Research Computing Facilitator

University of Oklahoma

Oklahoma, OK

ID: 7134579 (Ref.No. ta230676)
Posted: March 16, 2023
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

Job Description

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OU Information Technology (IT) is looking for a technical professional who has a passion for the higher education environment and wants to grow their technical career.

This is a remarkable opportunity to be a part of a service organization that directly impacts the work of researchers and educators at the University of Oklahoma.

The job function of a Research Computing Facilitator within the OU Supercomputing Center for Education and Research (OSCER), a division of OU IT, is to work with a diverse range of faculty, staff, and students, primarily but not exclusively in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines, helping them to make the best possible use of OU's research computing systems and services.

This person will work with researchers, educators and other team members both (a) to identify and resolve technical obstacles to the work of OU's computing-intensive and data-intensive research and education community, and (b) to facilitate the expansion of the ambition and impact of these stakeholders and their activities.

The Research Computing Facilitator will work with OU faculty, students, and staff to identify and understand research and education activities that can benefit from research cyber infrastructure, not only at OU but also at other institutions, for example at national supercomputing centers.

The Research Computing Facilitator will engage users to help develop and optimize workflows that effectively and efficiently use these resources.

The Research Computing Facilitator will also educate and train users regarding both longstanding and new systems and services, based on extant and emerging researcher needs and user experiences, working proactively to identify and develop the research
cyber infrastructure user community and to broaden engagement across OU.

The position will also involve exploring new opportunities/use cases and partnerships, assisting in grant proposal development, and presenting papers, talks, posters and similar content at local, regional and national meetings.

The ideal candidate for this position is curious, creative, tenacious, self-directed, and demonstrates a strong work ethic; is productive working independently as well as collaboratively; is analytical and able to identify, define, interpret, and resolve
both technical and human issues.

*Remote work options would be considered for this position*

Job Requirements

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Required Education: Bachelor Degree, AND:

18 months of experience with high performance computing (HPC)

Equivalence/Substitution: Will accept 48 months related experience in lieu of the Bachelor's degree for a total of 66 months related experience.

Skills:

Detail oriented for accuracy of data and information
Able to communicate well and build rapport quickly with students, faculty and staff
Understanding of multi-user computing systems, environments and networks.
Basic understanding of large-scale computing concepts, such as operating systems (especially Unix-like operating systems, including but not limited to Linux), interconnection networks, file systems, compilers, schedulers, and STEM research application software.
Ability to cultivate functional working relationships with faculty, researchers, students, staff, IT professionals, and other stakeholders, and to work constructively with those stakeholders to solve technical and research problems.
Ability to think creatively and innovatively about technical and/or nontechnical challenges and adapt to rapidly changing technology and requirements.
Ability to locate and utilize technical documentation and other resources related to technical challenges.
Ability to organize investigations into technical and/or nontechnical problems, collect information, and draw appropriate conclusions.
Scripting and programming skills.
Ability to support applications running in the cloud or on a massively parallel cluster architecture.
Ability to deal effectively with stressful situations, critical deadlines, and a user base with high service level expectations and a wide range of computer knowledge and sophistication.

Certifications:

None

Advertised Physical Requirements:

Ability to engage in repetitive motion and communicate effectively. Sit for prolonged periods.
Standard office environment.

Departmental Preferences:

Experience and proficiency with high performance computing or similar area of study
Experience and proficiency with using one or more Unix-like operating systems, for example Linux
Experience with research and/or practice in one or more STEM disciplines
Experience with GPU computing (for machine learning and/or for traditional floating point calculations)

Supervision: No Supervisory Duties

Special Instructions: If you are selected as a final candidate for this position, you will be subject to The University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Tuberculosis Testing policy. To view the policy, visit https://hr.ou.edu/Policies-Handbooks/TB-Testing.

Diversity Statement: The University of Oklahoma is committed to achieving a diverse, equitable, and inclusive university community by recognizing each person's unique contributions, background, and perspectives. The University of Oklahoma strives to cultivate a sense of belonging and emotional support for all, recognizing that fostering an inclusive environment for all is vital in the pursuit of academic and inclusive excellence in all aspects of our institutional mission.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: The University of Oklahoma, in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, age, religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This includes, but is not limited to, admissions, employment, financial aid, housing, services in educational programs or activities, and health care services that the University operates or provides.

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