Senior Systems Administrator

Job Purpose

Be a key member of the team administering KSL’s supercomputers, storage and other related infrastructure. Large-scale Linux system administration expertise, expert level configuration management, scripting, backup, monitoring and automation skills are required. This is a highly technical role requiring high performance computing (HPC) or large scale computing experience, in complex environments.

Major Accountabilities

• Provide timely and useful assistance (2nd -3rd level support) to laboratory users and to other staff members.
• Maintain high customer service standards in dealing with and responding to user issues and questions. This is typically done via KSL ticketing system (RT).
• Maintain a respectful and collaborative working environment within the laboratory.
• Design and produce effective and thorough technical documentation.
• Build effective relationships with staff, faculty and students through the Core Labs.
• Plan, lead implementation and support of software installation and management for the HPC systems within the Center.
• Expert understanding and support of high performance parallel filesystems (i.e. Lustre), hierarchical storage management systems (i.e. DMF) and high performance computing workload managers and schedulers (i.e. Slurm).
• Apply expert knowledge of Unix/Linux systems administration, including all aspects of management, monitoring, performance analysis, and integration in complex heterogeneous environments.
• Use configuration management tools (e.g., Puppet) to help maintain large-scale Linux clusters, supercomputers, storage systems, and infrastructure servers.
• Monitor and optimize services and performance (file system, network interconnects) using Nagios, Ganglia, etc.
• Plan and administer infrastructure servers work (file servers, monitoring, etc.).
• Investigate and resolve systems related issues; coordinate with vendors to isolate hardware problems; install firmware or software patches as necessary.
• Represent the laboratory in international conferences and campus forums, such as technical coordination meetings with other technology-focused units.
• Significantly contribute to planning of the work of a major laboratory or research projects.
• Maintain expert-level knowledge in most of the laboratory systems, including either high performance computing systems administration, high performance storage administration, or high performance network administration.
• Act as a point of contact for complex problems and help junior colleagues.
• Work flexible hours as needed.
• Travel occasionally for training, presentations, conferences and collaborations.
• Other duties as required.

Competencies

• Good knowledge of Linux operating system is required.
• Experience with Cray/HPE systems is desirable.
• Proficient documentation skills.
• Ability to support research activities in the laboratory environment.
• Understands and uses appropriate methods, tools and applications.
• Demonstrates an analytical and systematic approach to problem solving.
• Demonstrates effective communication skills in written and oral English.
• Plans, schedules and monitors own work and that of others, competently within limited deadlines and according to relevant legislation and procedures.
• Appreciates the wider field of information systems and computational research, and how own role relates to other roles and to the business of the employer, users or colleagues.
• Absorbs and applies technical information.
• Works to required standards.
• Understands and uses appropriate methods, tools and applications.
• Ability to work successfully in a highly collaborative research environment.
• Uses discretion in identifying and resolving complex problems and assignments.
• Performs a broad range of work, sometimes complex and non-routine, in a variety of environments.
• Knowledge of laboratory systems and applications.

Qualifications Experience

Bachelor of Science (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline plus 6 years of experience, OR Master of Science (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline plus 4 years of experience OR Doctor of Philosophy (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.