Senior Scientific Computing Engineer for the IT, Scientific Computing and AI Area

SEBiBC; Madrid; Hybrid; EUR 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

CNIO in Madrid seeks a senior scientific computing engineer to own the infrastructure behind the centre’s research, from genomics pipelines to AI models.

You will lead the HPC cluster (Slurm), build out GPU/AI infrastructure, and work with researchers to turn analyses into robust, reproducible pipelines and tools.

This role reports to the Area Director and helps shape CNIO’s scientific computing roadmap, collaborating across core units with a hybrid work setup in Madrid.

Qualifications

• University degree in technical or scientific field (Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Bioinformatics or similar).
• Experience running Linux HPC environments in production, with Slurm or a similar workload manager.
• Experience with automation (Ansible, Python) and containers (Apptainer, Docker) and workflow managers (Nextflow, Snakemake or similar).
• Experience with Ceph, Kubernetes, or other distributed storage and orchestration platforms will be valued.
• Experience with GPU computing stacks and AI/ML infrastructure will be valued.
• A background in bioinformatics or experience supporting life science research will be valued.
• Ability and willingness to set technical direction, plan capacity and lead the evolution of the platform, not only operate it.
• Proficiency in English is required. Spanish is not required.
• Good communication skills and a service-oriented approach to working with researchers.

Responsibilities

• Own and evolve the HPC cluster (Slurm) including scheduling, monitoring and capacity planning.
• Build out GPU and AI infrastructure as machine learning workloads grow.
• Work with researchers to turn analyses into robust, reproducible pipelines and tools.
• Co-authoring research papers is possible for those who wish to.

Skills

HPC administration

Automation (Ansible, Python)

Container tech (Apptainer)

Workflow managers (Nextflow, Snakemake

GPU/AI infra

Bioinformatics background

Tech leadership

English proficiency

Education

University degree in technical or scientific field

Tools

Slurm

Apptainer

Docker

Nextflow

Snakemake

Ceph

Kubernetes

Job description

Description

The IT, Scientific Computing and AI Area at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) is seeking a senior scientific computing engineer to take ownership of the infrastructure behind the centre’s research, from genomics pipelines to AI models. The successful candidate will be the senior scientific computing specialist in the Area, reporting directly to the Area Director, and will help define where scientific computing at CNIO goes over the next few years.The role involves shaping and driving the scientific computing roadmap of the centre: owning and evolving the HPC cluster (Slurm), including scheduling, monitoring, capacity planning and user support; building out the GPU and AI infrastructure as the centre’s machine learning workloads grow; and working with researchers to turn their analyses into robust, reproducible pipelines and tools. Co-authoring research papers is possible for those who wish to.CNIO is one of Europe’s leading cancer research institutions, dedicated to advancing cancer research through excellence in basic, translational, and clinical science. The IT, Scientific Computing and AI Area provides the computing, storage, and AI infrastructure used by all of the centre’s research programmes and core units.

Selection Criteria

• A university degree in a technical or scientific field (Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Bioinformatics or similar).
• Experience running Linux HPC environments in production, with Slurm or a similar workload manager.
• Experience with automation (Ansible, Python), containers (Apptainer, Docker) and workflow managers (Nextflow, Snakemake or similar).
• Experience with Ceph, Kubernetes, or other distributed storage and orchestration platforms will be valued.
• Experience with GPU computing stacks and AI/ML infrastructure will be valued.
• A background in bioinformatics or experience supporting life science research will be valued.
• Ability and willingness to set technical direction, plan capacity and lead the evolution of the platform, not only operate it.
• Proficiency in English is required. Spanish is not required.
• Good communication skills and a service-oriented approach to working with researchers.

The CNIO Offers

• Incorporation into a Cancer Research Centre of excellence of international relevance.
• Gross annual salary between €55,000 and €65,000.
• Social benefits. Flexible compensation (health insurance, meals, transportation, childcare).
• Hybrid working arrangement, based in Madrid.
• Four-year contract funded by the Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence programme.