Vacancy: Digital Research Infrastructure Engineer - Linux Specialist

The role

We have an exciting opportunity at PML for an individual with skills in Linux system administration to join the PML’s Digital Innovation and Marine Autonomy (DIMA) group. The role provides a business critical link between scientists, PML Applications (commercial work) and  our IT Group to support the Linux computing infrastructure as it continues to evolve, underpinning PML science in multiple areas and across all levels. This ranges from data generation, (storage technologies and data management), processing and analysis (high performance computing and technologies such as JupyterHub), to making visual outputs for end users (web technologies and virtualisation) to increase the reach and impact of PML science.

About you

You will enjoy working with others to help deliver a modern and reliable digital infrastructure to underpin the world leading research carried out at PML. You will understand the importance of stability from existing infrastructure but will also be keen to learn and try new technologies. You will have experience of administering Linux systems, ideally using Ubuntu, and will be able to make use of scripts and common tools such as ansible to manage this. You will understand the importance of taking a proactive approach to identify and resolve and problems and will be able to make use of monitoring software (e.g., Nagios, Grafana) to accomplish this. You will understand best practices in cybersecurity and be able to apply these.

Skills Required

• Linux systems administration and monitoring

• Linux scripting (e.g., bash and Python)

• Experience in management of data at the Terrabyte to Petabyte scale and storage technologies such as NFS and S3.

• Cybersecurity (Understand and apply best practices)

• Container technologies (Docker and Kubernetes)

• High performance Computing (Slurm)

• Virtualisation (VMWare)

Key deliverables

• Maintain our storage infrastructure to ensure data is distributed across servers based on existing capacity and projected changes in data volumes. This includes regular data moves and liaising with stakeholders to ensure data is backed up and archiving projects are completes as needed.

• Monitor high performance computing infrastructure to identify and resolve problems either on their own or by working with IT (depending on the nature of the problem).

• Act of a point of contact between scientists and IT to answer questions, help identify solutions and provide training.

• Work with the data architect to maintain and develop web infrastructure used to provide existing and planned data search and visualisation services.

• Manage the NEODAAS GPU cluster (MAGEO), including liaising with IT, vendors and system users.

About PML

As a charity passionate about the marine environment, we aim to develop and apply innovative marine science to ensure a sustainable future for our ocean. For over 40 years we have provided evidence-based environmental solutions to societal challenges by applying cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research that benefits society and promotes stewardship of marine ecosystems. The impact of our science is far-reaching ranging from highly cited scientific papers, to providing scientific evidence for policy and training the next generation of marine scientists. Through the delivery of our science plan, we are also contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals to promote healthy, productive and resilient oceans and seas.

To support PML’s science it operates in house Linux infrastructure used for processing satellite data, running models and making outputs accessible through web visualisation tools. This infrastructure includes a large amount of storage (6 PB), a High-Performance Computing cluster with over 1500 cores, a 40 GPU cluster (the MAssive GPU cluster for Earth Observation; MAGEO) and a virtual machine cluster.

The role will be part of the Digital Innovation and Marine Autonomy (DIMA) group within PML. DIMA is a pioneering digital science group dedicated to advancing PML’s world-class and cutting-edge environmental research through the utilisation of state-of-the-art digital and autonomous technologies. The team comprises research software engineers, research infrastructure engineers, marine technologists and scientists who work on a variety of projects using autonomous vessels, satellite data, drones, Artificial Intelligence, High Performance Computing and data visualisation tools to help deliver PML’s goals. The team have an enthusiasm for solving problems through collaboration and shared learning.

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PML has a number of generous employee benefits:

• 30 days annual leave + 2.5 Privilege days
• Principle Science staff are eligible for performance based contribution awards.
• Peer to peer bonus scheme
• Employee Benefits platform
• Free car parking (although our location is excellent for public transport links)
• Flexible working hours scheme
• Company Pension Scheme with up to 10% employer contributions
• Life assurance
• Confidential financial advice
• Cycle to work scheme
• Merit Promotion / Individual Merit Award schemes
• Bonus scheme
• Welfare services
• 24/7 employee assistance helpline
• Staff development – identified through the Performance and Development Review (PDR) process.

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