Research User Computing Linux Specialist

KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology); Thuwal; On-site; SAR 180,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

KAUST seeks a Linux Specialist to design, operate, and continually improve Linux-based research end-user computing platforms for faculty, researchers, and students. You will manage Ubuntu/Rocky Linux endpoints, physical and virtual desktops, and remote workstation services.

The role emphasizes automation, secure access, interoperability with IAM and storage, and collaboration with research labs to deliver reliable, high-performance research desktops.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, computer engineering or a related field.
• Linux certifications are preferred (e.g., RHCE, LFC, LPIC)
• Certifications in configuration management, automation or security are desirable.

Responsibilities

• Administer and improve Ubuntu and Rocky Linux end-user platforms for stable, secure scientific workstations.
• Develop and maintain Linux workstation builds and images for physical and virtual desktops.
• Support remote scientific workstations including NICE DCV and Kasm Workspaces.
• Automate provisioning, configuration, patching, monitoring, and compliance using scripting and IaC.

Skills

Linux administration

Automation mindset

Research computing

Troubleshooting

Customer focus

Documentation

Collaboration

Security awareness

Prioritization

Learning mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IT/CE

Tools

NICE DCV

Kasm Workspaces

Job description

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.