Systems Administrator

Date: May ‎12, ‎2022
Location: Saudi Arabia
Company: King Abdullah University of Science & Technology
Job Purpose

Be a key member of the team administering KSL's supercomputers, storage and
other related infrastructure. Large-scale Linux system administration
expertise, expert level configuration management, scripting, backup,
monitoring and automation skills are required. This is a highly technical role
requiring high performance computing (HPC) or large scale computing
experience, in complex environments.

Major Accountabilities

• Provide timely and useful assistance (2nd -3rd level support) to laboratory users and to other staff members.


• Maintain high customer service standards in dealing with and responding to user issues and questions. This is typically done via KSL ticketing system (RT).


• Maintain a respectful and collaborative working environment within the laboratory.


• Design and produce effective and thorough technical documentation


• Build effective relationships with staff, faculty and students through the Core Labs.


• Plan, lead implementation and support of software installation and management for the HPC systems within the Center


• Expert understanding and support of high performance parallel filesystems (i.e. Lustre), hierarchical storage management systems (i.e. DMF) and high performance computing workload managers and schedulers (i.e. Slurm).


• Apply expert knowledge of Unix/Linux systems administration, including all aspects of management, monitoring, performance analysis, and integration in complex heterogeneous environments.


• Use configuration management tools (e.g., Puppet) to help maintain large-scale Linux clusters, supercomputers, storage systems, and infrastructure servers.


• Monitor and optimize services and performance (file system, network interconnects) using Nagios, Ganglia, etc.


• Plan and administer infrastructure servers work (file servers, monitoring, etc.).


• Investigate and resolve systems related issues; coordinate with vendors to isolate hardware problems; install firmware or software patches as necessary.


• Represent the laboratory in international conferences and campus forums, such as technical coordination meetings with other technology-focused units.


• Significantly contribute to planning of the work of a major laboratory or research projects


• Maintain expert-level knowledge in most of the laboratory systems, including either high performance computing systems administration, high performance storage administration, or high performance network administration.


• Act as a point of contact for complex problems and help junior colleagues.


• Work flexible hours as needed.


• Travel occasionally for training, presentations, conferences and collaborations.


• Other duties as required.

Person Requirements

Competencies

• Good knowledge of Linux operating system is required


• Experience with Cray/HPE systems is desirable


• Proficient documentation skills.


• Ability to support research activities in the laboratory environment.


• Understands and uses appropriate methods, tools and applications.


• Demonstrates an analytical and systematic approach to problem solving.


• Demonstrates effective communication skills in written and oral English.


• Plans, schedules and monitors own work and that of others, competently within limited deadlines and according to relevant legislation and procedures.


• Appreciates the wider field of information systems and computational research, and how own role relates to other roles and to the business of the employer, users or colleagues.


• Absorbs and applies technical information.


• Works to required standards.


• Understands and uses appropriate methods, tools and applications.


• Ability to work successfully in a highly collaborative research environment.


• Uses discretion in identifying and resolving complex problems and assignments.


• Performs a broad range of work, sometimes complex and non-routine, in a variety of environments.


• Knowledge of laboratory systems and applications.

Qualifications Experience

Bachelor of Science (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline plus ‎6 years of
experience, OR Master of Science (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline plus
‎4 years of experience OR Doctor of Philosophy (or equivalent) in a relevant
discipline.