Penn State Job Catalog

Additional levels that exist for this job profile can be seen below.

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

Research Computing Systems Engineering

The Research Computing Systems Engineer is responsible for the design, implementation, and maintenance of advanced computing systems used in research environments; develops and/or maintains advanced knowledge of high performance computing (HPC) clusters and clouds; makes recommendations on operational projects and configuration of HPC resources in support of research; participates on projects and initiatives to increase performance of HPC systems; works with vendors to develop and streamline process for hardware and software issues; requires a deep understanding of HPC, cloud infrastructure, and computational workflows to support the research community's diverse and evolving needs.

• Design and deploy scalable, high-performance computing (HPC) systems tailored to the needs of research projects
• Configure and optimize HPC clusters, cloud-based resources, and other computational infrastructure
• Develop and implement system architectures that support complex computational workflows and data analysis
• Manage and maintain research computing systems, including installation, configuration, and upgrades
• Monitor system performance and availability, identifying and addressing issues; develop and deploy tests to verify system functionality and performance
• Provide solutions to generate alerts and monitoring dashboards to allow for the observation of system status to detect performance issues before users experience problems
• Implement and manage security protocols to protect research data and computational resources
• Provide expert technical support for researchers encountering issues with computing systems and resources
• Develop and maintain documentation related to system configurations, procedures, and troubleshooting guidelines
• Work closely with research teams to understand their computing needs and recommend system enhancements or upgrades
• Collaborate with IT departments and external vendors to integrate new technologies and optimize existing systems
• Evaluate and incorporate emerging technologies and best practices to continuously improve research computing capabilities
• Lead and participate in research computing projects, including system upgrades, migrations, and new system deployments
• Develop project plans, timelines, and resource requirements, ensuring successful and timely project execution
• Provide regular updates and reports on project status, system performance, and resource utilization
• May supervise staff members, including hiring, development, and performance management

Level:

– Intermediate Professional

Base Description:

– Completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates ability to perform intermediate tasks in defined skill areas. Demonstrates intermediate knowledge of internal procedures. Works under general supervision, performing assignments that may be varied and sometimes difficult. Supports team decisions and follows through with team responsibilities. Interprets and communicates information clearly and accurately. Demonstrates intermediate problem–solving skills.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– May serve as direct supervisor for part–time, student, and/or temporary workers or volunteers

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– May validate and pay invoices

Problem Solving:

– Encounters generally routine problems; occasionally faces more complex and/or varied problems
– Typically follows recommended course of action and procedures to resolve problems
– Applies knowledge of larger unit goals, priorities, and related procedures in determining course of action

Independence of Action:

– Work is generally monitored by supervisor
– Detailed instructions and procedures are generally provided
– Uses available guidelines to make appropriate adaptations to routine situations and refers other situations to supervisor

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates internally within working unit and/or the University
– May communicate with external audiences
– Collaborates closely with team members
– Interprets and communicates information, ideas and instructions clearly and accurately both verbally and in written materials intended for distribution

• Comp Grade – 12
• Minimum – $76,700.00
• MidPoint – $95,900.00
• Maximum – $115,100.00