Sen Specialist: IT Security Engineer(FTC) x2 (Cloud Solution Architect) at The South African Revenue Service (SARS)

Job Purpose

• To be responsible for identify shortcomings in SARS processes, gaps in systems that allow fraud, trends of activities where SARS is defrauded, and  to assist in designing  controls and solutions to mitigate identified  risks and to reports on suspicious and unauthorized activities on the SARS IT Systems.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required

• Bachelor's Degree / Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in Computer Science, IT or related fields, AND 8-10 years' experience in an Information Security Operations, of which 3-4 years at Junior specialist level.

OR

• Senior Certificate (NQF 4) AND IT Qualification (s) / Certification (s) Information Security, and 8-10 years’ experience in an Information Security Operations, of which 3-4 years at Junior specialist level AND additional requirements specified in Min Functional requirements.

ALTERNATIVE #

• Senior Certificate (NQF 4) AND 15 years’ experience in Information Security Operations, of which 3 - 4 years at a junior specialist level AND additional requirements specified in Min Functional requirements.

Minimum Functional Requirements

• 3-4 years’ experience in IT Security with 2 – 5 Year SQL experience.
• Technical Expertise: Proficiency in one or more major cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud).
• Knowledge: Expertise in IT security, IP networking, virtualization, and DevOps tools.
• Certifications: Professional certifications such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Azure Architect Expert, or TOGAF.
• Soft Skills: Strong communication skills to lead workshops, mentor technical teams, and manage client relationships

Job Outputs:

Process

• Analyse and make recommendations about improvements to specialist systems, procedures and associated area's practice.
• 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 & experience to identify & recommend tactical solutions to defined problems in practices.
• Architectural Design: Create comprehensive blueprints for cloud infrastructure, including networks, data storage, and application stacks.
• Strategy & Migration: Develop cloud adoption strategies and lead migration projects, moving legacy applications to cloud environments.
• Security & Compliance: Ensure all cloud solutions adhere to security standards, regulatory compliance, and data protection requirements.
• Optimization: Monitor and optimize cloud environments for performance and cost-effectiveness (FinOps).
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Act as a consultant to business stakeholders, translating requirements into technical solutions. Optimise goal achievement through tactical strategy implementation and optimisation of practises, processes and systems across an internal value chain.
• 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.
• Develop intermediate controls in parallel with long term controls.
•   Provide expert analysis IT Security mitigation implementations and develop recommendations in order to address any risks identified within the IT Security infrastructure, application and system environments.
•  Provide input to current/new IT Security strategies, architectures, policies, standard, procedures, SOPs, user training material and guides or other organisational policies which influences IT security to align with business.

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 
• Commitment to Continuous Learning 
• Conceptual Ability 
• Expertise in Context
• Fairness and Transparency
• Honesty and Integrity
• Respect
• Trust

Technical competencies

• Business IT Systems 
• Business Knowledge 
• Data Collection and Analysis
• Efficiency improvement
• Functional Policies and Procedures 
• Business IT Systems 
• IT Knowledge 
• IT Network and Securities
• IT Strategy and Planning 
• Reporting
• System Thinking 
• Knowledge of IT Governance and Business  
• Efficiency improvement

Deadline:19th April, 2026