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

Key responsibilities:

Business Development Leadership

Grow business in designated areas mentioned above through the business development lifecycle by performing, and not limited to, the following activities:

• Analysis and application of industry value chains, including product development value chains and respective applications of digital twinning solutions; 
• Packaging of Technology Development and Commercialisation initiatives
• Market intelligence and analysis; 
• Requirements analysis;  
• Classification of leads and prospects;
• Assessment and maturity auditing of Divisional capabilities applicable to requirements from leads and prospects in the designated areas;
• Assessment, gap analysis and technology evaluation of cluster technologies in line with market requirements; 
• Identify clients and opportunities for the existing technology portfolio within designated areas;
• High-level packaging and de-risking of market opportunities;

Develop principle agreements, incorporate and negotiate of the following terms and conditions:

• Liabilities, securities and insurance;
• Third party agreements; 
• IP and exploitation; 
• Governance and regulatory approvals;
• Breach and termination stipulations;
• Payment and delivery terms.     
• Develop and costing of proposals in conjunction with the relevant CSIR Impact Area teams, external partners, and clients/funders; 
• Internal and external stakeholder analysis (Manufacturing and Mining); 

Secure contracts in the following domain initiative types:

• RD&I Partnerships 
• Joint Development Partnerships 
• External grants 
• Innovation investments through a variety of innovation funders (Technology Innovation Agency, Industrial Development Council, Development Bank of SA, etc ) 
• Commercialisation investments with application in direct & indirect commercialisation opportunities   
• Grow diversification income for the designated areas (private, public and international) through specific revenue streams (eg. contract R&D, royalty income);
• Pipeline development and management for the designated areas (leads to prospects to secured sales) with set targets; 
• Promote use of optimum contract types for specific projects in the division
• Lead technology transfer initiatives for the designated areas;

Application of systems approach on converting requirements to solutions through:

• Research & requirement definitions; 
• Solution definitions & conceptualisation; 
• Solutions development; 
• Test evaluations & qualifications; and 
• Solution integration and acceptance. 
• Internal and external stakeholder management.   

Other activities within the BD&C office, which include:  

• Monthly and quarterly reporting of all activities of the office within the designated areas.
• Update the existing suite of BD&C processes, frameworks and guidelines and establishment of new process that may be required. 
• Provide reporting information at CSIR level. 
• BD&C strategy and plans.  
• Strategic research and development programs and related plans.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A Bachelor's degree in Science or Engineering with at least 15 years experience and exposure in research and technology development applicable to the areas mentioned above will be beneficial. 
• Masters¿ degree in the Science or Engineering domain will be an added advantage;
• Demonstrated success in business development

Evidence of solid domain expertise in:

• Business development lifecycle activities; 
• System engineering and system integration; 
• International contract negotiations, and
• Working interfaces of a research technology organisation.  
• Evidence of high-level stakeholder management, and industry domain related networks.

Experience in the following areas:

• Contract management
• Commercialisation
• Systems engineering 
• Project management
• Process management
• Capability development
• Marketing of capabilities
• Market analysis
• Experience in project development from conception to maturity
• Track record in the formulation and securing of contract R&D contracts. 

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Key responsibilities:

Develop and implement a strategy to grow the mining testing services business:

• Apply sound scientific knowledge in problem solving and synthesising solutions using mining domain knowledge, e.g. Mechanical engineer, materials science, mining processes, mine value chain;
• Identify technologies relevant to the operations of the Mining Testing and Training impact area and its clients and lead the implementation of required technologies to ensure technical competence and sustainability of the Impact Area;
• Lead multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement technical solutions in response to client needs;
• Lead the development and dissemination of technical knowledge and expertise related to the operational field of the impact area;

Develop, implement and manage the required comprehensive maintenance plan and program for the Cottesloe and Kloppersbos facilities:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive maintenance plan for the testing equipment and infrastructure at the Cottesloe and Kloppersbos facilities;
• Ensure the integrity of maintenance systems and maintenance data including CMMS (Computerised Maintenance Management System);
• Oversee and coordinate equipment maintenance, repairs, purchases and usage, and troubleshooting equipment that are not performing;
• Develop the annual maintenance budget per facility and manage requests and approvals for maintenance and refurbishment work expenditure within approved budget;

