Coetzee has been with the CSIR for more than 25 years. He has an MBA from Bond University, Australia and experience in systems engineering, technology management, technology roadmapping, product lifecycle management, product development and futures research. Coetzee was instrumental in the establishment of a mechatronics and micromanufacturing research unit at the CSIR with a focus on mechatronics and robotics, automation and control, micro-manufacturing and microsystems, as well as medical devices and systems. He was also part of the team that established the National Product Lifecycle Management Centre of Technology, as well as the National Nano-Micro Manufacturing Facility.