POSITION DESCRIPTION

Transcription

1 POSITION DESCRIPTION Psitin Title HPC Systems Engineer Reprts T HPCF Manager Functin IT Service Lcatin Wellingtn Rle Status Permanent Full-time Date Prepared July 2011 Purpse f Psitin The HPC Systems Engineer prvides expertise and services t help maximise the efficiency and effectiveness f the High- Perfrmance Cmputing Facility (a 58-nde IBM p575/p6 HPC) based at NIWA in Wellingtn. Under New Zealand s Natinal escience Infrastructure (NeSI) framewrk, this facility will be used by researchers bth within NIWA and the wider New Zealand science cmmunity as well as t run time-critical peratinal wrklads. The facility is likely t be dubled in size during Scpe The HPC Systems Engineer wrks as a senir technical expert in the HPCF Operatins Grup within NIWA s natinal IT Service, maintains a keen awareness f develpments in the science/hpc arena, and cntributes t strategies and plans t enhance the HPCF in particular and NIWA s IT services in general. The HPC Systems Engineer will wrk clsely with HPCF users within and beynd NIWA and as a trusted adviser t the HPCF Manager and the wider IT management team. Direct & Indirect Reprts The HPC Systems Engineer has n direct r indirect reprts but will be part f a team f tw HPC Systems Engineers and ne r mre HPC Scientific Prgrammers. Key Relatinships Internal HPCF users (and ptential users) in NIWA Operatinal Frecasting Manager HPCF Manager HPC Scientific Prgrammer(s) IT management and ther IT staff External IBM and ther supprt prvider(s) IBM Applicatin Prgrammers Natinal escience Infrastructure (NeSI) users Other HPCF users (and ptential users) beynd NIWA Peers in the science/hpc arena and the IT industry 1

2 Budget Accuntability & Authrities Budget accuntabilities The HPC Systems Engineer has n direct budget accuntability but wrks with the HPCF Manager and IT management t frmulate annual budgets (capital and peratinal). Delegated authrities The HPC Systems Engineer has n delegated authrity but may be issued a NIWA purchasing card fr day-t-day purchases (mst ften related t travel). Key Result Area Critical Activities Optimised HPCF services and systems Ensure that HPCF services are available t users at the agreed level f service thrugh apprpriate service design and administratin, Undertake and ptimise day-t-day system administratin f the HPCF and its resurces, including but nt limited t backups, resurce utilisatin, strage, system tuning. Maintain high levels f HPCF resurce utilisatin thrugh active management f the cmplex mix f time-critical peratinal and research jbs, autmating and streamlining wrklad management wherever pssible.. Establish mnitring, alerting, and reprting fr HPCF services perfrmance and resurce utilisatin t enable practive capacity planning and timely respnse t service issues. Identify and reprt n systems sftware and hardware prblem trends and suggest apprpriate tests and ptential slutins. Undertake prblem analysis and reslutin in accrdance with apprved Prblem Management and Change Management prcesses. Review diagnses f sftware/hardware failures and recmmended slutins. Research, design, specify, and plan the technical implementatin f new HPCF services and enhancements t existing services. Use the IT Service s shared tls t maintain up-t-date, accurate, and cmplete dcumentatin and cnfiguratin data fr HPCF services and systems, in accrdance with the apprved Change Management and Cnfiguratin Management prcesses, Ensure that all HPCF services dcumentatin is reviewed and understd by the HPCF Operatins Grup and thers rstered t prvide HPCF supprt. Secure and recverable HPCF services and systems Ensure all HPCF sftware (IBM and third-party) is up-t-date and practively managed including pre-release testing/validatin against peratinal systems as part f the apprved Change Management prcess. Ensure that HPCF services and systems: cmply with NIWA security plicies, including physical security; cmply with NeSI access and service plicies; have their data backed up and archived in accrdance with agreed plicies; maintain user identity infrmatin in accrdance with security and identity plicies, leveraging central and Natinal scale identity management whenever pssible; have adequate peer-reviewed disaster-recvery dcumentatin in the apprved repsitry. 2

