Senior Specialist: System Engineer (Fixed Term Contract)

Position Reports to: Manager: Information Technology Service

Division: Strategy Enab & Modernisation

Location: Pretoria

Advert Closing Date: 26 October 2026

About the Position

Consult to business on technology solutions in the IBM WebSphere Application Server domain whilst ensuring 24/7 availability within all SARS BU platforms. OpenShift knowledge on containerization (Docker, OpenShift), Kubernetes orchestration will be an added advantage.

Job Purpose

To be responsible for co-ordinating, programming, implementing and maintaining system architectures, including hardware, operating systems, and utilities, and related client services within the organisation and ensuring to meet service level agreements. To be responsible for identification and resolution of complex hardware and software technical problems and malfunctions related to network and related servers and makes decisions that are critical in the areas of performance analysis, problem solving, and infrastructure planning, with the potential to affect the successful execution of business transactions, ensuring a stable performance environment for the enterprise business processing system.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

Bachelor's Degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) Information Technology AND8-10 years' experience in IBMWebSphere Application Server, of which 3-4 years at junior specialist level.

#OR

Senior Certificate (NQF 4) AND IT Qualification (s) / Certification (s), in Information Technologyand 8-10 years’ experience in IBMWebSphere Application Serveof which 3-4 years at junior specialist level,AND additional requirements specified in Min Functional requirements, where applicable.

• AiX: IBM AiX Certified Engineer, PowerHA, IBM Systems Director or relevant certification OR
• LINUX: SuSE Certified Professional or Linux Professional Certified Level 2 or Redhat Certified Technician OR
• WAS: IBM WebSphere Application Server Certified System Administrator or any other relevant certification

#ALTERNATIVE

Senior Certificate (NQF 4) AND 15 years IBM WebSphere Application Serverexperience of which 3-4 years at junior specialist level.

Job Outputs:

Process

• Analyse and make recommendations about improvements to specialist systems, procedures, policies and practices.
• Contribute to the optimum utilisation of org. resources, advising on effective planning and development of area of specialisation resource plans.
• Develop a single practice area in alignment with operational activity and procedural frameworks and ensure tactical implementation.
• Draw on own technical or professional expertise, knowledge and experience to identify and recommend tactical solutions to defined problems in practices.
• Integrate business information, compare, analyse and produce reports to identify trends, discrepancies and inconsistencies for decision making purposes.
• Optimise goal achievement through tactical strategy implementation and optimisation of practises, processes and systems across an internal value chain.
• Plan for value-added, continuous practice and system improvements to deliver on objectives to enhance tactical implementation and excellence.
• Proactively identify interconnected problems, determine its impact and use to develop best fit alternatives; best practice implementation solutions.
• Recommend changes to optimise processes, systems, practice areas and associated procedures and execute the implementation of change and innovation.
• Translate top-down policy, apply modification in relation to own practice area and communicate impact to relevant stakeholders.
• Advising on programming, implementation and maintaining system architectures, including hardware, operating systems, and utilities, and related client services within the enterprise.
• Advise on the identification and resolution of high-level hardware and software technical problems and malfunctions related to network and related servers.
• Makes decisions that are critical in the areas of performance analysis, problem solving, and infrastructure planning, with the potential to affect the successful execution of business transactions.
• Proactively researches and locates necessary tools and processes to identify and proactively avert troublesome trends as they develop.
• Advice on stable performance environment for the enterprise business processing system.
• Participates in various IT projects intended to continually improve/upgrade the systems infrastructure.
• Collaborate with network staff to ensure smooth and reliable operation of software and systems for fulfilling business objectives and processes.
• Configuring, debugging and supporting multiple infrastructure platforms.
• Developing, maintaining and supporting technical infrastructure, hardware and system software components and developed applications.
• Performing high-level root-cause analysis for service interruption recovery and creating preventive measures.
• Performing installation, maintenance and support of system software/hardware and user support.
• Work with executive team members, decision makers, and stakeholders to define business requirements and systems goals, and to identify and resolve business systems issues.
• Coordinate and perform in-depth tests, including end-user reviews, for modified and new systems.
• Design and perform server and security audits, system backup procedures, and other recovery processes in accordance with the company's disaster recovery and business continuity strategies.
• Ensure compatibility and interoperability of in-house computing systems.
• Ensure system connectivity of all servers, shared software, groupware, and other applications.
• Gauge the effectiveness and efficiency of existing systems; develop and implement strategies for improving or further leveraging these systems.
• Integrate servers and their associated software into enterprise systems/solutions.
• Monitor and test system performance; prepare and deliver system performance statistics and reports.
• Propose and create system design models, specifications, diagrams, and charts to provide direction to system programmer and development teams.
• Responsible for building, implementing and maintaining system hardware and software architectures as well as to identify and resolve all hardware and software technical problems.
• Participate in various IT projects intended to continually improve/upgrade the system infrastructure.
• Establish systems programming standards and documentation requirements and play a key role in the integration of mainframe, midrange, shared systems and other computing architectures.
• Advise and design in support of the management and support of the organisation's System operating systems and/or application server software and utilities infrastructure - Specialist coding for the optimisation of System systems to optimise workflow; coaching other engineers to resolutions, engineering and implementing complex projects, and for maintaining and overseeing the technology, ensuring alignment of IT strategy to business strategy.
• Create and maintain documentation as it relates to system configuration, mapping, processes, and service records.

Governance

• Develop and/or align governance and compliance policies for own practice area to identify and manage risk exposure liability.

People

• Integrate new knowledge and transfer skills attained through formal and informal learning opportunities in the execution of your job.
• Provide specialist know-how, support, advice and practice thought leadership in area of expertise.

Finance

• Implement and monitor financial control, management of costs and corporate governance in area of specialisation.

Client

• Develop & ensure implementation of a practice that builds service delivery excellence & encourage others to provide exceptional stakeholder service.
• Participate in the specialist practice community and contribute positively to organisation knowledge management.
• Provide authoritative, specialist expertise and advice to internal and external stakeholders.

Behavioural competencies

• Accountability
• Analytical Thinking
• Attention to Detail
• Adaptability
• Building Sustainability
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Conceptual Ability
• Fairness and Transparency
• Honesty and Integrity
• Organisational Awareness
• Problem Solving and Analysis
• Respect
• Trust

Technical competencies

• Business IT Systems
• Business Knowledge
• Computer Literacy
• Efficiency improvement
• Functional Policies and Procedures
• IT Knowledge
• IT Strategy and Planning
• Reporting and Interpretation
• System Thinking
• Customer Relationship Management
• Technical Expertise
• IT Project Management
• Knowledge of IT Governance and Business
• Problem Analysis and Judgement
• Verbal Communication

Compliance Competency

• GOC Confidential

Employment Equity

The Employment Equity policy of SARS will be considered as part of the recruitment and selection process and Persons with Disabilities are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates will be required to undertake an oath of secrecy, pre-employment screening, case study, pre-assessment, psychometric assessment and or vetting, and a declaration of private interest. The appointment is also subject to appropriate reference(s) and security clearance where applicable.