Director - Research Computing Core Labs

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Position Summary

The KAUST Research Computing Core Labs (RCCL) include the Supercomputing Core Lab (KSL) and Visualization Core Lab (KVL) with a current total of 23 professional staff working together and operating world-class advanced research computing and visualization systems and services.

The RCCL Director will be responsible for the new "Shaheen III" supercomputer, a HPE Cray EX system designed as a hybrid CPU-GPU machine using the latest processor technology to enable science in all areas KAUST operates. KSL also operates a second built-in-house computing cluster infrastructure (named "Ibex") capable of more adaptable configurations for specialty computing requirements. KSL computing resources are unique in the Middle East and support researchers at KAUST as well as industry and academic partners in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and around the world.

The Shaheen III supercomputer is part of KAUST's new strategy for national and international impact and leadership. The strategy, unveiled in June 2023, highlights translational research and practical applications of scientific discoveries as one of its main objectives. KAUST computing and visualization resources are a key instrument to enable the development and application of new artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, climate models, weather simulations, seismic analysis and reservoir engineering, clean combustion and new fuels research, biomolecular and chemistry simulations and visualizations, ocean circulation studies, among many applied research fields

The RCCL Director will work with KAUST faculty and leadership, as well as national entities and the Research, Development, and Innovation Authority (RDIA) to develop, implement, and maintain KAUST scientific computing strategy, including planning for future large-scale systems and services. The RCCL Director is a member of the management team for the KAUST Core Labs, which employs over 200 science professionals in support of some of the world's best academic facilities spread among ten laboratories.

The Director will have responsibility for all aspects of leadership of RCCL, including strategy, personnel, planning, budgeting, maintenance contracts, end-user support, and reporting. The candidate must have a demonstrated ability to maintain a very high quality of service in a diverse university environment on par.

Major Responsibilities

• Foster scientific collaborations on campus and at national/regional/international levels, including with in-Kingdom organizations such as RDIA, KACST, SDAIA, Aramco, SABIC, etc.
• Manage, mentor and develop an established and experienced team of staff consisting of HPC systems administrators, computational scientists, visualization scientists, and data scientists.
• Promote and propose staff-faculty collaborations and be responsible for building relationships with internal KAUST stakeholders.
• Oversee administrative matters of RCCL, to include budgetary, headcount, maintenance contracts and external service providers.
• Oversee, in collaboration with IT, Information Security, and General Counsel departments, all aspects related to export control regulations that affect the access and operation of RCCL computing infrastructure.
• Work with the institutional Research Computing Allocation Committee (RCAC) to develop, manage, and implement the allocation process and procedures.
• Professional presentation and promotion of KSL and KVL, and other Core Labs.
• Responsible to ensure staff are properly trained, and KSL and KVL facilities are operating in a safe and effective manner.
• Ensure the labs maintain high customer service standards in dealing with and responding to user issues and questions.
• Be a collegial and effective Core Labs management team member.
• Maintain a respectful and collaborative working environment within the laboratory.
• Maintain scientific, technical and professional currency through collaboration, practice, training, conferences, independent learning, and other means.
• Track lab trouble reports and tickets, reviewing for timely and accurate resolution, and watching for emerging issues or problematic trends.
• Escalate risks and issues to Core Labs management and senior university leadership when required.
• Maintain a broad knowledge of state-of-the-art computer technology, equipment, and systems with emphasis on high performance computing and visualization, cultivating an active network of international peer organizations and experts that serve as external advisors when required.
• Foster individual and/or group instruction and training on topics of interest to the user community.
• Exhibit basic scientific literacy for the areas under investigation within the laboratory.
• Represent the laboratory in campus forums, such as presentations to KAUST leadership and technical coordination meetings with other technology-focused units.
• Assess and evaluate activities on laboratory systems, to insure high levels of availability and utility.
• Nurture and maintain relationships with major users and other stakeholders, including for development of external funding. Identify grant/project extensions and persuade customers/grantors to fund, impact customer decisions and strategies.
• Work flexible hours as needed
• Travel occasionally to represent RCCL and/or Core Labs and engage in collaborations.
• Other duties as assigned by the Core Labs Director or university leadership.

Personal Requirements

• Provides visionary and inspiring leadership of RCCL and KAUST in all research computing areas in line with university strategic objectives.
• Effectively supervises and mentors RCCL staff members.
• Determines when issues should be escalated to a higher level.
• Interacts with, motivates, and influences laboratory team members to achieve challenging goals and provide impact for RCCL and KAUST.
• Must have working level contact with users, suppliers and other stakeholders.
• Is familiar with international best practices regarding resource allocation processes for high performance computing infrastructure.
• Demonstrates an analytical and systematic approach to problem solving.
• Takes initiative in identifying and negotiating appropriate development opportunities.
• Demonstrates effective communication skills in written and oral English.
• Contributes fully to the work of peer teams.
• Plans, schedules, and monitors the work of self and others to ensure high quality, adherence to deadlines, and operating within scope and budget.
• Absorbs and applies technical information.
• Appreciates the wider field of information systems and computationally based research, and how KSL, KVL, and Core Labs relate to other roles and to the business of KAUST, users, and collaborators.
• Works successfully in a highly collaborative research environment.
• Strong knowledge of laboratory applications, software, and tools.
• Strong leadership skills in scientific research projects.
• Knowledge of laboratory systems and applications.
• Budgetary responsibility, including all aspects of planning, execution, and compliance
• Able to work with complex and diverse systems for budgeting and accounting, reporting, procurement, human resources, and other KAUST functions.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering or computational/simulation related fields.
• Strong demonstrated understanding of theory and infrastructure for computational and visualization resources.
• Minimum of 10 years of management experience in running an infrastructure-intensive centralized facility.
• A good balance between technology and management skills.

Experience

• Experience in management in a world-class high performance computing environment, including user and system support.
• Experience in using advanced research computing and visualization systems, software, services.
• Knowledge of one or more areas of computational science, engineering or analysis.

Seniority level

• Seniority levelDirector

Employment type

• Employment typeFull-time

Job function

• Job functionResearch, Engineering, and Information Technology
• IndustriesHigher Education

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