Linux Systems Administrator

Operate, maintain, and improve Linux-based research computing infrastructure, spanning HPC and GPU systems, servers, virtual machines, containers, storage integrations, scientific software environments, data-transfer services, and user-facing services. Deploy, maintain, and improve scientific web services and research platforms in collaboration with researchers, software engineers, and data specialists. Contribute to secure and reliable infrastructure for sensitive research data, including access controls, system hardening, monitoring, documentation, and compliance-oriented operational practices. Automate recurring administrative tasks and infrastructure workflows using scripting, configuration management, version control, and infrastructure-as-code practices. Monitor systems and services, investigate incidents, resolve operational issues, and contribute to continuous improvement of reliability, observability, and performance. Collaborate with colleagues across systems administration, scientific support, data management, IT security, and research software engineering. Support researchers in the practical use of scientific computing infrastructure and help translate research needs into robust technical solutions. Contribute to the evaluation and operation of new technologies relevant to research computing, including containerized services, GPU-based workflows, and emerging AI-related infrastructure.

sciCORE is the center of competence for scientific computing at the University of Basel, Switzerland's oldest university and one consistently ranked among the world's leading research institutions. sciCORE provides advanced infrastructure and services for more than 2,000 researchers, including high-performance computing, scientific data processing and storage, secure research environments, consulting, and training. The position is embedded in a collaborative technical environment responsible for operating and developing a research infrastructure comprising CPU- and GPU-based HPC systems, petabyte-scale storage, scientific web services, secure environments for sensitive data, and emerging AI-related services.

• Degree in computer science, information technology, computational science, engineering, or equivalent professional experience

• Strong hands-on Linux administration experience is essential. Experience in research or other complex technical environments is highly desirable

• Solid understanding of core systems administration topics, including networking, storage, authentication, monitoring, automation, troubleshooting, and security basics

• Experience in one or more relevant areas such as HPC, large-scale storage, virtualization, containers, configuration management, scientific web services, secure infrastructure, or GPU/AI infrastructure

• Good scripting and automation skills, for example with shell scripting, Python, Ansible, Git, CI/CD workflows, or infrastructure-as-code tools

• Ability to diagnose complex technical problems across systems, services, users, and infrastructure layers

• Ability to work independently, take ownership of operational responsibilities, and drive tasks to completion while collaborating effectively with the team

• Interest in supporting scientific research and working with researchers from diverse disciplines

• Reliable, structured, and service-oriented working style, with strong documentation habits

• Good communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively in an interdisciplinary technical team

• Fluency in English; German language skills or willingness to improve them are an advantage