HPC Architect - Classified Compute

Requisition ID: 17299. An active TS, Q, or TS/SCI clearance is required for consideration.

About the role

The Field Intelligence Operations Division in the National Security Sciences Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory seeks an experienced High Performance Computing (HPC) Architect to design, integrate, and evolve advanced computing capabilities supporting classified national security missions. This position serves as a senior technical authority for HPC architecture, translating mission and scientific computing requirements into secure, scalable, resilient, and high-performing computing environments. The HPC Architect works across compute, storage, networking, cybersecurity, facilities, applications, and data center infrastructure to develop integrated solutions for demanding computational workloads in classified environments. The role combines deep HPC technical expertise with systems-level architectural thinking, evaluating complex requirements, identifying technical dependencies and tradeoffs, establishing architectural direction, and guiding engineering teams from concept through deployment and sustainment.

Responsibilities

• Develop end-to-end architectures for classified HPC and advanced computing environments, including compute, storage, high-speed networking, management infrastructure, software, and supporting services.
• Translate scientific, engineering, AI/ML, and national security mission requirements into scalable HPC architectures and technical roadmaps.
• Serve as technical lead for the design and deployment of new HPC systems and associated data center infrastructure.
• Develop architecture diagrams, technical specifications, design packages, bills of material, capacity models, implementation strategies, and technology roadmaps.
• Evaluate CPU, GPU, accelerator, memory, interconnect, storage, and emerging computing technologies against mission requirements.
• Architect high-performance storage solutions, parallel file systems, data movement capabilities, and storage hierarchies for large-scale computational workloads.
• Design and evaluate high-speed network fabrics and interconnects supporting compute, storage, management, and data-transfer requirements.
• Establish architectural standards for HPC management networks, provisioning, scheduling, monitoring, logging, configuration management, and administration.
• Evaluate HPC workload characteristics and develop capacity, scalability, performance, and lifecycle projections.
• Conduct architectural trade studies and make recommendations based on performance, security, resiliency, lifecycle, cost, schedule, and mission impact.
• Work with facilities and data center personnel to identify rack space, power, cooling, cabling, floor loading, redundancy, and environmental requirements for HPC deployments.
• Develop technical requirements for procurements and participate in vendor evaluations, technical reviews, acceptance testing, and system commissioning.
• Provide architectural oversight during installation, integration, testing, accreditation, transition to operations, and lifecycle refresh activities.
• Partner with cybersecurity and Information Assurance personnel to incorporate security requirements into system architecture from initial design.
• Support Risk Management Framework (RMF), Authority to Operate (ATO), configuration management, vulnerability management, and security-control implementation activities.
• Ensure architectural solutions address segmentation, least privilege, privileged access, encryption, logging, auditing, supply-chain considerations, and other security requirements applicable to classified environments.
• Collaborate with systems engineers, Linux engineers, network architects, storage engineers, cybersecurity professionals, DevSecOps engineers, application teams, scientists, and mission stakeholders.
• Establish reference architectures, engineering standards, technical patterns, and reusable designs to improve consistency across classified computing environments.
• Lead or participate in design reviews, architecture review boards, technical interchange meetings, readiness reviews, and troubleshooting efforts.
• Mentor engineers and provide technical leadership across multidisciplinary HPC projects.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend investments that improve computational capability, reliability, security, maintainability, and mission effectiveness.
• Deliver ORNL's mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service.
• Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace.

Requirements

• BS in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, information technology, computational science, or a related technical discipline with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience (equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered).
• Extensive experience designing, engineering, administering, or supporting HPC or large-scale Linux computing environments.
• Demonstrated experience with several of the following:
  • Linux-based HPC environments
  • CPU/GPU accelerated computing
  • HPC cluster architecture
  • High-speed interconnect technologies
  • Parallel and distributed storage
  • Workload management and scheduling
  • Configuration and provisioning technologies
  • High-performance networking
  • Data center infrastructure
  • Monitoring and performance engineering
• Demonstrated ability to develop system architectures spanning multiple infrastructure domains.
• Experience translating technical and mission requirements into implementable architectures.
• An active TS, Q, or TS/SCI clearance.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with NVIDIA GPU platforms and accelerated computing technologies.
• Familiarity with Slurm or comparable workload scheduling systems.
• Experience with InfiniBand and/or high-performance Ethernet networking.
• Experience with parallel file systems such as Lustre, Spectrum Scale/GPFS, or BeeGFS.
• Experience with enterprise storage systems and data-management technologies.
• Experience administering Red Hat Enterprise Linux or comparable enterprise Linux platforms.
• Familiarity with Ansible and infrastructure automation tools.
• Experience with containerization technologies, including HPC container solutions and orchestration platforms such as Kubernetes.
• Familiarity with HPC monitoring and telemetry technologies.
• Experience supporting AI/ML infrastructure.
• Experience with large-scale data movement and transfer technologies.
• Familiarity with identity and access management within Linux/HPC environments.
• Knowledge of high-availability and resilient infrastructure design.
• Experience with data center design and infrastructure modernization.
• Familiarity with applicable security frameworks, policies, and compliance requirements, including NIST security controls, RMF, ICD 503, STIGs, FIPS, DOE and DoD security requirements, and classified-system accreditation processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical concepts to engineers, project managers, cybersecurity personnel, mission owners, and senior leadership.
• Ability to work effectively in highly controlled environments requiring disciplined documentation and change control.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple actions, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records.
• Ability to exercise discretion and sound judgment when handling sensitive personnel and security matters.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary security and mission-support team.
• Previous experience working in an SCI or SAP environment or supporting SCI operations.
• Experience developing or maintaining SOPs, process documentation, metrics, or workflow improvements.
• Demonstrated ability to provide responsive customer service while maintaining security and compliance requirements.

Special requirements

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance from the Department of Energy.
• Workplace Substance Abuse (WSAP) testing designated position: requires passing a pre-placement drug test and participation in an ongoing random drug testing program.
• Due to SCI clearance, may be subject to random polygraph testing.
• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Benefits

• Prescription Drug Plan
• Dental Plan
• Vision Plan
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Contributory Pension Plan
• Life Insurance
• Disability Benefits
• Generous Vac