Senior Consultant - Storage Infrastructure and Systems Engineering

Requisition Id15194

Overview:

The Field Intelligence Operations Division invites candidates to apply to join the team as a Senior Consultant to lead and support initiatives aimed at improving the security, performance, functionality, and reliability of the NSSD HPC classified storage infrastructure. This includes supporting classified storage and systems infrastructure for several classified HPC systems. This position is ideal for a highly skilled, forward-thinking professional who thrives in complex technical environments, possesses excellent consulting and leadership skills, and can translate cutting-edge requirements into resilient and scalable systems. The successful candidate will serve as a trusted technical advisor, systems architect, and subject matter expert across multiple classified HPC and storage domains.

Join ORNL and help enable world-class science and innovation by building storage systems in support of National Security. This is your opportunity to work alongside global leaders in HPC and contribute to the development of new infrastructure supporting our National Security Missions.

As part of our team, you will be joining a vibrant group of professionals eager to provide premier customer service to ensure people and information technology remain secure. The team is collaborative and strives to ensure security practices and procedures are understood, implemented, and enforced. All team members deliver ORNL's mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by fostering a respectful workplace - in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation's most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

* HPC System Design and Architecture:

• Lead the design and deployment of HPC systems, ensuring they meet the computational needs and security requirements of a classified environment.
• Create and maintain detailed documentation of HPC architectures, configurations, and operational procedures.
• Lead and apply systems analysis techniques and engage with stakeholders to define hardware, software, and system functional specifications for high-performance and scalable storage solutions.
• Architect, design, document, and optimize computer systems and automation tools, including prototype development based on user/system specifications.
• Develop and maintain scripts and programs to support operations, monitoring, and automated administrative tasks.
• Provide senior-level guidance to establish technical best practices, performance standards, and operational procedures across the organization.
• Oversee and contribute to the configuration, monitoring, and enhancement of system performance using tools like Grafana, Nagios, and other metrics dashboards.
  
  
• Security and Compliance:
• Ensure all HPC systems comply with security policies and regulatory requirements, implementing necessary controls and conducting regular audits.
• Collaborate with the security team to address vulnerabilities and ensure the protection of sensitive data within the HPC environment.
  
  
• Performance Tuning and Troubleshooting:
• Monitor and optimize the performance of HPC data storage systems, identifying and resolving bottlenecks and inefficiencies.
• Identify and resolve complex issues, ensuring minimal downtime and disruption to critical operations.
• Analyze, troubleshoot, and resolve complex system and storage issues quickly and effectively in high-pressure production environments.
• Participate in an on-call rotation, providing 24x7 support coverage and contributing during off-hours maintenance windows.
  
  

• Collaboration and Leadership:
• Collaborate with scientists, researchers, and others to ensure that the HPC environment meets their computational needs.
• Mentor junior staff and contribute to professional development efforts by sharing knowledge and conducting technical training on complex concepts
• Coordinate with vendors and internal teams to resolve hardware and software issues and support life cycle planning.
  
  

• Continuous Improvement and Innovation:
• Research and remain informed of the latest advancements in HPC technologies, identifying opportunities for innovation and enhancement of the HPC infrastructure.
• Propose and implement improvements to existing systems and processes to support the evolving needs of the organization.

Basic Qualifications:

• MS degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 20+ years of experience in systems engineering, storage infrastructure, or related HPC consulting roles.
• 20+ years of experience working with the Intelligence Community (IC).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with advanced storage solutions and parallel file systems (e.g., Lustre, GPFS, or BeeGFS).
• Advanced knowledge of Linux operating systems, networked storage environments, and high-performance file systems.
• Experience with network protocols and technologies such as TCP/IP, InfinBand, and Fibre Channel.
• Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Bash, Python, Perl) for systems automation and configuration.
• Strong understanding of storage architecture and design principles, including parallel file systems, tiered storage, and data management.
• Familiarity with continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines and modern DevOps practices.
• Experience with version control and code collaboration tools (e.g., GitHub, GitLab) and code review workflows.
• Demonstrated ability to identify requirements, define system solutions, and deliver results with minimal supervision.
• Proven skills in project management, task prioritization, and effective time management in dynamic environments.
• Strong communication and leadership skills with the ability to interface confidently with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Passion for delivering scientific impact through innovation in storage and compute infrastructure.

Special Requirements:

• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
• Work may involve various physical requirements and working conditions.
• Q clearance with SCI: This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance from the Department of Energy. As such, this position is a Workplace Substance Abuse (WSAP) testing designated position. WSAP positions require passing a pre-placement drug test and participation in an ongoing random drug testing program. In addition, due the SCI, you may also be subject to random polygraph testing.

Benefits at ORNL:

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain dedicated people! The laboratory offers many employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to help you and your family live happy and healthy. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also provided for convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

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This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.