HPC Architect - Classified Compute
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
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Job summary
Oak Ridge National Laboratory is seeking an experienced HPC Architect to design, integrate, and evolve secure, scalable computing environments for classified missions. You will lead architecture across compute, storage, networking, and data center infrastructure, interfacing with cybersecurity and mission stakeholders.
The role requires deep HPC expertise, systems thinking, and the ability to guide teams from concept through deployment and sustainment in highly controlled environments.
Qualifications
- BS in a technical discipline with 5+ years of relevant experience.
- Experience with Linux HPC environments and CPU/GPU accelerated computing.
- Ability to translate mission requirements into scalable HPC architectures.
- Active TS/SCI or similar clearance is required for consideration.
Responsibilities
- Develop end‑to‑end architectures for classified HPC environments.
- Translate mission requirements into scalable HPC architectures and roadmaps.
- Lead design and deployment of new HPC systems and data center infrastructure.
- Draft technical specifications, BOMs, capacity models, and roadmaps.
- Evaluate CPUs/GPUs, interconnects, storage, and emerging technologies.
- Collaborate with cybersecurity to integrate security into system architecture.
Skills
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Job description
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An active TS, Q, or TS/SCI clearance is required for consideration.
The Field Intelligence Operations Division in the National Security Sciences Directorate at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory is seeking qualified applicants for an experienced High Performance Computing (HPC) Architect to design, integrate, and evolve advanced computing capabilities supporting classified national security missions.
This position serves as a senior technical authority for HPC architecture and will help translate mission and scientific computing requirements into secure, scalable, resilient, and high-performing computing environments. The HPC Architect will work across compute, storage, networking, cybersecurity, facilities, applications, and data center infrastructure to develop integrated solutions capable of supporting demanding computational workloads in classified environments.
The successful candidate will combine deep HPC technical expertise with systems‑level architectural thinking. This role is particularly suited for an individual who can evaluate complex requirements, identify technical dependencies and tradeoffs, establish architectural direction, and guide engineering teams from concept through deployment and sustainment.
- Develop end‑to‑end architectures for classified HPC and advanced computing environments, including compute, storage, high‑speed networking, management infrastructure, software, and supporting services.
- Translate scientific, engineering, AI/ML, and national security mission requirements into scalable HPC architectures and technical roadmaps.
- Serve as a technical lead for the design and deployment of new HPC systems and associated data center infrastructure.
- Develop architecture diagrams, technical specifications, design packages, bills of material, capacity models, implementation strategies, and technology roadmaps.
- Evaluate CPU, GPU, accelerator, memory, interconnect, storage, and emerging computing technologies against mission requirements.
- Architect high‑performance storage solutions, parallel file systems, data movement capabilities, and storage hierarchies appropriate for large‑scale computational workloads.
- Design and evaluate high‑speed network fabrics and interconnects supporting compute, storage, management, and data‑transfer requirements.
- Establish architectural standards for HPC management networks, provisioning, scheduling, monitoring, logging, configuration management, and administration.
- Evaluate HPC workload characteristics and develop capacity, scalability, performance, and lifecycle projections.
- Conduct architectural trade studies and make recommendations based on performance, security, resiliency, lifecycle, cost, schedule, and mission impact.
- Work with facilities and data center personnel to identify rack space, power, cooling, cabling, floor loading, redundancy, and environmental requirements associated with HPC deployments.
- Develop technical requirements for procurements and participate in vendor evaluations, technical reviews, acceptance testing, and system commissioning.
- Provide architectural oversight during installation, integration, testing, accreditation, transition to operations, and lifecycle refresh activities.
- Partner with cybersecurity and Information Assurance personnel to incorporate security requirements into system architecture from initial design rather than after deployment.
- Support Risk Management Framework (RMF), Authority to Operate (ATO), configuration management, vulnerability management, and security‑control implementation activities.
- Ensure architectural solutions appropriately address segmentation, least privilege, privileged access, encryption, logging, auditing, supply‑chain considerations, and other security requirements applicable to classified environments.
- Collaborate with systems engineers, Linux engineers, network architects, storage engineers, cybersecurity professionals, DevSecOps engineers, application teams, scientists, and mission stakeholders.
- Establish reference architectures, engineering standards, technical patterns, and reusable designs to improve consistency across classified computing environments.
- Lead or participate in design reviews, architecture review boards, technical interchange meetings, readiness reviews, and troubleshooting efforts.
- Mentor engineers and provide technical leadership across multidisciplinary HPC projects.
- Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend investments that improve computational capability, reliability, security, maintainability, and mission effectiveness.
- 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.
- BS in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, information technology, computational science, or a related technical discipline and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience. Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
- Demonstrated experience with several of the following:
- Linux‑based HPC environments
- CPU/GPU accelerated computing
- HPC cluster architecture
- High‑speed interconnect technologies
- Parallel and distributed storage
- Workload management and scheduling
- Configuration and provisioning technologies
- High‑performance networking
- Monitoring and performance engineering
- Demonstrated ability to develop system architectures spanning multiple infrastructure domains.
- Experience translating technical and mission requirements into implementable architectures.
- An active TS, Q, or TS/SCI clearance is required for consideration.
- Experience with NVIDIA GPU platforms and accelerated computing technologies.
- Familiarity with Slurm or comparable workload scheduling systems.
- Experience with InfiniBand and/or high‑performance Ethernet networking.
- Experience with parallel file systems, such as Lustre, Spectrum Scale/GPFS, or BeeGFS.
- Experience with enterprise storage systems and data‑management technologies.
- Familiarity with Ansible and infrastructure automation tools.
- Experience with containerization technologies, including HPC container solutions and orchestration platforms such as Kubernetes.
- Familiarity with HPC monitoring and telemetry technologies.
- Experience supporting AI/ML infrastructure.
- Experience with large‑scale data movement and transfer technologies.
- Familiarity with identity and access management within Linux/HPC environments.
- Knowledge of high‑availability and resilient infrastructure design.
- Experience with data center design and infrastructure modernization.
- Familiarity with applicable security frameworks, policies, and compliance requirements, including NIST security controls, RMF, ICD 503, STIGs, FIPS, DOE and DoW security requirements, and classified‑system accreditation processes.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical concepts to engineers, project managers, cybersecurity personnel, mission owners, and senior leadership.
- Ability to work effectively in highly controlled environments requiring disciplined documentation and change control.
- Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple actions, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.
- Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records.
- Ability to exercise discretion and sound judgment when handling sensitive personnel and security matters.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary security and mission‑support team.
- Previous experience working in an SCI or SAP environment or supporting SCI operations.
- Experience developing or maintaining SOPs, process documentation, metrics, or workflow improvements.
- Demonstrated ability to provide responsive customer service while maintaining security and compliance requirements.
- This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) 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. In addition, due the SCI, you may also be subject to random polygraph testing.
- Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
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
- 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.
We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.
If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.
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.
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