Project management and delivery of infrastructure related and operational projects:

• Be accountable for the proper planning, management, implementation and reporting of projects in the facility, and as when needed at cluster level, by applying project management expertise together with appropriate domain or industry specific technical acumen to achieve project goals;
• Assemble project teams and assign project management and execution responsibilities;
• Ensure that sound project management is performed to deliver projects on brief, on time and within budget;

Human Capital Lead, develop and manage the engineering technical capability in support of operations and growth in the Mining Testing and Training impact area:

• Develop and manage an HR and succession plan to establish and grow the mining testing technical capability within the cluster;
• Lead and develop multi-disciplinary teams;
• Mentor and supervise junior researchers/ engineers/engineering interns;

Business Development:

• Drive business growth through development of stakeholder needs into project proposals and profitable project execution;
• Maintain awareness of business development opportunities for CSIR wide customer base, where relevant refer opportunities to relevant Clusters and Division;

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Develop and facilitate national and international stakeholder network to broaden and deepen market opportunities;
• Engage stakeholders to continuously assess challenges in the stakeholder¿s operating environment and identify potential opportunities;
• Develop partnerships with strategic stakeholders to promote RDI programmes;
• Participate in technical industry bodies, particularly in mining;

Financial sustainability:

• Drive business growth for the Mining Testing and Training impact area and manage a projects pipeline to deliver contract RDI income from external clients as per the financial KPI¿s;
• Develop and submit proposals for grant funding and private sector clients;
• Implement effective cost control to support financial success of the MTT groups;
• Achieve a clean financial audit;

Create, promote, and embed Safety, Health & Environment (SHE) culture:

• Develop a practical risk management plan, including the compiling and periodic review of operational risk registers, aligned to the organisational standards;
• Establish and maintain a safe, healthy and environmentally sustainable working environment through embedding SHE precautions in all activities;
• Develop a culture that promotes positive support for implementation of SHE policies, 
• standards and procedures;
• Facilitate engagement with key internal stakeholders on SHE requirements and performance; 

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• Eight years experience working in a mechanical engineering role responsible for maintenance of equipment, development of technical solutions and management of projects;
• A bachelors degree in mechanical engineering, a Project management qualification and Maintenance course;

During the above eight years experience five years should be in:

• Line management position, leading a team of technical resources doing engineering work;
• Establishing and maintaining links with internal and external stakeholders and clients;
• Mechanical engineering problem solving; 
• Experience in SHE management systems and processes.
• Knowledge of Mine Health and Safety Act (MHSA) and Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA);
• Familiarity with the function and troubleshooting of many types of mechanical equipment;
• Ability to lead innovation and technology adoption in the mining industry including applied research skills;
• Ability to interpret client requirements;
• Good interpersonal and team skills; 
• Ability to work independently, as well as in a team;
• Problem-solving and solution-seeking orientation; 
• Financial / Business acumen and Project management skills;
• Excellent English communication, presentation and writing skills, including the publication of technical outputs;
• All international qualifications require an evaluation report / certificate issued by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). 

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Key responsibilities:

 Under supervision, the Intern will be required to: 

• Monitor social media channels and assist in implementing social media strategy
• Preparing content for MMP various communications platforms.
• Assist with website management
• Assist with the formulation of messages for brochures and posters.
• Ad-hoc photography.
• Assist with organising exhibitions.
• Assist in the planning and execution of internal and external events

