We are looking for a Technical Systems Engineer to join our team based in Cape Town. 

The purpose of the Technical Systems Engineer is to effectively drive system availability, performing technical support and system administration activities, and providing efficient, fit-for-purpose solutions within Shoprite IT teams for all current and future applications and projects. As a Lead Systems Engineer, this involves leveraging expert-level system engineering knowledge on designing, developing, implementing, and maintaining processes and documentation to ensure best use of system capability.  This role collaborates with various IT teams, guiding and advising on system engineering best practise within area of technology, whilst managing system incidents, escalations, and resolutions, and ensuring vendors efficiently deliver on system installation, upgrades, and incident resolutions as per agreed service levels and quality standards.

Description:

1. 1.      Systems Management and Engineering:

• Provide efficient technical administration and support expertise for system upgrades, change requests, improvements, fixes and overall structure and operations.
• Effectively manage overall availability, structure and content of central systems.
• Coordinate and perform change assessments, attend to change control boards, provide, or perform required change documentation and procedures.
• Plan and coordinate installation, upgrades, configuration, development and testing of system and relevant technology to ensure overall stability and reliability of the system.
• Coordinate and drive the creation, updating of system documentation and or standard operating procedures.
• Manage the GK Store Manager in the production environment to ensure optimal functioning.
• Support security vulnerability mitigation or investigation processes, effectively researching possible solutions, writing scripts, and implementing required security measures.

1. 2.      Incident and Vendor Management:

• Provide expert level technical support, manage, and ensure resolution of all logged incidents/problems within area of technology according to agreed Service Level Agreement (SLA) and quality standards.
• Ensure that all incidents are logged to various vendors and 3rd parties, and ensure vendors provide relative feedback on all stages of the query resolution as per the agreed SLA.
• Responsible for managing and coordinating 3rd party or technology partner/vendor technical support activities on installations, upgrades or to resolve escalated incidents.
• Ensure the vendors comply with Shoprite standards and best practices.
• Resolve any escalated security incidents timeously.
• Manage available Vendor hours as per support contract

1. 4.      Training Support:

• Provide technical GK system training to IT Field Support Engineering teams as and when required.
• Guide, coach and support internal and external teams to ensure efficient systems integration and/or facilitate learning of new technologies and processes.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Degree or Diploma in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field - (essential)
• Relevant industry or system certifications - (essential).
• +6 years’ experience as a Systems Engineer or similar role with expert level knowledge and extensive experience in designing, implementing, administering solutions and system support for highly complex Point of Sale systems (i.e., software applications and peripheral infrastructure, DBs, etc.) - (essential).
• Thorough knowledge of POS system administration within a large system infrastructure environment - (essential).
• Strong proficiency in MS Office 365 – (essential).
• Solid functional experience of incident response, diagnostic activities, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Corrective Action Plans, and advanced troubleshooting - (essential).
• Experience with scripting and/or automated deployments using Python, PowerShell, Bash, etc. – (highly beneficial).
• Experience with Linux, SQL, Java, C#, Python, Apache Tomcat technologies – (highly beneficial).
• Experience with GK POS (highly beneficial)

Key Competencies:

• Advanced knowledge and application of skill in system operation, maintenance, and repair - Able to analyse, evaluate and predict system and equipment performance. Skilled in the analysis and development of recommendations to maintain and improve system efficiency, reliability, security, compliance, and cost performance.
• Advanced knowledge and application of skill in optimal technical support - Demonstrates sound skills in technical troubleshooting and problem resolution. Demonstrates in-depth skills in using key system functionality, set up and testing. Able to guide others in providing technical support.
• Expert Technical aptitude with a passion and excitement for engineering systems, new technologies and solutions and its range of possibilities, applications, and value for the business.  
• Excellent problem-solving skills – Able to collect, organise and assimilate disparate, multiple and complex pieces of information to draw sound conclusions and arrive at optimal solutions. Demonstrates an understanding of how one issue may be a part of a much larger system.
• High level of self-motivation and drive to meet and exceed on goals and expectations and drive, coach, engage and energise others to deliver on expectations. Comfortable taking decisions and dealing with a range of problem-solving challenges independently.
• Detailed, organised and quality focused – Has an affinity for detail, structure and efficiency, balancing planning and execution. Is diligent and vigilantly watches over work processes, tasks and outputs to ensure accuracy while independently actioning and correcting any quality concerns.   
• Excellent communication skills – excellent written and verbal communication skills. Is able to confidently explain and simplify complex technical concepts and their real-world advantages/disadvantages to a diverse business audience.
• Collaborative partner - Works effectively across functions and as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Is collaborative and able to build sound, professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work under pressure and under tight time constraints, efficiently prioritising workloads, balancing multiple and competing priorities and managing time effectively in a high-volume, fast-moving environment. Enjoys challenging work and has the proven ability to effectively adapt to and manage change.
• Is curious and adaptable, finds agile and rapid ways of answering business questions and implementing solutions fast.