Senior Systems Engineer: Projects (x4

Listing reference: atns_000841
Listing status: Online
Apply by: 8 April 2026
Position summary
Industry: Aviation & Aerospace
Job category: Electrical Engineering
Location: Bedfordview
Contract: Permanent
Remuneration: Market Related
EE position: No
Introduction
To plan, acquire, and implement Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) and Air Traffic Management (ATM) Systems per ICAO and SACAA regulatory requirement standards.
Job description

Systems Engineering including - implementing and securing complex safety of life CNS aviation infrastructure and software platforms to ensure maximum uptime, performance, and reliability• Develop programme execution plan to assess progress with the implementation of all projects within the discipline. Schedule and coordinate the implementation of projects as a project/programme manager. Ensure that projects are executed within approved timescales, budgets and according to specification. Develop project plans that include financial progress, risk and resource management. Review and approve project status reports – financial, progress, quality, risks, resources. Solve day-to-day problems regarding project-related matters and issues. Participate in departmental strategy development. Supervise and support systems engineers in managing CNS implementation and integration projects, ensuring adherence to project scope, timelines, and budgets.   Develop and approve comprehensive project management plans, incorporating resource planning, work breakdown structures and risk management strategies.  Ensure adherence to project management methodologies and principles. Oversee the creation of detailed project schedules, milestone tracking, and reporting frameworks to senior management. Establish risk assessment and mitigation plans for project execution, including contingency planning and stakeholder impact assessments.    Ensure Projects undergo thorough quality assurance and system validation testing before operational deployment.

Oversee commissioning and acceptance testing of new CNS installations, ensuring a seamless transition to operations through structured training programs and documentation handover. Lead stakeholder engagements to align project objectives with operational needs and regulatory expectations. 

 CNS Acquisition Management - Define user requirements in liaison with operational, maintenance and financial staff. Undertaking feasibility studies in liaison with operational, maintenance and financial staff and stakeholders. Compile and review specifications that meet user requirements. • Oversee the end-to-end acquisition of CNS systems, ensuring alignment with business objectives and regulatory compliance. Participate in the acquisition process – this includes the tender and tender evaluation phases. Lead contract negotiations. Lead requirements analysis sessions with stakeholders to ensure comprehensive needs analysis

Conduct feasibility studies, including technical, financial, and operational assessments to justify investment decisions. Develop and approve technical specifications and system requirements documents to acquire systems that meet operational needs. Drive acquisition processes including tender preparations, tender evaluation, and contract negotiations ensuring alignment with strategic goals and risk mitigation measures. Monitor supplier performance, enforce contractual obligations, and oversee system acceptance testing before commissioning.          Lead the development of asset management plans to ensure CNS infrastructure remains cost-effective and sustainable.

 Governance, Compliance, Risk Management and Reporting -  Prepare documents intended for submission to various ATNS Committees as required. Identify key risks, and develop and implement effective mitigating plans and actions to avoid or minimise relevant risks, and report and raise these risks in the appropriate forums

Ensure that effective data recovery plans are in place to ensure business continuity in case of a disaster or potential threats. Ensure adherence and compliance with the relevant regulatory framework. Prepare ad hoc reports as required by clients and management. Adhere to compliance with industry standards requirements

Participate in contracts, financial and project reports for the department.             Report on project status; financial, progress, quality, risks and resources to management. Approval of invoices as per mandate matrix

 Stakeholder Relations Management- Develop and maintain sound relationships with suppliers and key product and service providers to facilitate continuous improvement in services and technology. Manage supplier performance, enforce contractual obligations, and oversee system acceptance testing before commissioning.          Build and manage relationships with other key internal and external stakeholders to support ongoing collaboration and alignment. Conclude and oversee SLAs with key ATNS departments to ensure business expectations are managed. Manage and provide regular reports on SLA compliance whilst identifying areas of inefficiency

 Financial Management - Provide input into the development of the departmental and project budgets. Manage delegated expenditure in line with business objectives and priorities, and within approved financial parameters. Report expenditure including any possible deviations to the budget on a monthly basis Ensure compliance with ATNS Finance policy and Delegation of Authority. Provide the required supporting documents to enable effective auditing processes.

 People Management - Manage employees in accordance with HC policies and processes. Ensure that new employees have been properly on-boarded prior to commencing work. Monitor the time and attendance of subordinates, take appropriate action in the case of absenteeism, and report absenteeism issues to management and Human Capital. Manage performance by promoting high levels of discipline and standards to achieve required performance targets and objectives. Evaluate the performance of team members in relation to their key performance areas. Lead and facilitate the career development of engineers/technologists reporting to the Senior Systems Engineer Conduct talent reviews of staff as required by the HC Talent Management process. Coach and mentor subordinates on an ongoing basis to improve performance. Complete training and development tasks as per the approved skills plan. Attend to departmental staffing requirements such as the interviewing of candidates

Minimum requirements

Formal Qualifications 

           BSc or BEng Degree in Electronic / Electrical/ Computer Engineering

           Professional Engineer registration with ECSA or eligibility to register as a Professional Engineer and Systems Engineer Professional

           Registered as a Candidate Engineer with ECSA

 Experience

            Minimum six years post-qualification system engineering work experience with advanced knowledge of, and experience in, planning, specifying, acquiring and implementing CNS/ATM systems

           Experience in managing engineering projects

           Sound knowledge of International Civil Aviation Organisation Standards and Recommended Practices as applied to communication, navigation and surveillance systems

           System engineering management experience

           Project and contract management experience

           Experience in procurement processes, contract management, supplier negotiations and financial planning for large-scale infrastructure projects

           Be willing to travel and work on weekends

           Must have a valid South African driver’s licence

 DESIRABLE ADDITIONAL EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE AND PERSONAL QUALITIES

                     Post-graduate degree in Engineering or Management/Leadership

           Experience in the CNS technical/operational field within the civil aviation authority and/or air navigation service provider of a country with a well-developed CNS infrastructure

           Client/user focused (service delivery excellence)

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