3 Well-supprted and prductive HPCF users Supprt the Operatinal Frecasting Manager and assciated Science staff in the develpment, testing and deplyment f new and revised peratinal services, and ensure that the HPCF meets peratinal Availability requirements. Assist new users in gaining access and learning t use the HPCF. Prvide HPC-related IT Science interface supprt services, e.g., help with scripting, t HPCF end-users and HPC Scientific prgrammer(s). Implement and adapt cmplex perating system and related sftware t meet HPCF users needs. Participate in a rster that prvides Level 2 supprt fr 24/7 HPCF-dependent services. Depending n the number f staff rstered, this may be as high as ne week in tw. Standby and callut cmpensatin will be as per the relevant extensins t the cllective emplyment agreement. Respnd t escalated incidents in accrdance with their assigned pririty (based n impact and urgency). If necessary, escalate further (t HPCF Manager) t reslve cnflicts in pririty r resurcing. Use the IT Service s shared tls t track prblems and slutins, thus ensuring that the Service Desk is able t keep affected users infrmed during diagnsis and reslutin. Develp and maintain web based user-level dcumentatin fr internal and external users, including general HPCF descriptin, HPCF sftware user guides, and any status and usage reprts apprpriate fr users. A strng and beneficial supplier relatinship Mnitr all HPCF-related services supplied by IBM, recrding and reprting n supprt perfrmance and service levels t allw fr service credits t be claimed when due. Ensure that all elements f HPCF peratins meet agreed expectatins as specified in the HPCF Supply Agreement, e.g., envirnmental, systems management, mnitring and alerting. Specify the severity level f all System Incidents when lgged with IBM and mnitr and track prgress n all System Incidents thrugh t reslutin, escalating as apprpriate. Assist all IBM staff t fulfil their HPCF-related duties, e.g., IBM sftware engineers, hardware technicians, and applicatin specialists. Wrk with IBM t plan and implement sftware, firmware and hardware upgrades. Cntribute t IBM s maintenance f the Supprt Operatins Manual t help them ensure that it reflects the current state and cnfiguratin f the HPCF. IBM is the primary authr and cntrller f updates t this dcument, but the HPC Systems Engineer will likely prvide much f the material t be incrprated in this manual after the HPCF is peratinal at NIWA. Wrk with IBM t ensure the required HPCF sftware is installed, dcumented and practively managed. A prductive, cllegial, and resilient IT Service Maintain psitive relatinships with users and clleagues in the HPCF Operatins Grup and the wider IT Service, encuraging pen and cnstructive cmmunicatin at all times. Prmte the sharing f knwledge within the HPCF Operatins Grup and the wider IT Service and beynd. Use the IT Service s shared tls t share knwledge f HPCF services and systems, thus aviding sle expert status and helping t develp the technical expertise f thers. Visit ther sites t maintain understanding f the staff and systems based there. Cach and mentr less experienced clleagues t assist in their develpment. 3

4 Develp and deliver relevant HPCF training seminars/wrkshps. Cntribute t building and maintaining a psitive wrk envirnment and culture that enables NIWA staff t perfrm t their ptential. Well-infrmed planning and budgeting Actively cntribute t develpment f IT plans, technlgy radmaps, service designs, and annual budgets, prviding expert-level technical advice based n detailed knwledge f HPCF user needs and IT/HPC industry develpments and practices as well as NIWA s current infrastructure and services. Cntribute t negtiatin f service level agreements and underpinning cntracts fr HPCF-related services and systems. Research, prpse, and develp tls t streamline IT Service activities, especially in relatin t the HPCF. A safe and healthy wrkplace Take all practicable steps t ensure wn safety at wrk (including using suitable persnal prtective equipment). Ensure that n actin r inactin while at wrk causes harm t any ther persn Accurately reprt and recrd all incidents and accidents. Undertake Health and Safety training and ther specific safety training relevant t the rle. 4

5 Persn Specificatin Qualificatins A recgnised relevant tertiary qualificatin, e.g., in cmputing and/r ther sciences, and pstgraduate study r equivalent experience. Experience At least five years experience in the design, specificatin, implementatin, and peratin f services based n Linux and/r Unix, preferably with sme having been missin-critical services. Prir experience with AIX and relevant HPC and strage management sftware (e.g., GPFS, CSM, xcat, TSM, TSM fr Space Management, TWS LadLeveler) wuld be advantageus. Cmpetencies Cmmunicatin Skills Writes and speaks clearly and cncisely. Able t cnvey their ideas and seek relevant infrmatin frm thers effectively. Initiative Self-mtivated, practive, identifies pprtunities, willing t take n extra respnsibility. Able t wrk with minimal supervisin. Keeping Infrmed Maintains awareness f external events with implicatins fr their wrk. Ensures up-t-date knwledge and skills in their prfessinal area (e.g. membership f prfessinal bdies, cnference attendance, technical reading, training and develpment activities). Lateral Thinking Identifies new and different ways t perate. Sees numerus pprtunities and alternatives. Innvative. Results Orientatin Puts in the time & effrt, drives self & thers t achieve utcmes. Practive in setting & pursuing challenging gals & targets. Open Cmmunicatin Hnest and direct. Encurages infrmatin sharing & cnstructive debate. Willing t make requests, delegate tasks, and able t say n and accept n frm thers. Prblem-Slving Able t think critically and analyse data/situatins. Psitive apprach t slving prblems n-thejb. Can d attitude. Perseveres t find a wrkable slutin despite difficulties. Planning and Organising Thinks ahead and plans wrk s requirements are met. Priritises and manages time effectively. Well-rganised and systematic apprach. Quality Fcus Aware f quality requirements, cmmitted t maintain high quality standards, practive in taking steps t imprve quality. Technical Knwledge & Skills Pssesses required technical knwledge & skills t perate effectively in relevant specialist area. This will include knwledge f the principles and practices f systems and applicatin prgramming, HPC sftware and perating systems, and SPMD prgramming methds as well as relevant jb cntrl, scripting, and prgramming languages, including Frtran (77 t 2003), and/r C/C++. 5