Research User Computing Linux Specialist

King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz University Hospital; Saudi Arabia; On-site; SAR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

KAUST is seeking a Research User Computing Linux Specialist to design and operate Linux-based end-user computing platforms for scientific workstations. You will manage Ubuntu/Rocky Linux endpoints, virtual desktops, and remote access—ensuring performance, security, and reproducibility for faculty and researchers.

You will automate provisioning, patching, and monitoring, collaborate with labs, and contribute to runbooks, dashboards, and best practices.

Qualifications

• Essential bachelor's degree in a related field.
• Preferred Linux certifications (Red Hat, Linux Foundation, LPIC, or equivalent).
• Certification or training in configuration management, automation, security, or NICE DCV / Kasm is desirable.
• Security, cloud, networking, or endpoint management certifications are desirable.

Responsibilities

• Administer Ubuntu and Rocky Linux end-user platforms to provide secure scientific workstation services.
• Develop, standardize, and maintain Linux workstation images for desktops and VMs.
• Support remote desktop platforms to enable secure access to research environments.
• Automate provisioning, configuration, patching, monitoring, and compliance workflows.
• Troubleshoot Linux endpoint, GPU, driver, and network issues; escalate as needed.
• Integrate Linux desktops with IAM, storage, and security services.
• Collaborate with faculty, researchers, labs, HPC, and IT teams to translate needs.
• Assist installation and maintenance of scientific software on Linux workstations.
• Maintain security, patching, auditing, and compliance controls.
• Develop runbooks, dashboards, and service metrics for continuous improvement.
• Evaluate new Linux desktop and remote workstation technologies and provide recommendations.

Skills

Linux administration

Automation & scripting

Remote desktop platforms

Documentation

Stakeholder collaboration

Security & compliance awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science / IT / computer engineering or related field

Tools

NICE DCV

Kasm Workspaces

CUDA

Job description

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Research User Computing Linux Specialist

Company: King Abdullah University of Science & Technology

About the Role

The Research User Computing Linux Specialist designs, operates, and continuously improves KAUST's Linux-based research end-user computing platforms, including Ubuntu and Rocky Linux endpoints, physical scientific workstations, and virtual scientific workstation services. This role enables secure, reliable, and high-performance access to scientific desktop environments for faculty, researchers, and students.

Responsibilities

• Administer, maintain, and improve Ubuntu and Rocky Linux end-user platforms to provide stable and secure scientific workstation services for KAUST's research and academic communities.
• Develop, standardize, and maintain Linux workstation builds and images for physical and virtual scientific desktops, ensuring consistency, reliability, and readiness for research use.
• Manage and support remote scientific workstation platforms, including NICE DCV and Kasm Workspaces, to enable secure, high-performance access to research desktop environments.
• Automate provisioning, configuration, patching, monitoring, and compliance activities using scripting, configuration management, Infrastructure as Code, and GitOps-aligned practices.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex Linux endpoint, workstation, remote desktop, GPU, driver, performance, identity, storage, and network-related issues, escalating where deeper platform or infrastructure support is required.
• Integrate Linux desktops and workstations with enterprise IAM, storage, network, monitoring, security, and endpoint management services to support compliant and reliable operations.
• Partner with faculty, researchers, students, research labs, HPC, storage, security, and advanced computing teams to understand scientific workflows and translate requirements into sustainable workstation solutions.
• Support installation, validation, and maintenance of scientific and research software on Linux workstation environments, considering compatibility, performance, reproducibility, and user needs.
• Implement and maintain security and compliance controls for Linux workstation environments, including patching, hardening, audit logging, endpoint security, and alignment with KAUST policies and relevant frameworks.
• Develop and maintain operational documentation, runbooks, user guidance, dashboards, and service metrics to improve supportability, transparency, and continuous improvement.
• Evaluate new Linux desktops, remote access, virtualization, automation, and scientific workstation technologies, and provide recommendations to improve service quality and platform capability.
• Perform other applicable tasks and duties assigned within the realm of the employee's knowledge, skills, and abilities in the field of the position.

Qualifications

• Essential: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, Engineering, or a related field.
• Preferred: Relevant Linux certification such as Red Hat Certified Engineer, Linux Foundation Certified Engineer, LPIC, or equivalent.
• Certification or formal training in configuration management, automation, security, IT service management, NICE DCV, Kasm Workspaces, or related platforms is desirable.
• Security, cloud, networking, or endpoint management certifications such as Security+, CISSP, CCNA, ITIL, or equivalent are desirable.

Required Skills

• Strong Linux administration and troubleshooting skills across endpoint, workstation, and scientific desktop environments.
• Strong automation mindset, with the ability to reduce manual work through scripting, configuration management, Infrastructure as Code, and repeatable operational processes.
• Good understanding of research and scientific computing needs, including GPU-enabled workstations, specialized software, reproducibility, performance, and secure remote access.
• Ability to diagnose issues across operating systems, drivers, remote desktop platforms, identity, storage, network, security controls, and user-side configurations.
• Customer-centric approach, with the ability to work directly with faculty, researchers, students, and technical teams, communicate clearly, and set realistic expectations.
• Strong documentation and continuous improvement mindset, with the ability to create runbooks, standards, support materials, and operational metrics.
• Good collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with platform, network, security, IAM, storage, HPC, vendor, and research support teams.
• Awareness of security, compliance, auditability, and operational risk in enterprise and research computing environments.
• Ability to prioritize work in a deadline-driven research and teaching environment while maintaining service reliability and user trust.
• Willingness to learn and evaluate new Linux, remote workstation, automation, and scientific computing technologies.

Preferred Skills

• Hands‑on experience with remote scientific workstation platforms such as NICE DCV, Kasm Workspaces, or similar technologies.
• Experience with GPU‑enabled Linux workstations, NVIDIA/CUDA environments, scientific software stacks, or specialized research desktop environments.
• Exposure to security and compliance baselines such as NIST 800-171, NIST 800-53, CIS Benchmarks, ISO standards, or institutional security requirements.
• Experience working directly with faculty, researchers, students, labs, vendors, and cross‑functional IT teams to gather requirements and deliver sustainable technical solutions.