Director of Operations

The Director of Operations in the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ALCF) coordinates and manages the facility operations activities, leading a team of six leaders and approximately 60 employees.

The ALCF Division provides university, government, and industrial researchers with access to powerful systems for high-performance computing, data-handling, and analysis for open science research. ALCF also offers technical expertise to guide those research efforts. The ALCF division also houses Aurora, one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, which gives the global science community a powerful new research tool with unprecedented abilities for simulations, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analysis. Aurora powers breakthroughs in science and engineering, drives advances in technology, and boosts the nation’s innovation infrastructure.

Job responsibilities include:

• Overseeing and leading teams that operate the facility’s supercomputing resources, i.e., High Performance Computing (HPC) systems including network administration, infrastructure, storage, software development, and cyber security for the division.
• Managing the day-to-day operations of the group and set long-term direction and strategy to achieve goals.
• Working closely with division management and other team leads to ensure users science needs and requirements are met.
• Ensuring that the ALCF meets its milestones and performance metrics for the operation of deployed systems.
• Working with the other ALCF and CELS (Computing, Environment, and Life Science) Directorate teams to improve the reliability and usability of the systems operated by the ALCF. 
• Leaders at Argonne are expected to demonstrate a high level of competency, including strategic agility, team building, clear communication, trust-building, and accountability.

This position requires onsite work in Lemont, Illinois, with some flexibility for remote work when needed.

Position Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or engineering preferred, and 10+ years of experience, or equivalent.
• Strong experience in high performance computing and/or AI including, leading system support efforts, determining strategic computing direction and systems architecture, deployment, and operation.

• To be successful in this role, a candidate would have experience in one or more of the below skill sets:
  • Supercomputing systems administration, including specification, configuration and installation or experience managing a team of system administrators.
  • Installation, configuration, and management of large numbers of computers, with emphasis on high performance computers such as clusters of Linux boxes, large SMPs and hybrids.
  • High-performance networking technologies such as Slingshot and Infiniband. 
  • Hardware and software of disk and tape-based mass storage systems.
  • Cyber security issues including monitoring and incident response.
  • Operation and maintenance of COTS PC hardware.
• Strong organizational skills and flexibility in coordinating a broad spectrum of activities. 
• Knowledge and experience in operating a large production computing facility.
• Knowledge of technical troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Able to use independent judgment, abstract specific problems into general solutions, and make decisions that best serve the division and project.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills to interact successfully with scientific, support, and administrative staff, along with contractors, external research parties, and scientists in a variety of disciplines.
• Experience in developing, tracking and managing multiple priorities.
• Proven ability to adapt knowledge to complex situations and leadership issues.
• Demonstrated strategic agility at multiple levels, from division-wide needs to individual employee guidance.
• Experience and skill in project management, including understanding technical requirements and engineering solutions to meet the ALCF requirements.
• To perform the essential functions of this position successful applicants must provide proof of U.S. citizenship, which is required to comply with federal regulations and contract.

Job Family

Professional Technical (PT)

Job Profile

Systems Integration Admin/Support Ldr 2

Worker Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time

The expected hiring range for this position is $130,682.00 - $206,159.85.

Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.

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As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.