{"id":4059075,"url":"https://alion.io/job/national-research-foundation-systems-analyst","title":"Systems Analyst","company":{"id":1766339,"name":"National Research Foundation","domain":"nrf.ac.za","url":"https://alion.io/company/nrf-ac-za","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":null,"truth_index":null},"role":"Analytics","role_family":"Analytics","seniority":null,"employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Cape Town, South Africa"],"countries":["ZA"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Agile","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-11-09T11:58:53Z","employer_posted_date":null,"last_verified_at":"2026-11-09T11:58:53Z","board_verified":false,"closed_at":null,"days_open":5,"trust":{"level":"not_scored","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":5},"description":"Introduction\nThe South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) implements South Africa's strategic investments in radio astronomy, including the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project, which covers a broad range of engineering and scientific activities. SARAO is a National Facility of the National Research Foundation, and incorporates radio astronomy and space geodesy instruments and programmes such as the MeerKAT telescope in the Karoo, the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) in Gauteng, the Africa Radio Astronomy Programme across nine African countries, as well as associated human capital development and commercialisation endeavours.\n\nPosition: Systems Analyst\nBusiness Unit: South Africa Radio Astronomy Observatory\nLocation: Cape Town, Western Cape\n\nPosition Details\nPosition Summary:\nThe main purpose of the job is to plan & execute systems analysis tasks alone and under supervision, during design, construction, integration, verification, commissioning and operations of the various radio telescopes and associated supporting systems, focussing primarily on the telescope signal chain.\n\nKey Responsibilities:\nDeliver systems with verified performance and quality through executing system and data analysis in support of design, qualification and commissioning of telescopes and guest instruments, by analysing performance requirements, providing inputs to systems engineering processes and telescope designs, defining verification procedures, developing mathematical models of the system of interest, performing verification tests and analysing test data and system non-compliances and compiling reports.\nAdvancing the maturity of systems and products to ensure stakeholder satisfaction through executing systems analysis in support of design definition, verification, operations and continuous improvement programmes (ad-hoc & quick reaction tasks).\nImproving accuracy of analysis, increased efficiency (data processed vs time) and quality/maturity of reporting through developing analysis and engineering skills by researching tools and techniques of signal –based systems analysis\nEnsuring the engineering is executed with integrity and risk is managed by supporting and participating in compiling the analysis component of Project SEMPs, technical schedules, WBS and SOWs and providing inputs into engineering process reviews of radio astronomy related systems.\n\nAdditional Notes:\nThe applicant should have the following skills/abilities/competencies:\nUnderstanding of technology areas in signal-based systems (RF, EM, analogue and digital electronics, etc.)\nIndustry experience including a high percentage of Research and Development content, analysing the performance of complicated signal-based systems, processing signal data from signal-based systems (analogue and digital), use of signal processing tools and software and computer software programming/scripting (Python, etc.)\nBe a self-starter and self-motivated to achieve the assigned goals without regular supervision while working and delivering under pressure\nAbility to contextualise and organise complicated problems, gathering all required information in such a way to define a plan of action, structure the work and to apportion tasks\nDisplay excellent interpersonal skills\nWork independently as well as in a team environment\nWork in remote locations when required\nCommunicate effectively in English (both written and verbally)\nAct with integrity at all times\nCompile analysis reports containing relevant, accurate and well organised data for review by more senior analysts and engineers\n\nRequirements\nQualification:\nB.Eng/B.Sc (Eng) with 4+ years RELEVANT analysis experience in an Engineering or Research and Development Environment; OR\nM.Eng/M.Sc (Eng) with 3+ years RELEVANT analysis experience; OR\nPhD/D.Eng with 1+ years RELEVANT analysis experience, AND\nMeets the requirements for registration with ECSA as PrEng.\n\nExperience:\nA background in development of systems in radio astronomy, radar, satellite or avionics systems is preferred.\nApplication of methods, procedures, tools and techniques of signal processing (analogue and digital).\nWorked within systems engineering processes\nWorked in technology areas utilized in signal-based systems (RF, EM, analogue and digital electronics, etc.)\nSoftware programming\nUse of common analysis tools such as CASA\n\nKnowledge, Skills and Abilities:\nRecognised domain knowledge, based on theoretical aspects with practical experience in methods, procedures, tools and techniques of signal processing (analogue and digital), systems engineering life-cycle processes, technology areas in signal-based systems (RF, EM, analogue and digital electronics, etc.) and software programming\nExposure to Radio Astronomy.\nUnderstanding of agile software development methodologies\nHow to Apply\nClosing Date: Friday, 20 Nov 2026\n\nThe 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.\nContact Information\nRecruitment Support:\n","description_format":"text","description_chars":5341,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Research Institutes"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-11-11T06:57:36Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":89,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.887,"p_room":1,"age_days":4,"expected_fill_days":27,"reasons":["seen:4","velocity","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-11-14T05:58:10Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/national-research-foundation-systems-analyst","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/national-research-foundation-systems-analyst.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-15T04:16:21Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":28,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-16T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.1,"usd":0.01,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":1766339},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=1766339"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fnational-research-foundation-systems-analyst"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"free","price":{"credits":0,"usd":0},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fnational-research-foundation-systems-analyst"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.1,"usd":0.01},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fnational-research-foundation-systems-analyst"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/national-research-foundation-systems-analyst\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fnational-research-foundation-systems-analyst"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":4059075}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"nrf.ac.za","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":4059075},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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