Academic Computing Systems Administrator

About the role

We are seeking an Academic Computing Systems Administrator to join our growing organization. This role works with Rice faculty to perform specialized functions for systems installation, management, troubleshooting, and solution design. The position includes implementation and support of academic computing environments, including: Databases, containers, HPC, and hybrid/cloud compute and storage servicesSecurity and access controls The role supports academic computational needs by managing the HPC resources required for cutting-edge courses across disciplines. Student Lifecycle & Academic Technologies, a division of Technology Solutions & Services (TSS), is dedicated to delivering and supporting the teaching and learning mission of Rice University.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day reliability and performance of HPC services.
• Build and maintain automation for predictable operations and rapid recovery.
• Enable HPC and containerized workflows aligned with academic needs.
• Provide advanced support and documentation for HPC services and systems.
• Configure and manage system and network security.
• Manage the installation and maintenance of HPC hardware and operating systems.
• Troubleshoot issues with HPC systems and services.
• Monitor and handle incoming service requests and incident tickets.
• Respond to security vulnerabilities, incidents, and outages in a timely manner.
• Monitor resource usage to enhance system capabilities and performance.
• Recommend upgrades based on growth statistics and disk space forecasts.
• Evaluate new technologies and integrate new systems into the computing environment.
• Document infrastructure for users, support and consulting personnel, and developers.
• Effectively communicate technical issues to non-technical stakeholders.
• Maintain composure and de-escalate situations when faculty or students experience technical problems.
• Occasional after-hours or weekend work may be required for critical incidents or emergency situations.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree. In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience above and beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis. 2+ years of hands-on Linux system administration, including building and operating clusters. In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education above and beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting accelerator (GPU) ecosystems for AI/ML and academic workloads.
• Experience with automated management of Linux clusters (Warewulf, Terraform).
• Experience building and managing containers with Docker, Podman, and/or Kubernetes.
• Experience working with secure systems for regulated data.
• Experience integrating on-premises HPC with public cloud services (GCP, AWS, Azure) to migrate or burst workloads while managing cost/performance tradeoffs.

Skills

• Managing Linux clusters in production-oriented academic/HPC environments.
• Managing container environments for HPC services/workflows (Docker/Kubernetes).
• Scripting and automation (Python, Bash, Ansible).
• Managing HPC networking (InfiniBand, Omni-Path, NDR).
• Managing and monitoring shared compute resources.
• Working well independently and as a team member.
• Supporting and documenting shared compute environments.
• Well-developed written and oral communication skills.

Pay

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, with a hiring range of $80,000 to $93,425, depending on qualifications and experience. Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Schedule

This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office