Smangele holds two masters degrees, an MPhil in Biomedical Forensic Science from the University of Cape Town (UCT) and an MRes in Biomedical Science and Translational Medicine-specialising in Clinical and Molecular Pharmacology from the University of Liverpool. She also has a Project Management Foundations Certificate from UCT.

Smangele serves Grants Innovation and Product Development Unit as a Project Coordinator. She is responsible for Project Management, Facilitation of Request for Applications (RFAs), Stakeholder liaison and Contribution to strategic projects.

Smangele joined the SAMRC in March 2023. She was previously employed by UCT as a Research Coordinator in the Platform for Pharmacogenomics Research and Translation unit, an SAMRC extramural research unit.