Advanced Computing System Administrator

The University of Saskatchewan is a world leader in water and food security, vaccine development and infectious diseases, and human, animal, and environmental health. The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) division provides innovative and disciplined support and expertise as an integral part of ensuring USask becomes the university the world needs. The division is also committed to fostering a workplace culture that promotes diversity, collaboration, and professional growth.

USask provides employees many benefits such as flexible work arrangements; access to the university’s recreation services; ongoing professional development and mentorship and a comprehensive benefits and pension program.

Primary Purpose:

The System Administrator performs support and administration of ICT systems, including administration of Linux systems, Advanced Research Computing (ARC) systems, large storage systems, backup servers, tape libraries, and compute farms, which underpin the teaching, learning, research and administrative goals of the university. The System Administrator position ensures that Linux-based systems, storage and backup resources are highly available, effectively administered, patched, secured, repaired and maintained. In consultation with the Systems team, the Systems Administrator helps guide the implementation of technical solutions to provide stable systems, storage and backup to the University.

Nature of Work:

This position is involved in the effective operation, design and enhancement of the institutional systems, storage, compute farms and backup systems, including performing urgent maintenance on failed systems, infrastructure, and implementing advanced computing systems and highly-available and redundant storage design.

The role will include software installation and configuration. The System Administrator requires keen attention to detail and careful, measured action; as an administrator on a variety of Linux based systems, large data storage systems, there is considerable impact associated with errors that compromise data. The position requires the ability to work effectively both independently and as a collaborative team member, and to appropriately prioritize response to a wide variety of time-sensitive tasks. Periodic evening or weekend work is involved, which will be balanced with flex time considerations.

Typical Duties/Accountabilities:

• Ensure the reliability, performance, integrity, and security of the institution’s systems, including storage systems and backup systems;
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to provide effective feedback on Linux, storage and backup systems;
• Handle day-to-day support of systems deployment, configuration, upgrades, security, performance tuning and troubleshooting;
• Provide, maintain, and improve data security, accessibility and management services;
• Apply patches and firmware and perform orderly upgrades of Linux systems, storage and backup environments;
• Establish and maintain documentation and operating procedures that will be used by all other systems team members;
• Maintain accurate accounting of time and expenses on projects and assignments;
• Communicate progress and issues regularly with colleagues, stakeholders, clients and the ICT leadership team;
• Develop and execute effective change management practices to optimize the benefits and minimize disruption to the Universities teaching, research and administration systems;
• Support team performance at a high level by effectively communicating expectations, providing feedback, and participating in coaching and mentorship;
• Participate in the proposal, discussion and execution of services;
• Ensure liability and risk are responsibly mitigated by remaining current with best practices and managing contract and licensing relationships, including making recommendations on auditing practices.
• Knowledge and understanding of issues, including cultural, socio-economic and other factors affecting Indigenous Peoples and an awareness that Indigenous engagement is a strategic priority at the University.

Qualifications:

Education & Experience:

We appreciate that non-traditional career paths may have developed a candidate’s competency, and alternate combinations of education and experience may be considered.

A diploma, certificate or degree in a related discipline is strongly preferred (e.g., computer science, engineering). A graduate degree would be an asset.  

Demonstrated progress through increasingly responsible, substantive positions involving research, advanced research computing, and/or information technology.

Skills:

• A minimum of five years of recent experience as a Linux Systems Administrator, in the multi-Petabyte scale SAN storage and Enterprise Backup architecture/environment, is an asset;
• Recent work experience at a senior level in system administration at a post-secondary institution and supporting a large (10,000 or more) user population with an active research community, is an asset;
• Familiarity with Leaf/Spine, iSCSI, Fiber channel and InfiniBand network design and effective usage;
• Familiarity in source control using GIT and Puppet management of OS's and Systems infrastructure;
• Familiarity with parallelization file systems (e.g., GPFS, Lustre, BeeGFS etc);
• Familiarity with high-performance computing cluster management software (e.g., xCat, Bright CM etc);
• Current experience in Data Center equipment and cabling management;
• Familiarity with the Digital Research Alliance of Canada;
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn and use new technologies;
• Ability to provide technical support within a team;
• Extremely strong analytical and problem solving skills;
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills both written and verbal;
• Proven ability to work on multiple projects and with competing priorities.

This position is in scope of the Administrative and Supervisory Personnel Association (ASPA).

Department: Info & Communications Tech
Status: Permanent
Employment Group: ASPA
Shift: Mon-Fri, 8:00-4:30
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0
Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $67,681.00 - 105,753.00 per annum. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Salary Family (if applicable): Information Technology
Salary Phase/Band: Phase 2
Posted Date: 5/17/2024
Closing Date: 6/6/2024 at 6:00 pm CST
Number of Openings: 1
Work Location: May be eligible for hybrid work under the terms of USask's Alternative Workspace Guidelines

The successful applicant will be required to provide the following current verification(s) where 'Yes' is indicated below. Further information is available at: https://careers.usask.ca/tips-for-applying.php

Criminal Record Check: Yes
Driver's License and Abstract Check: Not Applicable
Education/Credential Verification: Not Applicable
Vulnerable Sector Check: Not Applicable