Senior HPC Technical Manager

Durham University; North East; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK university in the North East is seeking a dedicated professional to operate and develop its High Performance Computing system. The successful applicant will provide expert support, optimize computational workloads, and work with advanced computing technologies including Docker and Kubernetes. This role offers training opportunities and is fixed term for 2 years, with potential for extension. Flexible working arrangements are also available.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Opportunities for professional development

Attendance at conferences

Qualifications

• Experience in operating High Performance Computing systems.
• Ability to support innovative research and development projects.
• Experience in system administration of HPC environments.

Responsibilities

• Operate and develop the COSMA HPC system.
• Provide expert user support and ensure smooth operations.
• Liaise with researchers to optimize computational codes.

Skills

Strong scripting skills in Bash

Proficiency in Python

Experience with OpenStack

Knowledge of Ansible

Familiarity with Docker

Familiarity with Kubernetes

Job description

The Role and Department

The Institute of Computational Cosmology (ICC) within the Department of Physics manages and operates one of the UK's largest supercomputing facilities, COSMA, on behalf of DiRAC (www.dirac.ac.uk), a UK national facility.

This role is primarily responsible for the operation and ongoing development of the COSMA High Performance Computing (HPC) system, supporting innovative research and development projects. In addition to providing expert user support and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations, the successful applicant will have the opportunity to lead both software and hardware initiatives that will help shape the future of UK HPC. The position offers hands‑on experience with a broad range of advanced computing technologies, including OpenStack, Ansible, containerization platforms such as Docker and Kubernetes, as well as traditional HPC server administration. Strong scripting skills in Bash and Python are essential for automating workflows and maintaining system efficiency.

The successful applicant will work closely with other COSMA support staff and DiRAC technical support teams across the UK to deliver an effective and reliable service for users, including participation in both routine and emergency maintenance activities. The role involves liaising with DiRAC researchers in cosmology and other physical sciences to understand their computational codes and develop expertise in optimizing these codes for efficient execution on supercomputing facilities.

There will be opportunities for training and professional development, both within Durham and in collaboration with other DiRAC partners and industry. The successful applicant will also have the chance to attend conferences and HPC events, and will participate in regular meetings with other HPC facilities across the UK. Flexible working arrangements are available, though some in‑person attendance is essential due to the nature of the role. Applications for part‑time working are also welcome.

This role is fixed term for 2 years in the first instance but could be extended further contingent on additional funding.

Further information about the role and the responsibilities: https://durham.taleo.net/careersection/du_ext/jobdetail.ftl?job=25001684&tz=GMT+00:00&tzname=Europe/London