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A Bachelors degree or equivalent in Journalism, Marketing , Public Relations, Communication or Media Studies
• Knowledge in social media and website management especially Word Press
• Writing and word-processing skills 
• Basic Knowledge of digital media tools for creating videos, design and multimedia content.
• Must be Computer literate with MS Office Package 
• Excellent communication skills ( Verbal and written )
• Self-Motivated and team player 
• Photography skills 
• Time Management Skills 
• Strong Interpersonal skills 
• Analytical, numerical , methodical , innovative and results driven 
• Willingness to learn and work under pressure 
• Administrative skills ( Minutes taking , filing and research )
• Pro-active and focused 
• Strong Analytical and problem-solving skills 
• Good attention to detail 

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Key responsibilities:

• Conduct literature review of previous research done locally and internationally in the areas mentioned above;
• Undertake time and motion studies on identified mining engineering technologies at various mine sites
• Engage with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) on technologies related to the above areas at various mine sites
• Write reports on processes and results;
• Present results/research work, when required;
• Perform general administrative tasks as required by project leads/programme 

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mining
• Post graduate qualification will be an added advantage
• Exposure to Metalliferous mining environment and Mechanized mining environment would be an added advantage

The following skills are required; 

• Self-motivated and a team player; 
• Analytical, numerical, methodical, innovative and results driven;
• Willingness to learn and work under pressure;
• Administrative skills (minutes taking, filing and research);
• Pro-active and focused;
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; 
• Good attention to details;
• Applicants must provide a detailed CV and an academic record
• A valid Drivers License will be an advantage
• Ability to prioritise and have a good sense of urgency and accuracy;
• Must have clear/no criminal record;
• All international qualifications require an evaluation report / certificate issued by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
• Short-listed candidates are subjected to a prescribed medical test / assessment, as it is a requirement in the mining sector.

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Key responsibilities:

• Lead research projects; 
• Lead the development of innovative technological interventions in transport systems and operations;
• Develop numerical models from first principles; 
• Manage large scale surveys and experiments;
• Establish, build, manage and maintain mutually beneficial and credible stakeholder relationships locally and internationally; 
• Prepare reports, guidelines or other documents aimed at disseminating the results and outcomes of projects; 
• Provide guidance to candidate researchers and interns;
• Client liaison;
• Raise personal, team and institutional profiles through publishing original research and presenting at national and international conferences and workshops.   

Qualifications, skills and experience:

A Masters degree in transport engineering, traffic engineering, transport planning or econometrics, with at least ten years field experience in one of the following:

• Transport modelling
• Traffic Engineering 
• Transport decision support systems 
• Econometric modelling in the transport sector
• A Doctoral degree, or studying towards one, in a relevant field will be an added advantage;
• Must be eligible for registration with a relevant professional body;
• A good understanding of the wider transport planning/engineering environment;
• Experience in working with large datasets to inform decisions;
• Experience of modelling software such as SATURN, VISUM, EMME, CUBE
• Good understanding of the transport sector in South Africa;
• Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills;
• Ability to continuously disseminate research outputs in the form of technical papers;
• Ability to innovate and generate new knowledge;
• Must have good communication, presentation and writing skills;
• Must have the ability to work accurately, efficiently and independently as well as in a team; 
• Committed to providing high quality, affordable and innovative solutions and advice to clients and have good report writing, project management, supervisory, communication and technical ability;
• Ability to work in a methodical manner is essential;
• Ability to carry out strategic stakeholder interactions at all levels;
• Ability to effectively present ideas, concepts, plan and procedures;
• Demonstrated track record of the ability to work accurately, independently and efficiently.

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Key responsibilities:

