Senior Systems Administrator (Research)

University of Alberta; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Senior Systems Administrator at the University of Alberta will lead design and management of digital research infrastructure, focusing on high-performance computing systems, storage, and related services to support researchers across medicine, science, and engineering.

Responsibilities include deployment, policy setting, root-cause analysis, KPI reporting, and on-call support in a hybrid Edmonton environment at North Campus.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Science with a focus on High Performance Computing, or a Bachelor of Science in Computing Science or a related field, with relevant work experience.
• Minimum of 8 years of extensive experience with Linux systems in roles such as system administrator or system analyst.
• Advanced working knowledge of administering large numbers of systems in an enterprise environment.
• Advanced working knowledge of automation technologies for provisioning, configuration management, infrastructure as code, and orchestration tools (Warewulf, Ansible, Puppet, Chef, etc.).
• Advanced working knowledge of programming and/or scripting with languages such as Bash, Python, and others.
• Working experience in supporting large-scale High Performance Computing environments.
• Working knowledge of scheduling software, such as Slurm, is a strong asset.
• Working knowledge of container deployment (Kubernetes or other) in the cloud or on-premises, as well as the administration of containerized applications.
• Demonstrated ability to participate in a 24/7 on-call support rotation.
• Effective communication and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrated ability in problem-solving and process optimization.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the deployment and administration of digital research infrastructure. Plan, design, deploy, and provision digital research infrastructure and associated services, ensuring security, reliability, and scalability for future growth.
• Take a leadership role in establishing policies, best practices, and procedures to address the needs of research communities.
• Address operational issues affecting systems and researchers, conducting in-depth root cause analysis.
• Monitor resources to maximize the utilization of infrastructure, collect metrics, and develop key performance indicators (KPIs) to provide regular reports to senior leadership.
• Assist researchers in resolving issues and effectively using the digital research infrastructure. This includes a range of services such as workload preparation, code optimization, training, and job submission procedure refinement, all aimed at ensuring the successful utilization of high-performance computing resources to meet research goals.
• Participate in focus groups and committees, providing expert-level knowledge and gathering input.
• Participate in industry conferences and maintain relationships with vendors to stay informed about emerging technologies and improve service quality.
• Participate in a 24/7 on-call support rotation.

Skills

Linux systems administration

Bash/Python scripting

HPC environments

Automation and CI/CD tools

On-call support

Education

Master’s degree in science (HPC) or BS in computing science or related field

Tools

Warewulf

Ansible

Puppet

Chef

Slurm

Kubernetes

Job description

Location - This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person. Work primarily takes place at North Campus, Edmonton.

The Senior Systems Administrator plays a key role in designing and managing digital research infrastructure, with an emphasis on high-performance computing systems, storage solutions, specialized software, and related services. This administrator supports researchers across various disciplines, e.g., medicine, biomedical sciences, agriculture, science, and engineering, to ensure effective use of HPC resources.

Located at the University of Alberta, this HPC digital research infrastructure supports projects that involve sensitive, confidential data and other data governed by strict regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the deployment and administration of digital research infrastructure. Plan, design, deploy, and provision digital research infrastructure and associated services, ensuring security, reliability, and scalability for future growth.
• Take a leadership role in establishing policies, best practices, and procedures to address the needs of research communities.
• Address operational issues affecting systems and researchers, conducting in-depth root cause analysis.
• Monitor resources to maximize the utilization of infrastructure, collect metrics, and develop key performance indicators (KPIs) to provide regular reports to senior leadership.
• Assist researchers in resolving issues and effectively using the digital research infrastructure. This includes a range of services such as workload preparation, code optimization, training, and job submission procedure refinement, all aimed at ensuring the successful utilization of high-performance computing resources to meet research goals.
• Participate in focus groups and committees, providing expert-level knowledge and gathering input.
• Participate in industry conferences and maintain relationships with vendors to stay informed about emerging technologies and improve service quality.
• Participate in a 24/7 on-call support rotation.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Science with a focus on High Performance Computing, or a Bachelor of Science in Computing Science or a related field, with relevant work experience.
• Minimum of 8 years of extensive experience with Linux systems in roles such as system administrator or system analyst.
• Advanced working knowledge of administering large numbers of systems in an enterprise environment.
• Advanced working knowledge of automation technologies for provisioning, configuration management, infrastructure as code, and orchestration tools (Warewulf, Ansible, Puppet, Chef, etc.).
• Advanced working knowledge of programming and/or scripting with languages such as Bash, Python, and others.
• Working experience in supporting large-scale High Performance Computing environments.
• Working knowledge of scheduling software, such as Slurm, is a strong asset.
• Working knowledge of container deployment (Kubernetes or other) in the cloud or on-premises, as well as the administration of containerized applications.
• Demonstrated ability to participate in a 24/7 on-call support rotation.
• Effective communication and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrated ability in problem-solving and process optimization.

Information Services & Technology (IST) is the central support group for the university's technological landscape. IST plays a pivotal role in ensuring the evolution and smooth operation of technology for teaching, learning and working at the University of Alberta. Beyond having expansive technical expertise, IST fosters a supportive environment where our staff values include compassion, connection, collaboration, creativity and courage. If you are passionate about leveraging technology to empower education, research and to drive institutional excellence, join us and be part of shaping the future of the University of Alberta through innovative IT solutions.

About University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all FirstPeoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people - from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just. Learn more .

At the University of Alberta, we are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates. If you require accommodations to participate in the interview process, please let us know at the time of booking your interview and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.

All University employees have a responsibility to foster a workplace that prioritizes safety in all its forms—physical, cultural, and psychological. This is achieved by promoting a safe environment, adhering to all safety laws, policies and procedures, completing all required safety training, identifying hazards and implementing controls, reporting incidents, and contributing to a culture of belonging and respect, while endeavoring to ensure that all colleagues feel valued and safe to express their thoughts, perspectives and concerns.

The University of Alberta is committed to creating a university community where everyone feels valued, barriers to success are removed, and thriving connections are fostered. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women, First Nations, Métis and Inuit persons, members of visible minority groups, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the University to apply.