Research Computing Systems Engineer

The Pennsylvania State University; Ferguson Township (PA); On-site; USD 92,000 - 152,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

75% tuition discount

Job summary

The Pennsylvania State University is seeking a High-Performance Computing (HPC) system administrator to join the Structural Mechanics Division at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) in State College, PA. You will work with scientists and engineers to advance defense capabilities and gain hands-on experience across HPC deployments from design to end-user support.

The role offers broad professional growth through exposure to in-house and external HPC implementations, with opportunities to work

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree 3+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
• Experience with Linux system administration, security, and performance tuning
• Python, Bash, or Perl scripting along with batch schedulers (Slurm, Torque, PBS) and CM tools (Puppet, Chef, Ansible, Salt)

Responsibilities

• Maintain existing HPC systems and ensure compute node and storage availability for end-users
• Develop and deploy scripts to monitor system health and usage
• Maintain and upgrade system firmware, OS, and security patches
• Diagnose hardware and system issues; work with vendors for components
• Collaborate with users to optimize performance and resource scheduling
• Travel to remote locations as required

Skills

Linux (RHEL)

Networking

Parallel file systems

Security

Scripting (bash, python, perl)

Batch schedulers (Slurm, Torque, PBS)

Configuration management (Puppet, Chef

Ansible, Salt

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in a related field

Job description

POSITION SPECIFICS

We are searching for a High-Performance Computing (HPC) system administrator to join the Structural Mechanics Division at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. You will work with our team of scientists and engineers to develop and advance our nation’s defense capabilities. This position offers broad opportunities for professional growth, including exposure to a range of existing HPC implementations—both in-house and at leading institutions—as well as hands‑on involvement in all aspects of HPC administration, from system design to working directly with end‑users to resolve computational performance issues. ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.

• Maintain existing HPC systems by ensuring compute node and storage availability to end‑users
• Develop and deploy various scripts to monitor system health and assess system usage
• Maintain system firmware and software revisions, including operating system upgrades, updates, and patches
• Perform component and system diagnostics to resolve hardware failures
• Work with users and hardware vendors to identify and procure components for both existing and new systems
• Monitor system performance and usage levels and work with team members to resolve immediate and anticipated future issues

• Extensive experience with Linux operating systems (especially RHEL), networking, parallel file systems, and security
• Experience collaborating in multi-disciplinary, team-oriented cultures
• A demonstrated track record of setting and meeting goals
• Effective diagnostic and problem solving skills
• Expertise with scripting languages (e.g., bash, python, perl), batch schedulers (e.g., Slurm, Torque, PBS), and configuration management tools (e.g., Puppet, Chef, Ansible, Salt)
• Current eligibility for access to classified information at the [Secret/Top Secret] level or higher and may be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility, if required

The position’s working location will be fully on‑site located in State College, PA. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process. This role requires periodic travel to remote locations.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree 3+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
• Required Certifications: None

ARL’s purpose is to research and develop innovative solutions to challenging scientific, engineering, and technology problems in support of the Navy, the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Intel Community (IC).

SALARY & BENEFITS

• The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $92,100.00 - $152,004.00.

Salary Structure - Information on Penn State’s salary structurePenn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. Notice regarding employment at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL): Employees must be eligible to obtain a government security clearance, participate in the ARL drug testing program, and comply with electronic and physical monitoring requirements applicable to federal contractors. ARL operates in a secure information environment involving Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified information. Personal electronic devices brought onsite must be registered and may be restricted from certain areas. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

ABOUT US

Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster PA State Labor Law Poster Penn State Policies Copyright Information Hotlines There’s a reason Penn State consistently ranks among the top one percent of the world’s universities. Across 24 campuses, our 100,000 students and 40,000 faculty and staff know the real measure of success goes beyond the classroom – it’s the positive impact made on communities across the world. Our ideals stem from our origins as Pennsylvania’s sole land-grant institution, which allow us to continue to bring positive impact to humanity through our teaching, research, and engagement mission. And across the world is a community of Penn Staters – more than half a million strong – driven by that same spirit to serve our local and global communities. At Penn State, passion is met with collaboration in an environment that is rooted in shared pride for the accomplishments of our fellow students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Penn Staters cheer each other on to build a culture committed to service and engagement. Our University values represent our core ethical aspirations for all our daily activities and actions as students, faculty, staff, and volunteers at Penn State. Our values are as follows; Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Discovery, Excellence, and Community. We Are Penn State. One Community. Impacting Many.