Senior Soldier Systems Engineer

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is a leading scientific and technology research organisation that research, develops, localises and diffuses technologies to accelerate socio-economic prosperity in South Africa. The organisation's work contributes to industrial development and supports a capable state. The CSIR has a vacancy for a Senior Soldier Systems Engineer in the

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is a leading scientific and technology research organisation that researches, develops, localises and diffuses technologies to accelerate socio-economic prosperity in South Africa. The organisation's work contributes to industrial development and supports a capable state.

Senior Soldier Systems Engineer

About The Job

The CSIR has a vacancy for Senior Soldier Systems Engineer in the Landward Sciences impact area within the Defence and Security Cluster. The incumbent will be responsible for the development of next-generation soldier systems mobility platforms, firepower and protection solutions, wearable and sensor technologies, counter-IED technologies, and counter/offensive drone systems tailored for the soldier. This position is based in Pretoria and will report to the Research Group Leader.

For more information about the Cluster, please visit https://www.csir.co.za/defence-and-security respectively.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the design, development, integration, and testing of soldier systems and subsystems, including capabilities related to situational awareness, mobility, protection, firepower, survivability, and mitigation of emerging threats;
• Apply systems engineering principles throughout the project lifecycle, including requirements analysis, system architecture development, verification and validation, and configuration management;
• Contribute to the experimental development and prototyping of advanced soldier technologies and wearable systems;
• Assist in the planning, coordination, and execution of field trials, user evaluations, and laboratory experiments related to soldier systems;
• Engage with key stakeholders, including military end-users, government agencies, and industry partners, to understand requirements, gather feedback, and support capability development;
• Manage technical tasks and small-scale projects, including scheduling, resource planning, risk assessment, and reporting;
• Prepare and contribute to technical documentation such as design reviews, progress reports, test plans, user manuals, and technical presentations;
• Support multidisciplinary collaboration with mechanical, electrical, software, and human factors engineers to ensure successful system integration;
• Stay informed of current and emerging technologies relevant to dismounted soldier operations and contribute to the assessment of their applicability.

Qualifications, Skills And Experience

• A National Diploma or NQF Level 6 equivalent qualification in mechanical/mechatronic engineering or military science domain with at least at least fifteen years' experience within the defence environment;
• A Bachelor's degree or higher will be advantageous;
• Knowledge and/or experience in the following will be advantageous:
• Research and development of soldier systems, including defence vehicle platforms, protection, firepower, and/or survivability solutions;
• Defence-related product development;
• Engineering design of complex defence or technology systems;
• Systems engineering across the full product lifecycle;
• Project management including planning, coordination, and reporting.
• Must have a valid (Code B or higher) driver's licence;
• Must be willing to travel and work in field test conditions;
• South African citizenship is required, must have or be able to obtain a valid security clearance, and must not hold dual citizenship.

What's in it for you?

The CSIR Offers

• Learning and development opportunities.
• Competitive and market-related remuneration packages.
• Total guaranteed salary packages which encompass contributions to the pension fund, risk insurance and medical scheme.
• We openly acknowledge and reward our employees' contributions and accomplishments through our esteemed CSIR Excellence Awards.

PLEASE NOTE THAT FEEDBACK WILL BE GIVEN TO SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES ONLY.

For more info, please contact the CSIR Recruitment Centre on 012 841 4774 or email us at ***email_hidden***

The CSIR is an equal opportunity employer. As such, it is committed to the employment Equity Act and will through the filling of this vacancy, give preference to candidates from designated groups in terms of the Employment Equity Act. By applying for this position at the CSIR, the applicant understands, and agrees that the CSIR may solicit a credit and criminal report from registered credit bureau and/or South African Police Services (in relation to positions that requires trust and honesty and/or entail the handling of cash or finances), and may also verify the applicant's educational qualification and employment history. The CSIR reserves the right to remove the advertisement at any time before the stated closing date and it further reserves the right not to appoint if a suitable candidate is not identified.