Jobs at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About the job:

The CSIR has a vacancy for a Senior Software Engineer in the Aeronuatic Systems Impact Area within the Defence and Security Cluster. The incumbent will be responsible to provide software engineering development, support and management services to the Experimental Aerodynamics and Wind Tunnel (WT) Facilities Groups, from high-level software architecture to down to low-level software upgrade development and testing. This includes software engineering applicable to the suite of wind tunnel testing facilities plant’s control systems, test environment system, and model test data acquisition systems, as well as project specific software engineering requirements. This position is based in Pretoria.

Key responsibilities:

• Responsible for software engineering design and implementation (requirements definition, software design, development, testing and integration) for wind tunnel facility plant control systems, testing environment control systems, test article control systems, and test article data acquisition systems;
• Plan and manage all software development (projects and tasks) within Experimental Aero and Wind Tunnel Facilities Groups using CSIR ERP systems;
• Resource planning and allocation;
• Lead the development of concept and technology demonstrators, derived from requirements;
• Generate documentation for the developed software products and applications in terms of software development system engineering processes and project reports;
• Research the latest technical developments i.e. researching and proposing new software solutions for diverse application areas within the Wind Tunnel Facilities and Exp Aero groups;
• Collaborate and network with tertiary academic institutions, user groups and forums, locally and internationally;
• Work in the wind tunnel environment as part of a wind tunnel testing team on wind tunnel systems;
• Provide software systems support and troubleshooting during Wind Tunnel test campaigns;
• Evaluate and analyze the software, hardware, and ICT systems currently in the Wind Tunnel Facilities, while identifying areas for modification, improvement and upgrades;
• Create and manage Wind Tunnel Facilities ICT roadmap;
• Provide coaching and mentoring to junior software engineer/s and technologists;

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A Bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering, computer science or related fields with at least seven years’ experience in software architecture and object-oriented software development, of which five years should be in the following:
  • Hardware interfacing and control;
  • Software systems engineering processes;
• The above working experience should be in real time server and desktop operating system environment;

Must have experience in the following:

• Working with multidisciplinary teams;
• Supervision of junior engineers and technologists;
• UML and related software development and planning methodologies;
• XML markup language and file format for storing, transmitting, and reconstructing data;

The following training, knowledge and experience are also required:

• Embedded software development
• Matlab
• Programming languages FORTRAN, C, C++, JAVA
• Experience in network communications
• Experience with PLCs (Siemens and Allen-Bradley) hardware and programming
• Ability to read and draw PLC Ladder Logic diagrams
• Experience with electro-mechanical automation and control

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About the Job:

The CSIR has a vacancy for Senior Researcher: Ocean and Climate modelling in Computational Oceanography / Numerical Modelling in the Holistic Climate Change division within the Smart Places cluster. The position is based in Rosebank, Cape Town.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and assist in model configuration, experimental design, simulation and execution;
• Evaluation of ocean-ice-biogeochemical model output from experiments using high performance computing, data analysis, visualisation and interpretation, with an outlook to modelling the Earth System as a whole;
• Help strengthen the SOCCO team, seek model solutions, use large satellite and in situ datasets and collaborate with the team to build human capital, software capabilities, and scientific publications.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A doctoral degree within the realm of oceanography, physics, ocean - atmosphere - climate - earth system modelling, model development with at least three years of experience;

Must have experience in;

• Ocean, ice or biogeochemical modelling (NEMO, ROMS, CROCO, etc.)
• Using high performance computing and linux shell scripting, model development (Fortran) will be an advantage.
• Using version control software (svn, git, Github)
• Ability to use scientific software (programming and visualisation) for model analysis (Python, Matlab, etc.)
• Desire to work and collaborate as a team and train students/researchers
• Scientific curiosity for climate science or technology and supercomputing

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About the job:

