EResearch Platform and Services Engineer

Job Description

We are currently seeking an enthusiastic and talented Platform and Systems Engineer to join our team where you will develop, build and operate the University’s latest research IT infrastructure and services for researchers and deploy, support, maintain, and continuously improve a range of systems dedicated to research.

Primarily, you will be helping to operate and develop our OpenStack-based research cloud. Our OpenStack instance is part of a federated Australian research cloud, so you will engage and collaborate with other OpenStack operators in Australia, and also engage with researchers and IT service providers across the university to enable researcher success.

For this role, we assume you bring a good grounding in at least two of the following:

• Linux System Administration
• Administration of OpenStack
• Administration of complex service infrastructures, along with skills in scripting/programming in bash and Python and general expertise in areas such as: IP networks, Linux virtual networking, solutions architecture, devops, automation, databases, analytics, monitoring, logging, documentation system, and training

You will help develop, describe and deliver other services and infrastructure like file transfer services, data services, as well as build creative solutions to research support needs. From time to time you may also deliver educational workshops to help researchers or colleagues to learn new digital skills (we teach Software and Data Carpentry).

You will also develop key functional relationships with colleagues within the Centre for eResearch, within the University’s IT Services, and colleagues in Australia, as we work together to provide the best possible environment for research success.

For more information, please view the POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Centre for eResearch is a cross-faculty research centre at the University of Auckland. Our core mission is: (i) to grow strategic research infrastructure and resources, (ii) to create effective and efficient computing services and workflows to support research and (iii) to provide consultancy and help to researchers who need to use advanced computing tools in their research.

We are also committed to providing training opportunities that help researchers learn new computing skills, and community outreach to create a vibrant and supportive culture of digitally empowered scholarship.

This mission applies to the entire range of research disciplines across the university, although the support we provide may vary by community.

Qualifications

Research needs and computational platforms and tooling are always changing, so the support we offer is constantly evolving to keep track of emerging needs and opportunities. Thus, we need the people who work with us to be very flexible, possess multiple computational skills and be willing and able to learn new skills and computational environments rapidly.

The ideal candidate will have a Postgraduate qualification in a computer related discipline or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.

You will have a number of years’ experience in research a computing environment meeting with high performance computing technologies or distributed computing, with a focus on one or more of the following categories:

• Virtual Machines
• Researcher and research computing support
• Research data services
• Research applications development
• Solution Architecture

• Client-centered with a strong research service ethic
• Working knowledge of Linux networking and security for Software Defined Networking environments (including TCP/IP, routing, switching, VLANs, GRE/VXLAN, firewalls/iptables, software bridges, high availability and load balancing)

Additional Information

Applications must be submitted online, by the closing date of

In accordance with our commitment to equitable recruitment, the University welcomes applications from all suitably qualified and experienced candidates. In response to COVID-19 the New Zealand Government has imposed a travel ban and are currently only allowing New Zealand Residents, Citizens /Australian Citizens, Permanent residents and visa holders meeting a strict exception policy to enter the country, all of whom must currently enter Government approved quarantine for two weeks on arrival.

It is uncertain when these border restrictions will change, and this may impact the degree to which an off-shore candidate can engage in the interview process; or be available to commence in a new position. For more information and updates on the border restrictions visit the Immigration New Zealand website or the New Zealand Government’s official Covid-19 website.

The University is committed to meeting its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and achieving equity outcomes for staff and students in a safe, inclusive and equitable environment. For further information on services for Māori, Pacific, women, LGBTQITakatāpui+, people with disabilities, parenting support, flexible work and other equity issues go to www.equity.auckland.ac.nz.