Scientific Software & DevOps Engineer

Jefferson Lab; Newport News (VA); Hybrid; USD 92,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Work Arrangements

Tuition Assistance

Paid Time Off

401(k) Plan – Lab Contribution

Health, Dental, Vision

Job summary

Jefferson Lab in Newport News, VA seeks a Scientific DevOps Engineer to bridge nuclear physics workloads, data management, and containerized deployment. You will automate complex software stacks and deploy petabyte-scale data pipelines on Kubernetes and OpenShift.

The role also supports developer-facing applications and experimental metadata frameworks. Requirements include 3+ years on production-grade Kubernetes/OpenShift, strong Linux administration, and scripting in Python or Bash; a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, software engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.
• 3+ years of related experience in DevOps, systems administration, or similar
• Experience managing production-grade Kubernetes, OpenShift, or equivalent platforms

Responsibilities

• Lead complex system configurations and software deployments with admins, developers, and lab staff.
• Deploy, scale, and manage services using Kubernetes, OKD, OpenShift/OCP, and Talos.
• Automate pipelines with Ansible and Puppet; maintain infrastructure configurations.
• Serve as a technical resource across the division on systems administration and development.
• Research and prototype testbed configurations for next-gen tech in storage, compute, and config control.

Skills

Linux administration

Python

Bash

Perl

Scripting

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's Degree Computer Science or related

Master's Degree preferred

Tools

Kubernetes

OpenShift

Ansible

Puppet

Satellite/Foreman

Slurm

Job description

At Jefferson Lab, you’ll champion cutting-edge science and operational excellence while shaping the future of discovery. Join us and make your mark – where excellence meets purpose, and great mindstruly matter.

The good-faith pay range for this role is $91,800 - $145,050 per year. Actual compensation may vary and may be above the posted range based on factors such as a candidate's skills, experience, education, certifications, and work location.

What Your Job Will Be Like

We are seeking a Scientific DevOps Engineer to bridge the gap between experimental nuclear physics workloads, distributed data management, and modern containerized deployment practices. The role is responsible for automating complex software stacks, operationalizing petabyte-scale data pipelines, and deploying local AI/LLM infrastructure on platforms like Kubernetes and OpenShift. Additionally, this position will support developer-facing application layers, custom front-end data portals, and core experimental metadata frameworks.

In This Job You Will

• Take the lead on complex system configuration and software deployments in collaboration with other system administrators, developers, lab staff, and users.
• Deploy, scale, and manage critical services using platforms including Kubernetes (k8s), OKD, OpenShift/OCP, and Talos.
• Maintain, optimize, and automate infrastructure configuration pipelines using tools like Ansible and Puppet.
• Expert resource to other members of the division in several areas of system administration and development.
• Remain up-do-date with emerging technology by researching and creating testbed configurations for next-generation technologies of interest including storage, compute scheduling, and configuration control.

Additional Responsibilities

• Design, configure, and manage distributed workflow systems and high-throughput data transfer pipelines using tools such as Rucio, FTS (File Transfer Service), InvenioRDM, Globus, Slurm, and the Open Science Grid (OSG).
• Deploy, operationalize, and maintain local and commercial Artificial Intelligence / Large Language Model (AI/LLM) environments, specifically managing gateway tools like liteLLM to serve developer and experimental research workloads.
• Provide secondary DBA support to optimize, query, and maintain relational database schemas (PostgreSQL, MySQL/MariaDB) underpinning the scientific application stack.

Experience

• Required: 3 or more years Related experience exercising the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities noted below
• Required: Experience managing production-grade Kubernetes, OpenShift, or similar container platforms.

Education

• Required: Bachelor's Degree Computer Science, software engineering, or closely related technical discipline
• Preferred: Master's Degree Computer Science or Software Engineering

Experience And Education Exchange

Education above the minimum may be substituted for experience. Relevant experience may not be substituted for education.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Solid foundations in Linux system administration, network troubleshooting, and security best practices.
• Strong scripting and automation skills (e.g., Python, Bash, or Perl) paired with experience using Configuration Management tools (Ansible/Puppet/Satellite/Foreman). RedHat ecosystem experience favored
• Knowledgeable of IP networking, relational database principles, and computer architecture.
• Ability to clearly communicate and report on progress on tasks and projects.
• Strong interpersonal skills ability to effectively work on project teams.

About Jefferson Lab

Join a community with a common purpose of solving the most challenging scientific and engineering problems of our time. The Jefferson Lab campus is located in southeastern Virginia amidst a vibrant and growing technology community. A career at Jefferson Lab is more than a job. You will be part of “big science” and work alongside top scientists and engineers from around the world unlocking the secrets of our visible universe. Managed by SURATech, LLC, Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility is entering an exciting period of mission growth and is seeking new team members ready to apply their skills and passion to have an impact. You could call it work, or you could call it a mission. We call it a challenge. We do things that will change the world.

Total Rewards at Jefferson Lab

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Care Plans
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid Time-off and Leave Programs (Paid Parental, vacation, holidays, and sick leave)
• 401(k) Plan – 9% Lab Contribution; 100% vested
• Flexible Work Arrangements

(Remote & Alternate Work Schedules available)

• Tuition Assistance, Training and Professional Development Programs
• Live near the waterways of the Chesapeake Bay region with access to nearby beaches,
• mountains, and all major metropolitan centers on the East Coast

SURATech, LLC manages and operates the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab). SURATech is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

SURATech is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities (unless doing so will result in an undue hardship). If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to [e-mail] or contact Human Resources by calling [phone] and selecting option 1 between 8 am – 5 pm EST to provide the nature of your request.

Employment with SURATech is conditional upon DOE approval if at any time during your employment you are participating in a Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Program or Affiliated activity. Generally, such programs/activities include any foreign-state-sponsored attempt to acquire U.S.-funded scientific research through programs run or funded by the government that target scientists, engineers, students, academics, researchers, and entrepreneurs of all nationalities working or educated in the United States. This includes positions or appointments, both domestic and foreign, titled academic, professional, or institutional appointments whether or not remuneration is received and whether full-time, part-time or voluntary.