HPC AI Cybersecurity Specialist (HPC Engineer 2/3)

Los Alamos National Laboratory

Los Alamos (NM)

On-site

USD 106,000 - 216,000

Full time

12 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental and vision insurance

Life and disability insurance

Paid time off and holidays

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory's HPC Division seeks a Cybersecurity AI Specialist to integrate AI cybersecurity frameworks into a Linux-based HPC environment. The role focuses on implementing AI cybersecurity strategies, developing defenses against AI threats, and deploying secure AI resources across HPC platforms.

The position requires expertise in cybersecurity disciplines, production AI deployments, and strong communication skills for technical briefings and reports.

Qualifications

Knowledge of cybersecurity disciplines and applying them to system design and operations.
Experience deploying AI resources in production computing environments.
Understanding of AI gateways, Retrieval-Augmented Generation databases, and MCP servers.
Ability to write test plans, findings, reports or papers and communicate clearly.

Responsibilities

Assist in designing and implementing HPC AI cybersecurity controls.
Develop defenses against AI threats (data poisoning, prompt injection, model extraction, adversarial examples, jailbreaks).
Evaluate, integrate, and automate AI security tools and policies across HPC systems.
Collaborate with HPC teams to deploy secure AI resources.

Skills

Cybersecurity

Information Security

Information Assurance

Computer Science

Education

Bachelor's in Computer Science/Engineering

Tools

Linux

AI security tools

Job description

What You Will Do

The High Performance Computing (HPC) Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory provides scientific computing resources consisting of some of the largest HPC systems in the world as well as numerous large commodity cluster systems and a quickly growing AI/ML/LLM infrastructure. Our Cybersecurity Team within the HPC Systems Group (HPC-SYS) is seeking a highly qualified Cybersecurity AI Specialist member capable of integrating emerging AI cybersecurity frameworks and solutions into our Linux environment. The selected candidate will stay up to date on AI tools and techniques in order to deploy these resources securely within the HPC Division.

HPC Engineer 2: ($106,400- $176,000)

The primary responsibilities will include working closely with HPC Cybersecurity leads to assist implementing HPC's overall AI cybersecurity strategy. The selected candidate will assist in the design and implementation of security controls for AI-specific assets. Develop defenses against AI threats including data poisoning, prompt injection, model extraction, adversarial examples, jailbreaks, and misuse of LLM agents. Evaluate, integrate, and automate modern AI security tools and policies across HPC Division systems, aligning with Los Alamos National Laboratory cybersecurity standards. The selected candidate will work both independently and collaboratively with other members of HPC to provide technical assistance to develop and deploy secure AI resource.

HPC Engineer 3: ($128,000 - $215,900)

In addition to what was outlined at the lower level, at this level the selected candidate will lead the design of HPC's AI cybersecurity strategy. Lead development and deployment of novel solutions to secure AI within an HPC environment. Develop and present technical reports and briefings on system vulnerabilities to convey risks, impacts and recommendations. The selected candidate will represent LANL HPC in collaborations with other divisions and other NNSA/DOE HPC centers. Mentor junior staff and students, and produce technical artifacts (presentations, papers, reports) that advance AI cybersecurity within HPC.

This position will be filled at either the HPC Engineer 2/3 level, depending on the skills of the selected candidate.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements:

Knowledge in one or more of the following disciplines: Cybersecurity, Information Security, Information Assurance, Computer Science. Understanding of classic and contemporary cyber threats and vulnerabilities and demonstrated ability to apply that knowledge to system engineering, analytics, or operations.

Experience deploying AI resources in a production computing environments

Understanding of function and role of AI gateways, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) databases, and Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers

Working knowledge of agentic workflows, including security risks and operational limitations.

Working knowledge of AI harnesses used to configure, run, evaluate, and manage AI models and agents.

Experience with commodity cybersecurity tools

Experience working in a production computing environment, preferably with HPC systems or at large scale.

Experience with writing test plans, findings reports or published papers. Strong interpersonal communication skills with the ability to work with groups of people of various levels of technical knowledge or understanding. Demonstrated experience working effectively under the pressure of frequent interruptions and conflicting priorities.

Demonstrated ability to write and modify scripts in Bash, Perl, Python, or a similar language to automate technical tasks.

Ability to explain how memory-safe programming languages reduce common software security vulnerabilities.

Ability to communicate technical information clearly in writing and verbally.

Additional Job Requirements for HPC Engineer 3:

In addition to the requirements outlined above, qualification at the higher level requires:

Expert knowledge and practical experience at the advanced level in one or more of the following disciplines: Cybersecurity, Information Security, Information Assurance, Computer Science. Expert technical knowledge of classic and contemporary cyber threats and vulnerabilities and demonstrated ability to apply that knowledge to system engineering, analytics, or operations.

Experience leading the deployment of AI resources in a production computing environments.

Expert knowledge of AI systems and component pieces such as AI gateways, RAG databases, MCP servers.

Demonstrated experience and expertise in creating or modifying cybersecurity tools for a production computing environment.

Experience making significant security contributions to the planning, design, testing and implementation phases for deploying new technologies.

Expertise in using currently available AI tools

Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Education/Experience at HPC Engineer 2:

Position Requires a bachelor's in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field, and 3 years of relevant experience in high performance computing or scalable AI computing, or data center environments or equivalent combination of education and experience in related field.

Education/Experience at HPC Engineer 3:

Position Requires a bachelor's in Computer Science or Computer Engineering or a related field and 6 years of relevant experience in high performance computing or scalable AI computing, or data center environments or equivalent combination of education and experience in related field.

Desired Qualifications:

Strong Linux knowledge and expertise as an administrator. Broad knowledge of administration of production Linux computer systems, utilities, and tools, including experience building, configuring, and administering production Linux computer systems.

Experience hardening Linux servers operating in a multi-user environment

Knowledge of High Performance Computing, including environments and supporting infrastructure. Knowledge of distributed systems, including system architectures, computer networks, software and multi-tenancy.

Knowledge of integrating MCP servers with legacy systems

Experience maintaining user provenance within AI workflows

Experience with automating security processes such as automating alert analysis and integrating multiple security tools together so data from one can feed another.

Experience using one or more enterprise monitoring tools (such as Splunk, Grafana). Knowledge of and experience with securing web-based user interfaces.

Possess high attention to detail including excellent organizational skills, analytical thinking, observational skills and problem-solving skills. Ability to multi-task and adjust to the workings of a dynamic and fast paced environment.

Active DOE \"Q\" clearance

Work Location:

This position will be located in Los Alamos, NM, with the potential for a hybrid work arrangement (60% onsite/40% offsite) from a location within 2 hours ground commute of this location. Reporting onsite will be required. Hybrid is at the discretion of management and can change at any time with appropriate notice.

Position commitment:

Where You Will Work

Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institute engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security.

Our generous benefits package includes: