IT Support Technician

Introduction The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) is the National Facility for Optical and Infrared Astronomy of the National Research Foundation (NRF). Its headquarters are in Cape Town, while its telescopes are at Sutherland in the semi-arid Northern Cape. Distributed between the two sites, SAAO employs roughly 130 people, many of them scientists and engineers, and is contracted to operate the 10-m Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), on behalf of the international SALT Foundation. SAAO is the premier optical/infrared research facility on the African continent, with global research and outreach collaborations and contributing human capacity development for South Africa.

Position: IT Support Technician
Business Unit: South Africa Astronomical Observatory (SAAO)
Location: Cape Town, Western Cape
Position Details Position Summary:
The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) is seeking qualified candidates for the position of IT Support Technician

Key Responsibilities:
Support desktop computer, laptops and , as well as support of remote office.
Troubleshoot basic network connectivity
Video conferencing experience, particularly around setup, maintenance and troubleshooting.
Printer Support
Standby Duties in Cape Town and Sutherland
Installation of hardware for desktops and laptops
Install hardware and software on Linux, windows
Installation of network equipment
Responding to tickets on the ticketing system
Wi-Fi support
Support desktop application like MS Office and others



Additional Notes:
ADDITIONAL EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & PERSONAL QUALITIES:

Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Attention to detail, ability to see a task through to completion, passion for excellent client service, self-motivated, able to work unsupervised, curious, persistent, dedicated.
A+, Net+ certification
Ability to solve problems quickly and automate processes.
In-depth troubleshooting of technical problems as well as solving of more complex software and hardware problems.
A good understanding of networking.
Works well alone or on a team (must be able to work well in a team)
Technical certification (e.g: Microsoft certification, Linux certification, other professional qualifications)

Requirements Qualification:
National Diploma in IT or Related Field


Experience:
2 years’ experience as a support technician
Experience with troubleshooting, setting up, and managing Windows and Linux machines
Experience with VPN server and client configuration (across different platforms), IP Phones (SIP), printer configurations, configuring and troubleshooting cloud-based Office 365 Suite as well as local installation.
Experience SSO, SSH.


Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Windows (7,10,11)
Linux
Apple Mac OS
Email systems like Gmail and outlook or Zimbra
Virtualisation
DNS
DHCP

How to Apply Closing Date: Friday, 13 Nov 2026

The NRF website provides more details on the initiatives and activities. Applicants should submit a comprehensive CV by registering and apply online through the NRF Recruitment and Selection Portal. Applications should be accompanied by a letter of motivation indicating the applicant's suitability for the position. The names and contact details of at least three referees should be provided. Contact Information Recruitment Support:
[email protected]