Senior Computer Systems Engineer

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), a pioneer in research and science, has an immediate opening for a Senior Computer Systems Engineer (Science Engagement Engineer) for its Scientific Networking Division.

The Scientific Networking Division is home to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Sciences Network (ESnet), a premier high-speed network serving thousands of DOE scientists and collaborators worldwide. ESnet enables researchers at national laboratories and universities to collaborate in solving some of the world's most important scientific challenges.

You will be a member of the division’s Science Engagement Team. The group is responsible for working directly with DOE scientists to enable them to effectively utilize ESnet’s high-speed data transfer services for new scientific discoveries. These services support scientists to participate in worldwide collaborations and utilize world-class and geographically dispersed experimental and computing facilities for their science. 

This position will be hired at a level commensurate with the business needs; and skills, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. 

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate internally to plan and support a formal science networking requirements gathering program. This includes semi-annual technical reviews which allow ESnet to meet directly with DOE Office of Science program managers, Principal Investigators (PIs)/Scientists, Lab Information Technology Staff and Networking Staff, among other key ESnet stakeholder groups. The goal is to understand existing and future data needs that inform ESnet’s service and capacity investments. 

• Investigate opportunities to work directly with PI’s to provide direct design consultations of networking and compute strategies ensuring these experiments are equipped with effective networking services.

• Work directly to support a $3.5M National Science Foundation (NSF) grant with a focus on engaging application communities in gathering network/data requirements investigating service pilots that may extend ESnet’s footprint beyond its backbone services to directly serve experimental and computing facilities. 

• Collaborate across ESnet to improve internal partnerships and operations. 

• Participate in DOE initiatives, working groups, or other similar initiatives to pursue holistic data strategies that benefit all DOE Science Program offices.

• Contribute to and help execute an ESnet Event strategy. 

• Partner with other national and international Research and Education Networks (regionally, nationally, and internationally) to align engagement efforts. 

• Cultivate/support active cross-agency partnerships with other relevant US government agencies with similar engagement and service goals.

• Develop skills and work with team in identifying, classifying, and solving network performance challenges. Work will include development and leadership of technical workshops, seminars, technology network design consultations (including but not limited to networking, storage, and computational components), and coordination with national centers of excellence.

• Apply knowledge to help maintain and build ESnet’s technical leadership by collaborating on peer-reviewed technical papers, presentations, posters, and the development of peer-to-peer relationships with staff at other DOE sites and external collaborators including industry.

Required Qualifications:

• BS degree/MS a plus in Computer Science or Engineering or equivalent experience, and/or Scientific research background

• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience that bridges network engineering concepts with developing or supporting scientists in utilizing services to improve/augment their science workflows for accelerated results.

• Background or experience in working directly with researchers in support of their science discovery process. 

• Successful experience in developing high impact strategic projects that require building consensus among stakeholders including executive-level partners. 

• Experience in managing members of cross-team projects to a successful outcome.

• Demonstrated ability or desire to participate as a member of a geographically distributed organization.

• Proactively seeks initiatives that are aligned with organizational priorities and mission. 

• Able to make judgment calls that may require autonomous decision making.  

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, and have a customer-focus approach; excellent interpersonal skills; incredible comfort in presenting to an audience or in being mentored to be effective in this medium. 

• Maintain a work environment that embraces diversity, fosters creativity and innovation, and ensures compliance with DOE and Laboratory rules and policies.

• Domestic travel will be required. Some international travel may be required. 

Technical Skills 

• Understanding of computer operating systems and computer architecture, especially those aspects related to overall system performance.

• Knowledge of science workflows that include data acquisition, data transfer, compute and storage requirements.  

• Knowledge or experience with software development, network performance, information systems as they relate to service deliverables.

• Familiarity or experience with open source software and hardware approaches that support high-speed data transfer for science including data transfer nodes, GridFTP, network performance measurement, and related concepts.

• Knowledge related to the design and operation of LAN and WAN architectures; knowledge of common networking protocols (BGP, IP, TCP, etc.).

The posting shall remain open until the position is filled.

Notes:

• This is a career appointment.

• 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.

• Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA.

Learn About Us:

Working at Berkeley Lab has many rewards including a competitive compensation program, excellent health and welfare programs, a retirement program that is second to none, and outstanding development opportunities.  To view information about the many rewards that are offered at Berkeley Lab- Click Here.

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.