Senior HPC Technical Manager - Durham
The Institute of Computational Cosmology (ICC) within the Department of Physics manages and operates one of the UK's largest supercomputing facilities, COSMA, on behalf of DiRAC ( a UK national facility.
This role is primarily responsible for the operation and ongoing development of the COSMA High Performance Computing (HPC) system, supporting innovative research and development projects. In addition to providing expert user support and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations, the successful applicant will have the opportunity to lead both software and hardware initiatives that will help shape the future of UK HPC. The position offers hands-on experience with a broad range of advanced computing technologies, including OpenStack, Ansible, containerization platforms such as Docker and Kubernetes, as well as traditional HPC server administration. Strong scripting skills in Bash and Python are essential for automating workflows and maintaining system efficiency.
The successful applicant will work closely with other COSMA support staff and DiRAC technical support teams across the UK to deliver an effective and reliable service for users, including participation in both routine and emergency maintenance activities. The role involves liaising with DiRAC researchers in cosmology and other physical sciences to understand their computational codes and develop expertise in optimizing these codes for efficient execution on supercomputing facilities.
There will be opportunities for training and professional development, both within Durham and in collaboration with other DiRAC partners and industry. The successful applicant will also have the chance to attend conferences and HPC events, and will participate in regular meetings with other HPC facilities across the UK. Flexible working arrangements are available, though some in-person attendance is essential due to the nature of the role. Applications for part-time working are also welcome.
This role is fixed term for 2 years in the first instance but could be extended further contingent