System Engineer for a Cloud-like HPC Infrastructure

Singapore-ETH Centre; Singapore; Hybrid; SGD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid work (2 days from home

Healthcare insurance

NS mark certification

TAFEP accreditation

Job summary

Singapore-ETH Centre in Singapore seeks full-time System Engineer for a Cloud-like HPC infrastructure. You will manage the end-to-end research platform for AI4S workflows, implement secure data movement between NUS, NTU, NSCC and CSCS, and balance fast-access versus archival storage across multi-site facilities.

Key tasks include deploying OpenCHAMI and Kubernetes, enforcing data retention policies, and enabling federated reproducibility with dataset cloning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in computer engineering, computer science, a relevant technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Automation tools and CI/CD ecosystems (e.g., Gitlab CI, HashiCorp Vault)
• Developing Ansible configurations and IaC tooling
• Experience with cross-site data transfer and secure multi-site authentication
• Understanding HPC workflows and data retention in multi-tenant environments

Responsibilities

• Manage the HPC backbone for the AIS Instrumentation Gym as end-to-end research platform.
• Implement integrated data mobility protocols for cross-site data transfer between NUS, NTU, NSCC, CSCS.
• Manage data retention with tiered storage balancing fast access and archival.
• Support federated reproducibility via dataset cloning/forking across HPC sites.
• Manage IT infra using IaC tools (Ansible, Terraform/OpenTofu).
• Install and manage OpenCHAMI and Kubernetes for system management and orchestration.
• Administer multi-tenant vClusters and dynamic vService creation.
• Quarterly travel to Switzerland to synchronize with the core Swiss team.

Skills

CI/CD (GitLab CI)

Ansible configurations

Git/Version control

ArgoCD

OpenCHAMI

Terraform/OpenTofu

Distributed research infra

HPC workflows

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in computer engineering / computer science or equivalent

Tools

GitLab CI

OpenCHAMI

Kubernetes

Terraform/OpenTofu

Job description

The AIS Instrumentation Gym is a multi-tier ML platform being built by both the National University of Singapore and the Singapore-ETH Centre (SEC) for shared scientific instruments (e.g., electron microscopy, X-ray imaging, and light microscopy). It supports researchers across three compute scales: laptop-based prototyping (S-Gym), single-GPU workstations (M-Gym), and multi-node HPC at the National Supercomputing Centre Singapore (L-Gym).

The Gym's purpose is to close the gap between high-dimensional scientific data and hypothesis generation. It does this by turning raw imaging data into learned, interpretable representations that scientists can explore as navigable landscapes: making patterns, anomalies, and structure legible at scales human intuition can no longer reach unaided.

As an ecosystem, the Gym brings together domain scientists, ML researchers, and systems builders around a common platform. We are now hiring full-time engineers and researchers to build, validate, and scale it.

As a System Engineer for a Cloud-like HPC Infrastructure you will:

• Manage the HPC backbone for the AIS Instrumentation Gym, serving as a one-stop, end-to-end research platform for AI4S workflows.
• Implement integrated data mobility protocols to ensure seamless, secure data movement between distributed research sites (e.g., NUS, NTU, NSCC, CSCS).
• Manage sustainable data retention policies, implementing tiered storage solutions that balance fast-access for active training with archival for long-term reproducibility.
• Support federated reproducibility by developing workflows that allow dataset cloning/forking across multiple HPC locations to reduce duplication of effort.
• Manage and provision the core IT infrastructure using IaC tools (Ansible, Terraform/OpenTofu).
• Install and manage the system management platform (OpenCHAMI) and container orchestration system (Kubernetes).
• Administer the management plane to support multi-tenant vClusters and dynamic vService creation.

Position requires quarterly travel to Switzerland to synchronise with the core Swiss team. Join us to operate a HPC infrastructure at the bleeding edge of innovation, driving impact within a world-class tech stack.

Selection Criteria

Applicants to the position,

Must-haves

• A bachelor’s degree or higher in computer engineering, computer science, a relevant technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• You should have a knowledge of:
• Automation tools and framework, including CI/CD processes and ecosystem (e.g., Gitlab CI, HashiCorp Vault)
• Developing Ansible configurations
• Versioning systems and CI/CD workflows such as ArgoCD
• Learn OpenCHAMI
• IaC tools like Terraform/OpenTofu
• Experience with distributed or federated research infrastructure (e.g., cross-site data transfer, secure multi-site authentication).
• Understanding of HPC workflows and data retention policies in a multi-tenant research environment.

Preferred

• Experience with data-centric HPC workloads and cross-site research infrastructure.
• Familiarity with the research lifecycle (data cleaning, provenance tracking, and model lifecycle management).
• Self-motivated and proactive team player
• Strong communication skills or interest in developing them
• Strong problem-solving mindset with tolerance for uncertainty and change
• Understands user needs and works collaboratively to address them
• Adaptive and willing to learn new technologies with and from others
• Comfortable tackling complex or ambiguous problems
• Comfortable admitting when you don’t know, reaching out and leveraging the right expertise when needed
• Project management and methodology:
• Experience with working in self-organised teams
• Familiarity with Agile methodology
• Experience with test-driven development is a plus

Why SEC is your employer of choice?

• Accredited with 5 Tripartite Standards by Tripartite Alliance for Fair & Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) Singapore.
• A diverse workplace with 32 nationalities, offering ample opportunities for mutual learning.
• Positive and inclusive working environment.
• 25 days of annual leave for fixed-term contracts.
• 1 day of Birthday Leave.
• Committed to being a supportive employer as you prioritize your physical and mental wellness.
• Comprehensive healthcare insurance coverage.
• Flexible hybrid work arrangement (up to 2 days per week from home).
• Accredited with NS mark certification.

The Singapore-ETH Centre is an equal opportunity and family-friendly employer. All candidates will be evaluated on their merits and qualifications, without regards to gender, race, age or religion.

Curious? So are we.

Work location: 1 Create Way, CREATE Tower, Singapore 138602 (NUS University Town)

Contract Duration: 2 Years

Further information about The Singapore-ETH Centre can be found on our website: https://sec.ethz.ch/

For further information, please contact: Prof. Duane Loh (NUS) at [e-mail], (strictly no applications)