Jobs @ CSC

Student Research Assistants

The University of Colorado’s Research Computing Center (RCC) is preparing to acquire a new supercomputer in late summer 2009 as part of the Campus Computing Initiative. The system will feature over 8000 processor cores, 100 TF peak performance, several hundred terabytes of disk space, and a dedicated 10Gbps wide-area network connection. The RCC is currently seeking qualified graduate and undergraduate students to join its high-performance computing system research and development team to prepare the software and infrastructure required to support its disributed computational environment.

The RCC has a variety of positions available involving Python programming, network administration, database development, system administration, and website design. Several areas of interest are summarized below:

1. Computer and Network System Software Development

Write Python scripts to automate the operation of a geographically distributed multi-cluster computing environment
Design, implement, and maintain databases to collect administrative and research data for automated analysis and plotting
Prototype the deployment of a WAN using in-house 10Gbps routers; write software to support remote management using established control interfaces
Deploy virtual machines to support persistent in-house services and provide a dynamic service hosting capability for external users

2. Supercomputer System Administration

Monitor the health of and perform preventive maintenance on several large cluster and supercomputer systems
Configure and maintain essential system services, such as e-mail, web, centralized logging, and centralized monitoring services
Install software packages and operating system upgrades
Provide e-mail and in-person support for a diverse user community

3. Grid Workflow Management

Write software using the Globus Tooklit to support executing millions of independent tasks on multiple supercomputing platforms
Design and implement a workflow processing system combining open-source software and custom components to automate the processing of ensembles of “many-task” computational jobs
Prototype an online web-based environment to support coordinating and managing many-task Grid computational job ensembles

4. Web Appliation and Website Design

Design a database-backed website using the Django framework to support automated user self-service management tasks, such as requesting an account and viewing allocation data
Implement website layout, functionality, and initial page layout and graphic design

To work with the RCC team, prior experience with high-performance computing is beneficial but not required. All positions require familiarity with Linux, and experience with shell scripting and SQL databases is helpful for system administration and research positions. Programming experience in at least one language, such as C, C++, Java, Fortran, Perl, or Python, is also required.

To apply, please e-mail your resume and cover letter to rcc-jobs@csc.cs.colorado.edu and make sure to describe the type of position for which you are applying.

All RCC student positions provide flexible hours up to 20 hours/week during the school year, full-time over summer, and pay $12-$18/hour depending on qualifications and experience. Nontraditional students are encouraged to apply.