HPC Infrastructure Platform Engineer

We are seeking an HPC Infrastructure Platform Engineer to join the High-Performance Computing Systems Section within the National Center for Computational Sciences (NCCS). The NCCS provides state-of-the-art computational and data science infrastructure, supporting large-scale scientific and engineering challenges. NCCS hosts the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF), home to Frontier, the nation’s first exascale supercomputer.

Responsibilities

• Linux Administration:
  • Deploy, configure, and manage HPC-scale services in a Linux environment (primarily RedHat and Rocky).
  • Perform regular patches, updates, and backups.
  • Monitor systems using tools like Nagios and Grafana.
  • Respond to and assist in troubleshooting issues.
• Kubernetes Administration:
  • Build and maintain foundational internal platforms and tools to enable reliable deployment, monitoring, and scaling of applications.
  • Design standardized and automated workflow patterns; build and maintain CI/CD pipelines.
  • Offer self-service, documentation, and assistance to team members for efficient consumption of platform services.
  • Develop, maintain, and review high-quality code for internal tools using Python, Golang, or Rust.
• Identity Management and Security:
  • Deploy, configure, and support identity and access management services using LDAP and PingFederate.
  • Maintain and enable secure access for human users and automated workloads in Kubernetes.
• Virtualization and Automation:
  • Deploy and manage resources in the NCCS VMware environment.
  • Identify automation targets and lead efforts to automate processes.
  • Define policies and procedures for automation and configuration management.
• Project Management and Leadership:
  • Lead small infrastructure projects through the project lifecycle.
  • Mentor and train junior staff, create training documentation, and hold knowledge-sharing sessions.
  • Propose and implement improvements to existing and new infrastructure systems, processes, and procedures.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a closely related field and a minimum of 5 years of experience in Linux systems and Kubernetes platform administration, or a master’s degree and a minimum of 4 years of experience.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

Qualifications

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work within a team.
• Strong experience designing, building, and maintaining Kubernetes platform tools.
• Strong working knowledge of Linux system fundamentals and common network protocols.
• Programming and scripting skills in Python, bash, or similar languages.
• Understanding of versioning and code review tools like GitHub and GitLab.
• Experience implementing and supporting highly available systems and services.
• Experience with configuration management tools such as Puppet or Ansible.
• Experience deploying and maintaining virtual environments using VMware.
• Experience deploying, maintaining, and troubleshooting infrastructure services such as OpenLDAP, DNS, and DHCP.
• Ability to plan, prioritize, and complete assigned projects with minimal supervision.

Special Requirements

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy security clearance. As such, it is designated for Workplace Substance Abuse (WSAP) testing, including a pre-placement drug test and participation in an ongoing random drug testing program.

About ORNL

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science national laboratory with an 80-year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team of over 7,000 individuals fosters an environment that values diverse perspectives and backgrounds, supporting our mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plans.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan and Contributory Pension Plan.
• Life insurance and disability benefits.
• Generous vacation, holidays, and parental leave.
• Flexible work hours and remote work options.
• On-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities.
• Legal insurance with identity theft protection.
• Employee Assistance Plan (EAP).
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).
• Wellness programs and educational assistance.
• Relocation assistance and employee discounts.