Systems Engineer

Vanderbilt; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Systems Engineer position at Vanderbilt University’s Wicked Problems Lab focuses on designing and operating a hybrid cloud and on‑prem research computing environment, spanning AWS and GPU/AI compute with strict security and reproducibility. You will provision infrastructure, implement IaC, manage Linux servers, and support researchers in a fast-paced, national security research setting.

Responsibilities include building secure data pipelines, database management, and network monitoring while

Qualifications

• 4+ years hands-on systems/infrastructure administration.
• Experience operating GPU compute for AI/ML (CUDA stack).
• Infrastructure-as-code (Terraform/Ansible), scripting (Bash/Python), database administration (PostgreSQL/NoSQL).
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain/maintain a U.S. security clearance preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design, architect, and operate the Lab's hybrid cloud and on-prem infrastructure (AWS EC2/VPC/S3/IAM) with cost, performance, and data sensitivity in mind.
• Administer Linux servers end-to-end; manage configuration as code and access lifecycle across a distributed fleet.
• Stand up, secure, tune, and back up databases; build reliable ETL and data-transfer pipelines.
• Harden systems, enforce compliance, patch management, and threat monitoring; ensure security requirements are met.
• Serve researchers as first point of contact for systems needs and tooling; stay current with cloud, GPU/AI, and security trends.
• Configure networking and analyze traffic; deploy IDS/IPS and monitor anomalous activity.

Skills

AWS

Linux admin

GPU compute

Scripting Bash/Python

Infrastructure-as-code

Database administration

ETL pipelines

Security knowledge

Networking analysis

Education

Bachelor's in Computer Science/Engineering

AWS/Linux/security certifications

Tools

Terraform

Ansible

CUDA

Job description

Position Summary

The Systems Engineer is the hands-on individual responsible for the design, security, and day-to-day operation of the Wicked Problems Lab's research computing environment - spanning AWS cloud, on-premises GPU/AI compute, databases, and systems security. This is a practitioner role for someone who provisions infrastructure, configures and hardens systems, and unblocks researchers directly, with a high degree of autonomy in a fastmoving national security research setting.

About the Work Unit

The Wicked Problems Lab applies advanced computing, AI, and data science to highconsequence national security problems, with partnerships across the Five Eyes and Indo- Pacific communities. The environment is small, technically sophisticated, and fast-paced, and its systems must be secure, dependable, and built to handle sensitive research data.

Key Functions and Expected Performance

• Cloud & on-prem infrastructure: Design, architect, and operate the Lab's hybrid environment - AWS (EC2, VPC, S3, IAM) under least-privilege and on-premises GPU/AI compute systems; scale storage and GPU capacity to meet workload demand; engineer for resilience through monitoring, backup, and disaster recovery; own workload placement across cloud and local systems for cost, performance, and data sensitivity.
• Systems configuration & administration: Administer Linux servers end to end; manageconfiguration as code (Terraform, Ansible, scripting) for reproducible, documentedenvironments; own SSH/key lifecycle and access across a distributed fleet.
• Data & database management: Stand up, secure, tune, and back up research databases (PostgreSQL, NoSQL, and comparable relational/vector stores); build and maintain reliable ETL and datatransfer/movement pipelines with attention to integrity, throughput, and reproducibility.
• Security & compliance: Harden systems against sophisticated threats - patch/vulnerability management, segmentation, secrets management, and endpoint detection and response; enforce access control and data-handling appropriate to sensitive research; comply with University and partner security requirements.
• Research enablement: Serve as first point of contact for researchers' systems needs and AI/developer tooling; advocate for Vanderbilt's core values; stay current with cloud, GPU/AI, and security technologies; other duties as needed.
• Networking & traffic analysis: Configure and troubleshoot network infrastructure (routers, switches, VPN, segmentation); capture and analyze network traffic at the packet level; deploy and tune intrusion detection/prevention systems to monitor for and investigate anomalous activity.

Supervisory Relationships

This position has no supervisory responsibility and reports administratively and functionally to the Director of the Wicked Problems Lab.

Education and Certifications

Bachelor's in Computer Science/Engineering or related field is necessary; equivalent experience may substitute. Relevant AWS/Linux/security certifications preferred.

Experience and Skills

• 4+ years hands-on systems/infrastructure administration is necessary, with demonstrated command of AWS and strong Linux administration.
• Experience operating GPU compute for AI/ML (CUDA stack, model serving/fine-tuning) is necessary; experience with enterprise-class NVIDIA GPU systems preferred.
• Infrastructure-as-code (Terraform/Ansible), scripting (Bash/Python), database administration (PostgreSQL, NoSQL, or comparable), ETL/data-movement pipelines, and working systems/network security knowledge are necessary.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain/maintain a U.S. security clearance are preferred.

ABOUT US At Vanderbilt University

At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of "America's Best Large Employers" as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice. We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it.

Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.