Senior Research Cloud Computing Architect and Engineer at Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California

Job Description:

The Salk Biocomputation Initiative addresses advanced biological research's data-heavy demands. It involves managing and computing against large-scale datasets from genome sequencing, gene expression profiling, microscopy, and imaging using the commercial cloud and on-premises infrastructures. The initiative emphasizes machine learning and generative AI applications, heavily utilizing GPUs and CPUs. This role is part of a team focused on cloud computing strategy design and implementation and the software carpentry needed to create software containers to support scientists in transferring their workloads to the cloud. Salk’s Biocomputation infrastructure is hybrid, and this position will help support both on-premises (GPU, storage, data networks) and cloud-based infrastructure.

Responsibilities for this position include developing sustainable, long-term cloud computing and data storage training. The role supports researchers and facilities in expediting research objectives and leading to high-impact scientific peer-reviewed publications. Reporting to the Chief Information Officer, this position contributes as a subject-matter expert to the strategy guiding scientists in effective cloud computing and storage utilization.

More details on the science drivers behind this initiative can be found on the Salk website.

Who We Are

The Salk Institute is an internationally renowned research institution that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We seek bold and interactive leaders passionate about exploring new frontiers in science. Our collaborative community embraces diverse perspectives and unique life experiences, fostering innovation, and a sense of belonging. Together, we strive to improve the wellbeing of humanity through groundbreaking research.

Founded by Jonas Salk, developer of the first safe and effective polio vaccine, the Institute is an independent, nonprofit research organization and architectural landmark: small by choice, intimate by nature, and fearless in the face of any challenge. Salk's vibrant community comprises a diverse and talented group of individuals, each playing a crucial role in driving our mission forward. From visionary leaders to dedicated administrators and brilliant faculty members, the Institute is united by a shared passion for scientific exploration and innovation.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Cloud Design and Management

• Help design and operate the administrative aspects of the Salk cloud-based infrastructure, incorporating a landing zone that incorporates network design, security, redundancy, account management, and role-based permissions for use by researchers.


• Collaborate with researchers to get maximum computational and storage value by intelligently using cloud options, including public and private clouds such as Amazon Web Services, Google, and Oracle, and public sector infrastructure such as the National Prototype National Research Platform.


• Assist in maintaining and operating the Salk Science Network (SciNet) based on the Department of Energy’s Science DMZ to move data to collaborators and public and private cloud providers.


• Develop and maintain administrative dashboards to track cloud usage patterns, including tools for alerting on and/or interrupting anomalous workloads.


• Manage vendor relationships, cloud contractual agreements, and billing tools with cloud providers; provide the best value and efficiency in proposals.

Cloud Software Development

• Develop and implement agile approaches to dev/ops based within a software factory framework (to provide services to researchers to containerize scientific software and help build new workflows. Work with scientific users to create required software containers for their codes.


• Maintain and develop automation solutions for software repositories using GitLab.


• Prepare and maintain required documentation for software containers and related research infrastructure services.

Cloud Research and Infrastructure Support

• Support researchers and core staff and help implement custom computational pipelines utilizing the most appropriate cloud-based solutions for each project.


• Maintain a “cookbook” of existing research solutions that can be adapted to solve similar scientific problems.


• Provide technical support and troubleshooting for proposed research recipes and individual research user support to help resolve cloud-based computational and storage technical issues.

Cloud Technical Training

• Develop training resources to inform Salk scientists about cloud computing and research cyberinfrastructure solutions available through Salk.


• Participate in the design/presentation of cloud computing informational seminars and workshops.


• Build relationships and participate in communities of practice at Salk to help share best practices related to cloud-based scientific computing.

• Performs other related duties as assigned by management.

What we Require

Required:

• Bachelor's Degree (BA) from a four-year college or university, and a minimum of three years of related experience.


• Minimum four years of experience in cloud architecture, design, and development.


• Current hands-on experience providing modernization to a platform utilizing AWS.


• Minimum four years of direct software experience creating software containers, with a focus on Kubernetes and Docker.


• Minimum four years of experience and deep knowledge of Amazon Web Services (AWS) and their APIs, including popular storage, networking, security, and automated provisioning tools such as Terraform.


• Extensive knowledge of AWS cloud technologies, including but not limited to S3, EC2, ECS, RDS, Glacier, EKS, and EBS.


• Minimum four years of experience working with Python or other modern scripting languages.


• Demonstrated experience developing business models with a focus on costs for data storage, including the analysis of moving data to and from the cloud.


• Minimum four years of experience administering and working with Linux systems (CentOS/RedHat preferred), with a well-rounded knowledge of systems, networks, security, storage, and cloud products.

Preferred:

• Master's Degree (MA) or Ph.D. in computer science or other applied domain sciences (especially biological sciences) with a strong computational focus.


• Experience with bioinformatics pipelines, development of biological sciences software, or other scientific software development.


• Experience in an academic research or university environment.

What We Can Offer

The expected pay range for this position is $160,000-$200,000 per annum. Salk Institute provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the institute reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Benefits

Salk Institute offers competitive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, patient advocacy services, and transit/parking program.

Salk Values

The Salk Community, both scientists and administrators, worked together to define values that we believe support Salk’s pursuit of excellence. To be truly the best scientific institution requires not only incredible discoveries, but a common understanding of how we should work together to enable those discoveries.

The acronym “I CARE” provides a simple way to remember each of the values and reminds each of us of the importance of what we do each day.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal access to opportunities for students, employees, applicants for employment and other visitors. Salk has also adopted and maintains a policy to encourage professional and respectful workplace behavior and prevent discriminatory and harassing conduct in our workplace.

Accordingly, the Institute prohibits harassment and discrimination in employment on the basis of, and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to, actual or perceived race, color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status (disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era, other covered veteran status), political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.