The CSIR has an opportunity for a Principal Researcher: Logistics and Supply Chain Engineering within the Smart Mobility Cluster. The incumbent will provide strategic and technical leadership in the newly established area of Smart Logistics Management and position the CSIR locally and internationally to be responsive to the needs of key industries. The incumbent will also be expected to lead the development and localisation of information and technology platforms in the transport sector, within the logistics and supply chain management domain, to support industrial development. This position is based in Pretoria.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership in the development of the logistics and supply chain engineering research competence;
• Provide technical leadership in the development and harnessing of knowledge and technology to create industry responsive solutions in logistics and supply chain engineering;
• Develop effective partnerships and industry collaborations;
• Lead business development and be responsible for the generation of proposals to attract sustainable funding;
• Lead projects and large scale programmes;
• Coordinate and productively work within a team that addresses current and future challenges related to national and regional logistics and supply chain performance; and
• Coach and mentor junior staff members.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• Masters’ degree in industrial engineering, operations research, economics or logistics management, with at least eight years’ experience in leading technical research in the field of logistics and supply chain engineering;
• A track record in attracting and securing funding to support a team and formulating strategies;
• A track record spanning over five years leading the generation of industry reference reports or policy in the area of logistics and supply chain engineering;
• Registration with a relevant professional body;
• Good understanding of the logistics and supply chain sector in South Africa;
• A good understanding of national logistics challenges, across different sectors of the economy and differently resourced environments;
• An understanding of the application of modelling approaches and methods, including simulation modelling, optimisation, macroeconomic modelling, and others;
• 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;
• Must be computer literate as well as have the ability to understand and use domain specialised software;
• 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; and
• Demonstrated track record of the ability to work accurately, independently and efficiently.

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About the job:

The CSIR has a vacancy for a Commercialisation Manager within the Advanced Production and Security Division).The incumbent will be accountable for implementing the commercialisation strategy, deal making, and driving various initiatives for the Division. This position is based in Pretoria.

Key responsibilities include:

• Originate, structure, negotiate and close commercialisation deals/ transactions involving advanced technologies, across the spectrum including funding and investment financings for further technology development, business formation and acceleration, through to commercial licensing and exploitation arrangements for technology / intellectual property;
• Mobilise funding for technology development and commercialisation opportunities by third party funding sources / instruments including venture capital, private equity, industry partners or public funding instruments;
• Evaluate the strength and advancement of research and development relating to inventions for readiness and market uptake, support market facing technology development throughout the innovation lifecycle cycle, from ideation through to monetization, and assess commercial potential and properly position opportunities with the right industry partners or vehicles for industrialisation and commercial exploitation;
• Develop, recommend and implement commercialisation strategies for inventions and technologies at varying stages of maturity; evaluate capital needs, market potential and return on investment; interact effectively with the research community, attorneys, external business professionals, financiers and corporate partners;
• Package technology / intellectual property (IP) for commercialisation and develop and drive industry fit and viable commercialisation / business cases as independently or as collaboratively as may be required, with technical and support teams in order to get the job done;
• Develop and implement appropriate modes of commercialisation for IP / technology opportunities including licensing, partnerships, joint ventures and new venture creation (start-ups and spinouts, incubation and acceleration), taking into account relevant aspects that include regulatory and compliance requirements (e.g. Reserve Bank approvals, PFMA, IPR Act);
• Form, advise on, and review proposals, technology development and commercialisation arrangements and contracts.
• Develop, lead and manage intellectual property development and protection strategies; managing the intellectual property portfolio  and associated reporting
• Account for a robust, balanced portfolio and pipeline of commercialisation and intellectual property projects and leads ;
• Effectively use market / business intelligence to inform the division and clusters’ Research Development and Innovation (RDI) agenda,  facilitate development of technologies for current and future competitiveness and ensure collaboration with industry and relevant parties locally and internationally;
• Lead and maintain in-depth stakeholder engagement in industry and the public sector at large;
• Keep abreast of all relevant legislation policies and processes;

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A  relevant B degree in Science / Engineering / Business / Finance;
• At least 5-7 years’ commercialisation experience in industry or leading Research and Technology Organisation (RTO);
• In addition a post graduate qualification in IP/Tech Transfer/Technology Management or relevant qualification;
• Legal / business / finance qualification would be an added advantage;
• Relevant industry experience, knowledge and networks for technology commercialisation and resource mobilisation;
• Relevant industry experience, knowledge and expertise in the development of commercialisation strategies, business cases, financial modelling, valuation, deal structuring and negotiation;
• Track record in investment markets/ private equity/ venture capital/ technology commercialisation;
• Excellent communicator with strong business acumen;
• High-level stakeholder management and industry-related networks;
• Excellent communicator with strong, demonstrable business acumen; and
• Strong people management and organisational development skills.