Chief Technical Officer, Civil Engineering, EBE

The University of Cape Town (UCT) Civil Engineering Department is looking for a talented and driven Chief Technical Officer (CTO) with expertise in Data Science and IT. This exciting role involves supporting teaching, enabling research, and providing technical leadership in the fast-growing areas of data science, computing, and digital technology within civil engineering.

As CTO, you’ll collaborate closely with academic staff, researchers, and students, offering your technical skills in areas like sensors, IoT, data collection, database management, data analytics, and data visualization. You’ll also help integrate digital technologies into the civil engineering courses. A portion of your time (0.2 FTE) will be spent supporting the Faculty Office, specifically on key software tools like the Student Enrolment Advising Tool (SEAT).

This role is based at the Civil Engineering Department in Cape Town. You’ll work with various departments across UCT, including Computer Science, Statistical Sciences, ICTS, and the UCT High Performance Computing (HPC) cluster.

What You’ll Do (Key Responsibilities)

Teaching Support:

• Help develop and implement digital design learning in the new Civil Engineering curriculum.
• Provide technical support for courses and projects involving augmented/virtual reality, big data, programming, computing, and database design.
• Assist course convenors and facilitate labs for computer science and data science courses within Civil Engineering.

Research Support:

• Offer technical assistance with digital data collection, database management, basic data mining, programming, debugging, statistical analysis (for AI/machine learning), and data visualization.
• Support researchers in using programming languages (Python, SQL, R, etc.) and accessing UCT’s High Performance Computing (HPC) cluster.
• Meet the digital needs of various research groups and laboratories.
• Set up and manage data storage systems for the department and faculty.

Management, Leadership & Service:

• Assist with purchasing, installing, and maintaining hardware and software.
• Participate in relevant departmental and faculty administrative tasks and committees.
• Manage small to medium IT resources and help staff with funding applications related to data and IT.
• Prepare and present reports on IT developments, data usage trends, and improvement suggestions to committees.

Faculty Office Support:

• Maintain and improve the Student Enrolment Advising Tool (SEAT) to meet the faculty’s evolving needs.
• Provide operational support for SEAT throughout the entire registration cycle.
• Collaborate with academic and administrative stakeholders to enhance enrolment and advising tools.

What You’ll Need (Requirements)

Education:

• An undergraduate degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Data Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechatronics, or a similar area.

Experience:

• At least two years of experience in programming, data science, computing, and database management.
• Proficiency in programming languages like Python, SQL, R, or similar.
• Familiarity with IoT, sensor networks, and digital data collection technologies.
• Strong problem-solving skills, including the ability to debug and develop basic code.

Advantageous Skills & Experience:

• A postgraduate qualification (Master’s or PhD) in a relevant field.
• Experience with big data, AI, and/or augmented/virtual reality.
• Experience working in Civil Engineering.
• Experience in a university or research environment.
• Familiarity with High Performance Computing (HPC) systems.
• Knowledge of Linux operating systems and experience with cloud services.

Key Competencies:

• Technical Expertise: Strong understanding of data science, computing, and digital infrastructure in engineering.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to work well with diverse teams.
• Problem-Solving: Ability to troubleshoot technical issues independently and offer creative solutions.
• Project Management: Good organizational skills to manage multiple tasks, deadlines, and priorities.

Salary

The annual cost of employment, including benefits, is between R639,581 and R752,447.

How to Apply

Ready to make an impact? To apply, please visit the UCT Careers site (external applicants) or the UCT Internal Careers site (internal applicants) to create your profile and submit your application.

Make sure to include the following:

• A comprehensive Letter of Motivation.
• Your updated Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Contact details for three referees, including their title, name, position, relationship to you, email address, and telephone number.

Shortlisted candidates may undergo assessments, and references will be checked. For any inquiries about this position, please contact Mr. Ian Petersen at ian.petersen@uct.ac.za or 021 650 2163.

Closing Date: 05 September 2025