Senior HPC Linux Systems Engineer, Classified Environment

Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Access to professional development

Mission-driven environment

High quality of life in East Tennessee

Job summary

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is seeking experienced candidates for roles in its National Security Computing team, focusing on the design and management of High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems. Successful candidates will work in high-security environments and manage technical projects while collaborating intimately with security teams, scientists, and IT leadership.

If you have strong knowledge in HPC architecture and proven technical leadership, we encourage you to apply. The ideal candidate will also need to obtain a Secret Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in Linux systems administration or HPC systems engineering.
• Demonstrated experience leading the design and deployment of HPC systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership in design and administration of large-scale Linux-based HPC clusters.
• Lead technical projects coordinating requirements and schedules.
• Serve as a mentor for HPC engineers.

Skills

HPC architecture

Linux systems administration

Cluster management

Parallel computing

Automation frameworks

Education

BS degree in computer science, engineering, or related field

Tools

SLURM

PBS

Lustre

Ansible

Python

Job description

The Field Intelligence Operations Division invites candidates to apply to join our National Security Computing team to contribute to the design, implementation, and management of High‑Performance Computing (HPC) systems within a classified environment. We are looking for candidates with experience in HPC architecture, cluster management, and parallel computing, with a proven ability to work within highly secure and regulated environments. This role involves close collaboration with security teams, scientists, and IT leadership to ensure that the HPC infrastructure meets the stringent performance, security, and compliance requirements necessary for classified work.

As part of our team, you will be joining a vibrant group of professionals eager to provide premier customer service to ensure people and information technology remain secure. The team is collaborative and strives to ensure security practices and procedures are understood, implemented, and enforced. All team members deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service.

This evergreen posting represents multiple openings for roles across ORNL’s high-performance computing classified ecosystem.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership in the design, integration, and administration of large-scale Linux-based HPC clusters, high‑speed networks, and storage systems.
• Lead medium to large technical projects, coordinating requirements, schedules, and deliverables across internal and external stakeholders.
• Architect and deploy advanced infrastructure solutions supporting exascale‑class and mission‑critical computing environments.
• Serve as a technical mentor for HPC engineers, guiding best practices in automation, performance tuning, and system security.
• Develop, implement, and maintain configuration management and automation frameworks (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, Salt) to enhance reliability and reproducibility.
• Perform advanced system performance analysis, troubleshooting, and optimization, ensuring system scalability and long‑term sustainability.
• Manage critical vendor and partner relationships, representing ORNL’s technical requirements during procurement, integration, and system acceptance.
• Contribute to strategic planning and technology roadmaps, influencing unit goals and technical direction.
• Collaborate closely with scientists, researchers, and IT specialists to align infrastructure capabilities with research and security objectives.
• Ensure compliance with DOE cybersecurity standards, configuration baselines, and operational policies.
• Author technical documentation, present internal briefings, and communicate complex issues and resolutions to management and stakeholders.
• Participate in on‑call rotations, maintenance windows, and incident response as needed to support 24x7 operations.

Basic Qualifications

• BS degree in computer science, engineering, or a related technical field.
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in Linux systems administration or HPC systems engineering.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience leading the design and deployment of HPC or large‑scale distributed computing systems.
• Expertise with batch schedulers (SLURM, PBS, LSF) and parallel file systems (Lustre, GPFS/Spectrum Scale).
• Proven ability to lead technical projects from concept through implementation, balancing technical depth with project delivery.
• Strong proficiency in automation and infrastructure‑as‑code frameworks (Ansible, Puppet, Salt).
• Advanced scripting or programming skills (Python, Bash, Go) for automation and operational tooling.
• In‑depth understanding of high‑speed interconnects (InfiniBand, Slingshot, Ethernet) and storage architectures.
• Experience managing identity and access management systems, including MFA, SSO, and zero‑trust frameworks (PingFederate, RSA SecureID, Entra ID).
• Experience integrating virtualization or containerization solutions (VMware, KVM, Apptainer, Podman) into HPC environments.
• Ability to manage client and stakeholder relationships across multiple directorates and technical disciplines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to influence technical strategy and mentor staff in a collaborative research environment.

Special Requirements

• SCI Clearance: This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret 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 to the SCI, you may also be subject to random polygraph testing.

Why Join Us

• Collaborate with diverse teams of scientists, engineers, and technologists from across the DOE complex and academia.
• Grow your career in a mission‑driven, innovation‑focused environment with access to professional development and leadership opportunities.
• Enjoy life in East Tennessee, with a thriving research community, scenic outdoor recreation, and a high quality of life.

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.