System Engineer II, Scientific Systems

Allen Institute; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Allen Institute is seeking a Linux System Engineer to support our Linux-based research environment, including 350+ servers and 20 PB of storage. You will design, deploy, and upgrade infrastructure supporting scientific computing and manage patching, lifecycle, and security tooling.

You’ll collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to ensure high availability, automation, and scalable operations in a cloud-informed on-premises mix, while growing expertise across systems and cybersecurity

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of degree and experience.
• At least one year of professional UNIX/Linux system administration experience.
• History of supporting highly available IT services in a 100+ server environment.
• Operational automation skills using shell or Python.

Responsibilities

• Manage a Linux-based research environment with 350+ servers and 20 PB storage.
• Design, deploy, and upgrade IT infrastructure products and services for scientific computing.
• Engage in hardware and software lifecycle management.
• Manage patch deployment and troubleshooting on workstations and servers.
• Develop system standards, policies, and procedures.
• Manage cybersecurity software agents and monitoring systems for scientific systems.
• Monitor system performance and plan for future scaling.
• Manage infrastructure resources in public cloud.

Skills

UNIX/Linux system administration

Automation (shell/Python)

Cloud infrastructure understanding

Cybersecurity monitoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Shell scripting

Python

Public Cloud

Job description

The Allen Institute accelerates science for a healthier world through large-scale research designed to answer some of the most complex questions in biology. Our multi-disciplinary teams generate foundational knowledge, tools, and data to understand how our brain, cells, and immune system work. We share our work openly so others can build on it, move faster, and ask bigger questions. We drive discovery forward and create new possibilities for improving human health.

The mission of the Administration team is to enable the people and science of the Allen Institute. We connect teams, steward resources, and build strong systems that give our accelerators the stability and flexibility to pursue ambitious questions, collaborate across disciplines, and share their work openly.

As a key member of the IT Infrastructure Team, you are an experienced Linux System Engineer who enjoys solving problems and building systems using a combination of creativity and technical rigor. This role will be involved with cloud-based integrations, server patching, cybersecurity management and designing and deploying IT infrastructure. You don't have to know everything (that's why you're on a team), but we do expect good judgement and a desire to learn.

The Allen Institute believes that team science significantly benefits from the participation of diverse voices, experiences and backgrounds. High-quality science can only be produced when it includes different perspectives. We are committed to increasing diversity across every team and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for this role.

Essential Functions

• Manage a Linux-based research environment with over 350 servers and workstations and 20 PB of storage
• Help design, deploy, and upgrade IT infrastructure products and services supporting scientific computing
• Engage in hardware and software lifecycle management
• Manage patch deployment and troubleshooting on workstations and servers
• Participate in the development of system standards, policies, and procedures
• Manage scientific systems cybersecurity software agents and monitoring systems
• Monitor system performance and plan for future scaling
• Manage infrastructure resources in public cloud

Note: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Required Education And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of degree and experience required
• At least one year of professional UNIX/Linux system administration experience
• History of supporting highly available IT services in a 100+ server environment
• Operational automation skills using shell or Python