Project Management

• Oversee and conduct project planning and documentation to ensure it complies with required internal project management framework(s) and standards
• Establish project plan and initiate project mobilization by confirming  project scope, estimate, resources, roles and responsibilities to ensure effective management of project delivery
• Provide leadership and decision-making support by establishing project governance i.e. schedule management, methodology compliance, RIC (risk, issue, change) management, resource management, and financial management.
• Monitor and control execution of project though Analyse, Design, Build, Test and Release
• Develop integrated work plan
• Develop project resource plan that documents resource requirements and assign individual responsibilities
• Provide management information related to projects to ensure timeous communication to project stakeholders 
• Participate in business systems planning and detailed analytical studies
• Manage the development of project control schedules and conduct internal and external reviews
• Monitor and analyse project progress and take corrective action as needed to maintain/reset project delivery expectations
• Proactively escalate and manage risks and issues and facilitate dialogue that addresses complicated cross-team challenges
• Conduct project financial management 
• Maintain project KPIs and track performance
• Participate in programme-level dependency management discussions
• Ensure that project documentation is complete, current and stored appropriately
• Advise project teams on how to perform PLM tasks and create deliverables, with hands -on support as needed.
• Actively manage the vendor relationships
• Recommend changes to the CSIR Project Management Frameworks, Models and Standards to ensure adoption of international best practice.
• Provide expert advice to all staff to ensure adherence to project charter and plan of ICT standards and procedures and best practices required to ensure the availability, accessibility and utilization of infrastructure in line with CSIR business needs.
• Stay up to date with technology and industry trends by proactively participating in self-study, conferences, webcasts, user group participation, reading or other relevant means

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A National Diploma (NQF 6) in Computer science/engineering, Information technology with at least eight years of relevant experience in project management and delivery, with at least four years of proven track record of managing or leading complex ICT projects, including a solid track record in:
• On-time, on-budget and to specification delivery of projects
• Leading projects using formal project management methodologies
• Experience in managing large technology implementation programs
• Working on complex, cross-functional projects
• Project coordination
• Effective utilization of ICT resources (people, costs and technology environment)
• Resolving problems and mitigating risks 
• A Bachelors Degree (NQF Level 7) (advantageous)
• All international qualifications require an evaluation report / certificate issued by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). 

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Key responsibilities:

• Design, build, and maintain scalable full-stack applications that support AI-enabled use cases such as visual inspection, predictive maintenance, and intelligent automation.
• Develop modern, responsive frontends for data exploration, dashboards, and information visualisation.
• Build and maintain robust backend services and APIs, enabling seamless integration of AI models and XR modules into production systems.
• Design and implement cloud-native architectures, including microservices, event-driven systems, and serverless components.
• Contribute to system and solution design, translating high-level architectural concepts into working software.
• Rapidly prototype new ideas and evolve them into reliable, maintainable platforms.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams to deliver trustworthy, secure, and impactful digital solutions.
• Contribute technically to large and complex projects using modern engineering tools and best practices.
• Where relevant, contribute to research outputs (e.g. conference papers, journal articles) aligned with the team¿s technical work.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• An Honours degree in computer science/engineering, information technology, information systems, or related fields with at least three years practical experience as a Full Stack Software Engineer/Developer.
• A Masters degree in computer science/engineering, information technology or related fields will be an added advantage.
• Expert-level knowledge of React/Angular/Vue.js, FastAPI/Node.js, and Containerization (Docker/Kubernetes) within an Agile/Git workflow.
• Strong proficiency in Python (for AI/Backend) and JavaScript/TypeScript; familiarity with Java or C++ for high-performance systems is a plus. We value engineering principles and the ability to choose the right tool for the job over specific syntax.
• Proven experience designing and building RESTful and event-driven APIs within microservices and distributed architectures.
• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud) and Serverless computing.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitHub Actions, GitLab CI).
• Data Systems: Proficiency in Relational (e.g. PostgreSQL), NoSQL (e.g. MongoDB/Redis), and exposure to Vector databases (e.g. Qdrant/Pinecone).
• Experience with message brokers (Kafka, RabbitMQ, or AWS EventBridge).
• Solid technical grounding in data structures, algorithms, and object-oriented design.
• Strong communication, teamwork, and analytical problem-solving skills.
• Experience with MLOps (deploying and monitoring machine learning models in production) will be an added advantage.
• All international qualifications require an evaluation report / certificate issued by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

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Key responsibilities:

