Sr Engagement Spec, Research Computing

POSITION TITLE:  Senior Analyst IT, Research Computing   

POSITION SUMMARY: 

Research Computing (https://rc.duke.edu ) works with Duke researchers across campus to advance computational and data intensive research.  Duke researchers are experts in their fields, and may, or may not be computing experts as well.  We want to meet researchers “where they are” to advance their research goals with a positive and helpful attitude.

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Research Computing Analyst to join our dynamic team. The ideal candidate will play a key role in advancing our research initiatives by providing expert support in the design, implementation, and execution of complex computational analyses. As a Senior Research Computing Analyst, reporting to Pratt IT and Research Computing, you will collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, leverage cutting-edge technologies, and contribute to the development of innovative solutions that enhance our research capabilities.

This is a great opportunity to work with skilled IT staff while connecting with Duke researchers and seeing the landscape of research on campus. 

 Responsibilities:

• Collaboration: Work closely with researchers and domain experts to understand project requirements, contribute domain-specific knowledge, and provide technical guidance on computational aspects
• Consult and onboard Duke researchers to research computing services
• Service Management: Consult and onboard Duke researchers to research computing services in OIT and Pratt. Manage a portfolio of researchers with an engineering focus to manage expectations, renewals, and overall satisfaction with services. Role will include researchers working with sensitive/regulated data or other complex data management requirements.
• Training and Mentorship: Provide training and mentorship to junior team members, researchers, and collaborators in research computing best practices, coding standards, and data management.
• Stay Current: Stay abreast of emerging technologies, methodologies, and tools in research computing and data science, and evaluate their applicability to ongoing and future projects.
• Tool and Software Development: Contribute to the development of custom tools and software solutions tailored to specific research needs, ensuring usability, reliability, and maintainability.
• Increase ties with partner IT teams to: increase the institutional capabilities in research data security and data management, embed available OIT services along-side local IT custom solutions, uphold the University’s security policies, and ensure the evolution of capabilities in response to changing technical needs.

This role requires leadership across Pratt IT and OIT cross-functional teams and will require the ability to set clear goals and negotiate complex resolutions across multiple parties. Excellent communication, project management, and collaboration skills, along with a results-oriented attitude will be required. 

Qualifications:

Education / Background - Bachelor’s degree in a related field is preferred with 5 years combined education / experience in a related field required. A degree in engineering, computer science, or a computational science field highly preferred.

Professional skills

• Ability to work with minimal oversight while investigating a problem and scoping out possible solutions as well as knowing when it’s time to bring problems back to the team for help or a second opinion.
• Ability to clearly communicate technical issues from users to IT staff elsewhere at Duke.
• Ability to work with a wider variety of stakeholders and respectfully share knowledge and skills.
• Flexibility and adaptability for changing priorities and requirements.

An ideal candidate will have experience and/or interest in the following areas:

• Familiarity with academic HPC services and creating/managing tools that make management of these environments simpler. Python skills highly desired.
• Programming Skills: Proficiency in a mulitples programming language such as Python, R, Julia, C, or Fortran and experience with parallel computing frameworks (e.g., MPI, OpenMP) and version control systems.
• High-Performance Computing: Strong background in utilizing HPC resources and familiarity with cluster computing, grid computing, machine learning or cloud computing platforms.
• Experience working directly with research pipelines or as an IT admin in support of similar environments.

Working Conditions:

Occasionally required to work outside of normal business hours for planned activities, and rarely, may be contacted during off hours.

Currently the position may work remotely or at our Durham, NC location. In the future, the role may transition to a hybrid requirement with some days required on site.

Job Code: 00002423 ANALYST, IT
Job Level: C

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

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