HPC Systems Engineer

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 68,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) seeks an HPC Systems Engineer to support CISL high-performance computing, storage, and networks. The role involves engineering, installation, and ongoing maintenance of multi-vendor systems, with occasional travel to the NWSC in Cheyenne, WY.

The position requires Linux expertise, scripting, and programming, plus experience with HPC scheduling (PBS/SLURM), clustered file systems (Spectrum Scale, Lustre), and HPC storage.

Qualifications

• Experience with Linux OS, scripting, and programming languages.
• HPC and HPS software analysis, design, and development.
• Familiarity with HPC networking, high-performance interconnects, and security.
• Experience with installation and integration of HPC/HPS hardware and software.
• Ability to travel to NWSC near Boulder (Cheyenne, WY).
• Willingness for periodic 24x7 on-call duty.
• Experience with PBS and SLURM scheduling systems.
• Experience with clustered file systems such as Spectrum Scale and Lustre.
• Knowledge of HPC storage types and disaster recovery of clusters.

Responsibilities

• Install, configure, and troubleshoot Linux-based HPC systems and storage.
• Analyze, design, and develop HPC/HPS software and interconnects.
• Install/integrate HPC hardware/software; ensure security and reliability.
• Provide 24x7 on-call support and coordinate with CISL and vendors.

Skills

Linux

Scripting

Programming

HPC systems

Networking

Storage

On-call

Travel

Tools

PBS

SLURM

Spectrum Scale

Lustre

Git

Job description

Position Type: Regular

Visa Sponsored Job: No

Relocation Assistance Eligible: No

Hiring Range: 68,040.00 USD - 85,050.00 USD *Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, and skills relevant to the role.

Application Closes at 12:00am MST on: 2026-11-07

About the Role

As part of the High-Performance Computing Systems Group (HSG) at NCAR, the High-Performance Computing (HPC) Systems Engineer performs systems engineering and technical support for the CISL high-performance computational systems, high-performance storage systems, archival systems, high-performance networks, and data transfer services. The environment is composed of multi-vendor resources with numerous specialized hardware components and requires coordination and communication with other groups and stakeholders.

Production systems supported are located at the NCAR Wyoming Supercomputing Center (NWSC) located in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Will be required to work at the NWSC during periods of system installation, system upgrade, or system troubleshooting.

The salary range for this position will be $68,040 - $85,050.

Job Description

• Skill with multiple Operating Systems (Linux), scripting, and programming languages
• HPC and HPS-related software analysis, design, and development skills
• Skill/familiarity with HPC and HPS networking, high-performance interconnects, and security
• Skill/familiarity in installation and integration of HPC and/or HPS hardware and software
• Skill/familiarity in development of technical specifications for RFPs/RFIs/RFQs
• Skill/familiarity with upgrading the hardware and software stack on HPC and HPS systems
• Ability to travel occasionally to the NCAR Wyoming Supercomputer Center, which is approximately 90 miles north of Boulder.
• Ability to serve in a periodic 24x7 on-call rotation with other staff.
• Experience with the Linux operating system environment with an emphasis on networking, storage, and performance and with the installation and management in a Linux based supercomputer environment. Experience in Linux scripting. languages and at least one higher level programming language.
• Experience with job scheduling system (e.g., PBS, SLURM)
• Experience with clustered file systems (e.g., Spectrum Scale, Lustre) and with clustered system management tools and techniques
• Experience with at least one form of HPC storage (e.g., block, object, cloud, or tape), experience with version control and configuration management systems, and experience with disaster recovery of single image systems and clusters

Preferred Qualifications

• 1. Systems Engineering
  The HPC Systems Engineer performs installation, hardware and software integration and engineering, maintenance, administration, troubleshooting, and operation of both software and hardware systems, including petascale computational systems, scheduling environments, high-speed networks, and storage systems.

• 2. System Management
  Uses tools for system management, system deployment, system monitoring, system resource control, system statistical data gathering, data transfer services, data management services, data archiving services, Cloud services, network services, performance tuning, and system benchmarking.

• 3. Operational Monitoring and Troubleshooting
  Operates and monitors the behavior of the group's systems and related hardware on a routine, daily basis to ensure proper and efficient operations. Alerts other HPC Systems Group staff, vendor representatives and/or CISL Operations staff of anomalistic conditions or behaviors, as appropriate, and takes remedial actions as necessary. Diagnoses and may repair failed hardware components. Provides advanced service on a 7x24 on-call basis to troubleshoot and resolve system related problems presented by users, other sections in CISL, and vendor-employed engineers and analysts. Consults with other staff as appropriate to solve issues.

• 4. Organizational Representation and Reporting
  Provides regular HPC Systems Group activities reports to management and may contribute to the NCAR Annual Scientific Report and development plans. Attends group, divisional, and lab meetings and may represent the HPC Systems Group and its activities at such meetings. May represent the group at larger organizational meetings as necessary. This may include presenting to both internal and external user groups, at supercomputing focus conferences, and organizational planning meetings.