We are looking for someone with strong system administration, web development, backend, and data science skills interested in working on exciting science research projects.  Be a part of addressing the next generation of science research problems. High quality, secure data frameworks, user interfaces, and tools are now critical to all areas of scientific investigation.  

The Data Science and Technology (DST) Department, in the Computational Research division (CRD) at Berkeley Lab –develops software and tools to enable scientists to address complex and large-scale computing and data analysis problems beyond what is possible today. DST engages in partnerships with scientists to understand their computing and data analysis challenges to develop leading-edge solutions that fit the needs of the scientists. Current research areas and projects include workflow tools, user-level abstractions for exascale data discovery, development of new techniques to secure power grids and high-performance computing and networking environments, computationally driven discovery of new materials, and processing pipelines for astronomical data. More details on projects available on http://dst.lbl.gov.  

The Data Science and Technology (DST) department in the Computational Research Division has an immediate opening for a Computer Systems Engineer (CSE), who will join the research and development team on a wide array of research and development projects, including developing systems and supporting data analysis pertaining to cybersecurity for scientific systems, the electric power grid, sensor networks, and a variety of other domains.  This position will involve work in a results-driven research environment on a wide array of user-facing software development and data science problems. This position will be filled at the level II or III, dependent on experience.

Classification will depend upon the applicant's level of skills, knowledge, and abilities.

What you will do:

• Enable scientific research by developing solutions for identifying misuse of high-performance computing systems; leveraging secure, data provenance techniques (e.g., blockchains) to enable strong, understandability of computational behavior; and developing usable security solutions that still allow scientists to understand and use computing systems efficiently.

• Enable more reliable functioning of the power grid in the context of cyber-attacks through the improvement of key aspects of sensor data analysis and network monitoring of cyber-physical systems controlling the power grid.

• Work with project team to install, configure, utilize, and test various aspects of the database back ends, messaging libraries, and network intrusion detection systems (such as the Bro Network Security Monitor), and other tools to capture, merge, analyze, and store sensor information, network traffic, HPC systems-behavior and other types of data to in scientific computing and power analysis environments.

• Collect, manipulate, and analyze data related to scientific computing systems and power grid related behavior.

• Enable more reliable distribution of power in the context of cyber-attacks through the improvement of key aspects of network monitoring systems to cyber-physical systems.

• Provide input to scientific research papers suitable for submission to peer-reviewed computer science venues.

• Work closely with researchers and application scientists throughout the DOE Office of Science community, with faculty and students from universities throughout the world, with staff in Integrated Data Frameworks group at LBNL, where this position is housed; the Energy Sciences Network (ESnet); the NERSC production computing facility; and other DOE Leadership Computing Facilities.

• Conduct continuous testing and integration.

Additional Responsibilities (applicable to classification):

• Coordinate and/or lead the development and science teams on requirements and features.

• Participate and coordinate the software development process for the teams.

• Present to audiences within and outside the lab.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) and five years of related experience; at least three years’ experience as a software engineer.

• Experience with key tools used in scientific data discovery, such as Jupyter notebooks, Spark, and/or related software systems.

• Proficiency and experience with messaging libraries such as RabbitMQ, and both SQL databases, such as PostgreSQL, and NoSQL databases, such as Cassandra and Elasticsearch, and C/C++/Python APIs for various such libraries and databases, including theory and use.

• Proficiency programming in at least two of: Python, C/C++, Go, Java, JavaScript.

• Proficiency with web services technologies and REST.

• Advanced proficiency with UNIX tools, and source code version control.

• Solid theoretical understanding of network protocols.

• Basic proficiency with Windows tools.

• Able to think and work independently.

• Excellent English written and oral communication.

• Strong interpersonal skills for working in a diverse team environment.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience leading a team of developers, or extensive experience acting as an independent and self-directed member of a large development team.

• Demonstrated experience with the entire software development process, from requirements through design to implementation and deployment.

• Able to lead small to medium sized developer teams to accomplish project goals through structured software development, testing, and evaluation processes.

Additional Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) and three years of related experience as a software engineer; or PhD (or equivalent) involving substantial doctoral work focusing on software infrastructure development.

• Experience with the state of the art for computer and network security.

• Proficiency with network monitoring and packet analysis with Wireshark and related tools.

• Experience with configuring and writing signatures for intrusion detection systems such as the Bro Network Security Monitor.

• Experience with cloud platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and/or Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

• Experience with power engineering and power-related data.

• Knowledge of principles pertaining to fault-tolerant, replicated state machine techniques, such as Paxos and Byzantine fault tolerance

• Experience with real-world agile build, test, and deployment practices.

Notes:

• This is a  full time, 1-year term appointment with the possibility of extension or conversion to Career appointment based upon satisfactory job performance, continuing availability of funds and ongoing operational needs.

• Classification will depend upon the applicant's level of skills, knowledge, and abilities. (For dual postings - add this to the position summary at the end of the paragraph) This position will be filled at the Computer Systems Engineer .2 or Computer Systems Engineer .3 level, dependent on experience.

• Work Schedule: Full-time, M-F, exempt (monthly paid) from overtime pay.

• Salary is commensurate with experience.

• This position may be subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.

• Work will be primarily performed at: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA.

Berkeley Lab (LBNL) addresses the world’s most urgent scientific challenges by advancing sustainable energy, protecting human health, creating new materials, and revealing the origin and fate of the universe. Founded in 1931, Berkeley Lab’s scientific expertise has been recognized with 13 Nobel prizes. The University of California manages Berkeley Lab for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. Berkeley Lab is in compliance with the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision under 41 CFR 60-1.4.  Click here to view the poster and supplement: "Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law."