HPC Linux System Administrator

Mclaurin Aerospace • Houston, TX

4d • Onsite

About The Position

McLaurin is hiring an HPC Linux System Administrator for its JETS II contract team at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The role supports the Flight Simulation Laboratory (FSL), a primary JSC compute lab supporting analyses across NASA human-spaceflight programs, including the International Space Station, Orion, Space Launch System, Commercial Crew Program, Human Landing System, and Moon Base. FSL operates more than 700 machines, 26,000 cores, and over 10 PB of storage for more than 1,000 users.

Working with a team of HPC System Administrators, the position builds and maintains FSL services. The work encompasses HPC administration, high-end Linux workstation administration, high-speed networking, and high-speed parallel filesystem administration. The role calls for a deep understanding of container technologies and their effective use in HPC environments. The system administration team supports users by investigating system problems, proactively monitoring system health, and helping users effectively use the systems to support NASA's human spaceflight mission.

The position has been posted at multiple levels; candidates may be considered at any advertised level based on experience, requirements, and business needs. U.S. citizenship and the ability to pass a comprehensive security background investigation are required.

Requirements

• Typically requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent certification in a related area.
• At least 5 years of experience in the field or a related area.
• Experience with Linux system administration.
• Experience with system configuration management.
• Experience with container-based HPC workflows.
• Experience with complex CI/CD workflows.
• Experience administering HPC job schedulers.
• Experience with large-scale system administration, including 2 years in HPC administration.
• Demonstrated problem-solving, planning, and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a team environment.
• U.S. citizenship.
• Ability to pass a comprehensive security background investigation.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with RedHat-based systems.
• Familiarity with container technologies such as Docker, Podman, and Apptainer.
• Familiarity with Lustre high-speed parallel filesystems.
• Familiarity with InfiniBand.
• Familiarity with Ansible and Foreman.
• Familiarity with the SLURM resource manager.
• Familiarity with the SPACK software manager.
• Familiarity with log consolidation and monitoring.
• Familiarity with Git/GitLab and software development, including CI/CD.
• Familiarity with the Johnson Space Center campus network.
• Familiarity with NASA security mechanisms, including security plans, POAMs, ATOs, and risk assessments.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain FSL services.
• Administer high-performance computing systems.
• Administer high-end Linux workstations.
• Administer high-speed networking and high-speed parallel filesystems.
• Investigate system problems and proactively monitor system health.
• Work with FSL users to help them effectively utilize the systems in support of NASA's human spaceflight mission.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Positive work-life balance
• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision, life, accidental death and dismemberment, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance
• 11 paid holidays annually
• Generous PTO
• 401(k) after 12 months of service with employer match
• Education assistance
• Relocation assistance, if applicable

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level