Paul Rabe

Intelligent Observatory Senior Software Developer

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

About

I am an experienced professional in software and electronics engineering and management, with a proven track record in the research industry. I am thrilled to be part of the Intelligent Observatory project, which is revolutionising the way telescopes function and collaborate. A key aspect of this groundbreaking initiative is the integration of artificial intelligence to enhance telescope operations, and I am excited to contribute to this transformative advancement.

Experience

  • Senior Software Developer at South African Astronomical Observatory
    Oct 2024 - Present · 1 yr 9 mos

    Transforming the Observatory into an integrated Intelligent Observatory site driven by Artificial Intelligence. Core technologies used include linux, python and sql. One of my main goals is to develop a site wide telemetry system for fault reporting and corrective action processes, as well as implementing audio and visual analysis tools for failure mode detection.

  • Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) (Sutherland, Northern Cape)
    • Technical Operations Manager
      May 2019 - Nov 2024 · 5 yrs 7 mos

      Managing a large team of electrical, mechanical, optical and software engineers and technicians for maintaining and enhancing the SALT telescope and instruments as well as project planning for asset renewal and development projects.

    • SALT Software Engineer
      Nov 2010 - Apr 2019 · 8 yrs 6 mos

      Design, maintenance and improvements of subsystem software and various instruments that control the telescope systems. Most of the automation software is written with National Instruments Labview Development Software and controls and receives feedback information on the current status and position of the various systems such as the structure and dome movement, tracker system, and building management system. This requires good knowledge of software engineering, electronics and mechatronics. Systems also include the likes of Allen Bradley and Siemens PLCs, NI, PI, Faulhauber, Kollmorgan and Fogale systems support and integration. Other duties include occasionally acting as Tech Ops Manager, Electrical Standby and Project Management. Assistance with Asset Renewal Planning, Risk Assessments, Budgets, Systems Analysis, Recruitment.

  • Senior Software Developer at 3fifteen
    Nov 2009 - Oct 2010 · 1 yr

    Software development and support for large scale clients utilizing Microsoft development platforms such as SharePoint. Main duties involved implementing the Cape Town based support desk environment to assist clients with ongoing support and improvements to current system developed by 3Fifteen. Other duties include improvements to in-house infrastructure for the Cape Town office in support of improving collaboration between clients, staff and head office which improves support turnaround times.

  • Business Owner at Self Employed
    Apr 2005 - Nov 2008 · 3 yrs 8 mos

    Mostly web and application development in C#, SQL, .Net environment for small scale clients. Working on my own I performed the full software development cycle which included project management and consultancy. Some of the work I performed included B2B, B2C business applications as well as industrial applications for control and monitoring.

  • Technical Director at Sourctec.net
    Jul 2000 - Feb 2005 · 4 yrs 8 mos

    Sourcetec was a UK based company specialising in web and software development in the B2B and B2C market. Development was mostly with Microsoft products using asp, asp,net, c#, vb, vb.net, sql. Other technologies include mysql, oracle and linux. My duties included building and running a development team, project management, software specification and costings and client liaison.