DevOps Build & Release Engineer (Hybrid Eligible)

Knoxville Technology Council; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

ORNL is hiring a DevOps Build & Release Engineer within the DevOps Engineering Team of the Research IT Infrastructure group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This role requires regular on-site presence to support 24/7 operations.

The team delivers automation for R&D projects, using an Agile Scrum workflow and collaborating with researchers to improve capabilities, reduce costs, and optimize workflows and monitoring solutions across the organization.

Qualifications

• BS degree in computer science, computer engineering, information systems or a related field.
• 5 years of relevant professional experience.
• 3+ years of experience leading or coordinating SDLC processes.
• Hands-on experience with Linux-based software development and CI workflows.
• Experience with Git and CI/CD pipelines (GitLab CI, Jenkins, or similar).
• Proficiency with Bash/shell scripting and Python for automation.
• Experience with GCC/Clang/Intel toolchains and CMake/Make.
• Familiarity with Spack, Pip, Slurm, MPI, CUDA, Harbor.
• Experience with container systems (Apptainer/Kubernetes/Podman).
• Experience with Checkmarx/Sonarqube and security tooling.

Responsibilities

• Directly collaborate with research teams to develop a suite of applications.
• Provide support for CI/CD, configuration management, and release management throughout the SDLC.
• Coordinate with the team to identify, track and address priorities, discrepancies, dependencies, and risks associated with releases.
• Collaborate with the HPC engineering team to optimize solutions for performance and scalability in HPC environments.

Job description

We are hiring a DevOps Build & Release Engineer. This position resides in the DevOps Engineering Team within the Research IT Infrastructure group of the Research Computing Support Division of the Information Technology Services Directorate (ITSD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). This position will require a regular on-site presence. We optimize our workflows and monitoring solutions to take advantage of our 24/7 operations staff, which significantly reduces the need for off-hours support.

DevOps Engineering facilitates the delivery, operation, and monitoring of developed applications for R&D projects. We operate within an Agile Scrum workflow and work with scientific researchers to provide automation solutions. Our success is measured by the additional capabilities, cost savings, and optimizations we provide to our research partners. To achieve this, we are growing our team and offering new capabilities. Our goal is to allow researchers to focus on their projects rather than IT concerns.

Major Duties/Responsibilities

• Directly collaborate with research teams to develop a suite of applications.
• Provide support for continuous integration and delivery, configuration management, and release management throughout the SDLC.
• Coordinate with the team to identify, track and address priorities, discrepancies, dependencies, and risks associated with releases, while ensuring alignment with proper processes.
• Collaborate with the HPC engineering team to optimize solutions for performance and scalability in HPC environments. Collaboration with colleagues across the organization is imperative to ensure the delivery of secure solutions in compliance with Internal Operating Procedures.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Our Stack And Workflow

• Work planning and documentation – Gitlab, Jira/Confluence.
• Code repository, CI/CD – Gitlab.
• Configuration and Package Management – Spack, Pip.
• Container System/Orchestration – Apptainer, Kubernetes, Podman.
• Monitoring, Analytics and Visualization - Prometheus, Grafana, Elasticsearch, Checkmarx.
• Other leveraged technologies include, but are not limited to Slurm, MPI, CUDA, and Harbor depending on program needs.

Basic Qualifications

• BS degree in computer science, computer engineering, information systems or a related field, and 5 years of relevant professional experience (or an equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered).
• 3+ years of experience leading or coordinating Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) processes.
• Hands-on experience with Linux-based software development, including software builds, CI workflows, and troubleshooting in multi-user environments.
• Experience using Git and building CI/CD pipelines with tools such as GitLab CI, Jenkins, or similar.
• Proficiency with Bash/shell scripting and Python for automation.
• Experience with compiler toolchains (GCC, Clang, Intel) and build systems such as CMake or Make.
• Ability to diagnose and resolve software build and runtime issues, including dependency, ABI, linker/loader, permissions, and environment conflicts.
• Experience building and deploying software with package/build managers such as Spack or similar tools.
• Experience developing and maintaining technical documentation, including build guides, release notes, and operational runbooks.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active DOE Q Clearance.
• Familiarity with C/C++ sufficient to debug build issues and make minor fixes.
• Experience supporting software builds and CI workflows in an HPC environment (e.g., Slurm job submission and debugging).
• Experience creating and maintaining environment modulefiles (Lmod/Environment Modules), managing defaults, and minimizing version conflicts.
• Experience with HPC-appropriate container workflow (Apptainer/Singularity preferred).
• Familiarity with CUDA toolchains and building GPU-enabled software.
• Experience with automation/configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, or similar).
• Experience developing tools for use on multiple operating systems.
• Experience with performance/diagnostic tools used in research computing environment (profiling/benchmarking, analysis).
• Experience with automated code quality/security tools (e.g., Sonarqube, Checkmarx).
• Previous experience working in a government, scientific, or other highly technical and/or security-conscious environment; ability to balance research productivity and security requirements.
• Strong interpersonal skills and customer-oriented communication suitable for supporting research users.

Special Requirements

• Visa sponsorship: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
• Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements: Q Clearance: This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a clearance from the Department of Energy. As such, this position is a Workplace Substance Abuse (WSAP) testing designated position. WSAP positions require passing a pre-placement drug test and participation in an ongoing random drug testing program.
• For Hybrid eligible positions: In addition, we offer a flexible work environment that supports both the organization and the employee. A hybrid/onsite working arrangement may be available with this position.

About ORNL

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation. ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well‑being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on‑site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience. Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.