• Assist in electrical upgrades, installations, and system enhancements; manage plant energy under supervision; and troubleshoot electrical faults including motors and control systems;
• Program Siemens and Allen Bradley PLCs; design and install power factor correction (PFC); and assist in the commissioning of sensor-based electrical and data acquisition systems;
• Support electrical system projects for wind tunnel infrastructure, ensuring adherence to timelines, safety standards, and budget requirements;
• Assist with Variable Speed Drives (VSDs/VFDs), industrial automation integration, and PCB design and programming;
• Conduct research and propose new software solutions and technical developments for Wind Tunnel Facilities; collaborate with academic institutions and international user groups;
• Provide hardware and software systems support and troubleshooting during active wind tunnel test campaigns;
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve operational efficiency and maintain accurate technical documentation and reports.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Science degree (NQF8) in electronic/mechatronic/electrical engineering with at least three years experience in the field of electronic/mechatronic engineering;
• Professional registration (ECSA) will be advantageous; 
• Strong knowledge of electrical systems, PLC programming, and industrial automation;
• Experience with CAD software (AutoCAD, SolidWorks) for drafting electrical schematics;
• Knowledge of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), systems engineering principles, and project management tools;
• Excellent communication, presentation, and technical writing skills;
• Competencies: Analytical and conceptual thinking, problem-solving, planning and organizing, and the ability to work independently on complex technical tasks;
• Must be a South African citizen eligible for a Confidential security clearance.

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Key responsibilities:

Interpretation of requirements and specifications

• Interpret user requirements.
• Generate detailed item development specification.
• Generate acceptance test plans and reports.

Digital and Analogue design

• Use VHDL and/or Verilog to develop code for programmable logic devices (FPGAs);
• Implement Firmware designs on both pure digital and mixed digital, analogue and RF devices.
• Design complex high-speed-digital and high-bandwidth-analogue functions;
• Perform simulations to verify design functions both for electrical and firmware designs;

Debugging and Verification

• Debug designs;
• Perform formal functional verification and acceptance testing;
• Perform system and sub-system integration;
• Complete acceptance test reports

Generation of data pack and design documentation

• Generate manufacturing data packs;
• Generate design documentation
• Capture data into data management system.

Mentoring and Coaching of junior staff

• Mentor junior staff in VHDL and Firmware designs;
• Mentor junior staff in digital and analogue design, simulation and verification,

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A Bachelor of Engineering degree in electronic engineering with at least two years' of experience in firmware development;

Experience in the following is required:

• VHDL firmware development of complex systems;
• Debugging of firmware and hardware;
• Capability of document preparation;

Experience in the following will be advantageous:

• Verilog;
• High-speed digital and mixed signal design.
• Proven capability of delegating tasks to junior colleagues;
• Capability of helping in the development and career growth of junior colleagues.

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Research areas: 

• Design and development of embedded system
• Development of control systems
• RF communication
• AI and machine learning solutions
• Robotics and autonomous systems
• Signal and image processing
• And other defence and security related topics

Key responsibilities:

• Prepare a research proposal to be approved by both the CSIR and the university;
• Prepare a written literature overview of the current state-of-the-art relevant to the research topic;
• Perform original research to solve the open research problem(s) that the student identified in his/her proposal;
• Produce sufficient quantity and quality of peer-reviewed publications based on the Masters research topic;
• Compile the Masters dissertation and defending the work successfully; and
• Contribute to extra project activities that may be outside the scope of the master research as per the needs of the research group. The amount of such work shall be limited to 20% of the total time.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• Bachelor's degree in electronic engineering or a related/relevant field;
• Register for a Master's qualification within the South African university (to be agreed upon with the CSIR co-supervisor);
• Must have a good background in embedded systems, artificial intelligence, software development, and/or control systems.
• Working knowledge of related programming languages such as Python, C, and the Linux operating system (and others applicable).
• Ability to work with different types of data sets and good grasp of analytical tools.
• Knowledge and exposure in software development for experimentation and prototyping.
• Good understanding of the scientific method: design of experiments, running experiments, critical analysis of results, and dissemination of knowledge.
• Good communication skills (verbal and written) and ability to interact efficiently with diverse teams of people; and