Linux Engineer - HPC

Linux (HPC) Engineer

We're seeking an experienced Linux HPC Engineer to join a university's Research Computing team, responsible for the architecture, build, and ongoing operation of a high-performance, GPU-accelerated compute cluster supporting research across the institution.

This is a hands-on opportunity for someone who has genuinely built and operated an HPC cluster before, to take ownership of a modern, high-spec, fully on-premises research computing environment — including GPU and AI compute infrastructure, InfiniBand networking, and a dedicated, highly automated Linux estate.

WHAT'S ON OFFER

• Perth based
• $125,000 Base + 17% Super
• Work on a modern, purpose-built HPC/AI compute environment (96-core, 1TB RAM nodes, GPU and dedicated AI Factory infrastructure)
• A team and environment run independently from the university's core corporate IT platform — genuine end-to-end ownership
• All on-premises, physically managed hardware — no cloud

THE ROLE

Working within the university's Research Computing function, you'll be responsible for the day-to-day build, operation, and architecture of the HPC cluster that supports researchers' compute needs across the institution. You'll be the technical owner of the environment end-to-end — from the physical hardware and network fabric up through the software stack researchers actually use.

Key responsibilities include:

• Build, operate, and maintain the university's on-premises HPC cluster, including high-spec compute nodes (96-core / 1TB RAM) and GPU/AI compute resources
• Administer and maintain high-speed InfiniBand networking and the dedicated network links connecting the cluster to the research computing team's environment, kept separate from the university's core platform network
• Design and maintain the software stack across the cluster to support a wide range of research workloads
• Use configuration management and orchestration tools (Ansible, Puppet, xCAT, Git) to drive a high level of automation and keep the Linux environment stable and consistent
• Administer resource/job scheduling tools to manage compute allocation across research users
• Act as the direct, user-facing point of contact for researchers, understanding their compute needs and translating them into working infrastructure
• Maintain documentation and operational standards (Confluence) across the environment
• Own Linux system administration, patching, and lifecycle management across all physical hardware
• Contribute to capacity planning and the ongoing architecture roadmap for the research computing environment

THE COMPANY

A leading Australian university with a strong research computing capability, running a dedicated, high-performance, fully on-premises compute environment to support research and AI-driven workloads across the institution. This team operates independently of the university's core corporate IT platform, giving this role real autonomy over a complex, all-Linux, high-performance environment.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 2+ years' experience having built and/or operated an HPC cluster in a production environment
• Strong understanding of how HPC environments are architected and operated end-to-end
• Deep Linux systems administration experience — this is an entirely Linux-based environment
• Solid understanding of high-performance networking, including InfiniBand
• Experience with GPU computing and AI/ML infrastructure
• Hands-on experience with configuration management and orchestration tools such as Ansible and Puppet (xCAT highly regarded)
• Experience with Git and documentation/collaboration tools such as Confluence
• Experience with HPC resource/job scheduling tools (e.g. Slurm, PBS, or similar)
• Strong networking and physical hardware fundamentals in an on-premises, no-cloud environment
• Strong communication skills — this is a user-facing role working directly with researchers on their compute needs
• Level 8 role — candidates should be operating at a senior/independent level of technical ownership

Please note: You must have Full Working Rights in Australia and be Perth based.

To apply, click the link and upload your current resume in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx), or send a copy of your CV to dash.mann@fullcirclepartners for a confidential discussion.

Please note: Only suitable candidates will be contacted regarding this vacancy.