft structures;
• Aircraft structural design and analysis methods using computer-aided design (CAD), hand calculations and finite element analysis (FEA);
• Aircraft structural materials including metallics, composites and plastics.

Knowledge/or experience in the following will be advantageous:

• Aircraft and/or (UAV) design regulations;
• Computerized structural design and analysis systems;
• Design of complex composite parts including bonded & bolted composite/metallic assemblies for aircraft;
• Be skilled in computer programming.

South African citizenship and security clearance are required for this position.

Closing date: 05 July 2023

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About the job:

The CSIR has a vacancy for a Compliance Specialist in the Legal and Compliance Portfolio. The incumbent will be responsible for providing support to the Manager: Compliance in all activities relating to managing the institutionalisation of compliance and ethics programmes and interventions across the CSIR. This position is based in Pretoria.

Key responsibilities:

• Documenting and maintaining the regulatory universe of the organisation whilst keeping abreast of regulatory developments which impact the CSIR;
• Continuously monitoring local and international trends and best practice initiatives to support the governance and management of ethics;
• Developing and maintaining ethics and compliance related codes, policies, frameworks, and statements for the CSIR;
• Developing and implementing Compliance Risk Management Plans and registers;
• Assisting in the review and implementation of the CSIR Fraud policies and prevention plan, and registers;
• Contributing to the development and implementation of the compliance monitoring and control testing plan;
• Providing substantive input into other business policies and procedures to ensure the effective and consistent integration of ethics and compliance requirements;
• Assisting in the management of the whistleblowing hotline and conducting end-to-end investigation of the reports received in an independent, impartial, and objective manner;
• Provide support to the Manager: Compliance in monitoring and reporting to relevant CSIR committees on the state of ethics and compliance;
• Identifying, assessing, and reporting of material compliance and ethics risks, and assisting management to develop controls to mitigate compliance and ethics risks identified in the business;
• Providing advisory services on an ad hoc basis on matters of ethics and compliance;
• Building professional relationships with stakeholders, and providing independent advice and guidance to employees and business functions on ethics and compliance related queries;
• Contributing to the ethics and compliance training and awareness plan, conducting training and awareness sessions and developing training material on ethics and compliance;
• Reviewing business conduct and governance practices and contributing to the promotion of a robust ethics and compliance culture within the organisation;
• Providing support to the Manager: Compliance in managing the different Compliance Committees.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A Bachelor ‘s Degree in law, risk and internal audit with at least five years’ related compliance and ethics management experience;
• Knowledge of South Africa ‘s legislation and standards on good corporate governance;
• Experience in developing and implementing the compliance framework and performing compliance monitoring;
• Developing ways to minimize risks;
• Strong client service orientation with the ability to influence stakeholders to obtain buy-in for concepts and ideas;
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion;
• Sharing information in different ways to increase internal stakeholders’ understanding;
• Preparing and delivering presentations;
• High work standards;
• Excellent writing, organisational and problem-solving skills;
• Investigative skills;
• Knowledge of the South African regulatory framework for State Owned Entities will be an added advantage;
• All international qualifications require an evaluation report / certificate issued by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

Closing date: 29 June 2023

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About the job:

The CSIR has a vacancy for Software Developer: Extended Reality (XR) in the Emerging Digital Technologies for fourth Industrial Revolution (EDT4IR) Research Centre within the Next Generation Enterprises and Institutions Cluster. The incumbent will be responsible for researching, designing, and implementing Augmented, Mixed, and Virtual Reality technology to deliver innovative, high-impact solutions to government and industry stakeholders. This position is based in Pretoria.

Key responsibilities:

• Conceptualise, design and prototype novel XR based solutions;
• Remain well-versed in new developments in the XR domain to identify new avenues for research and development;
• Assist junior staff in the area(s) of expertise;
• Generate and contribute towards science engineering and technology (SET) activity targets and outputs (reports, guidelines, system requirements, peer-reviewed publications, technology, and software packages, etc.);
• Understand and interpret client requirements to contribute to user requirement analysis and/or well-articulated project proposals;
• Keep up to date on emerging trends in XR Technology in relation to new approaches, tools, methods, or frameworks;
• Participate in internal task teams or committees in relevant domains;
• Participate and engage in relevant XR communities to grow networks and capabilities.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A National Diploma in computer systems engineering, information technology or related fields with at least four years’ experience in Extended Reality; OR
• A Bachelor’s degree in computer science/engineering, information technology or related field to Extended Reality with at least two years of experience;
• An Honours or a Master’s degree will be advantageous with a visual portfolio of past/recent XR projects.
• Experience in User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) design concepts. (Wireframes, Mock-ups, User-journeys, etc).
• Experience in 3D Modelling/Animation/Audio/Particle Effects workflows using Blender, Maya, Sketchup, etc.
• Experience in Game development concepts and workflows using platforms and tools such as, Unity, Unreal, etc.
• Experience in XR frameworks and tools (Extended Reality Toolkit (XRTK), Mixed Reality Interaction Toolkit (MRTK), Software Development Kits(SDK’s), Native Development Kits (NDKs), Java Development Kits (JDK’s), etc).
• Experience in Object-orientated programming using C#, Java or Python.
• Experience in Mobile/Cloud/Server based testing and deployment of XR applications.
• Demonstrated skills in: ideation, analytical thinking, flexibility and adaptability, investigative thinking, team work, self-management and systems level thinking.
• Exposure to Project Management, Kanban, or Agile principles.
• Ability to mentor junior staff.
• All international qualifications require an evaluation report / certificate issued by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

Closing date: 06 July 2023