Location:

Hybrid / Office in Barcelona [Spain].

Date of Publication:

02/07/2024

About Us:

The Centro Nacional de Análisis Genómico (CNAG) is one of the largest Genome Sequencing Centers in Europe.

The CNAG Consortium aims to carry out large-scale projects in DNA/RNA analysis for the improvement of quality of life in collaboration with the Spanish, European and International Research Community. CNAG researchers participate in major International Genome Initiatives such as the Human Cell Atlas (HCA), the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC), the International Human Epigenome Consortium (IHEC), the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC), the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) and the European Infrastructure for life-science information (ELIXIR), as well as in several EU-funded projects.

 The Role

The Senior System Administrator will join our IT Department, to work with our existing team to manage and improve our IT infrastructure, and to help us build the next computing solution to handle massive amounts of data. The ideal candidate will possess extensive knowledge of system administration, exceptional problem-solving abilities, and a proven track record of managing and optimizing complex IT infrastructure. This role specifically includes managing our state-of-the-art data center, which houses an HPC computer cluster with over 10,000 cores, 16 petabytes of storage, and high-speed networking capabilities up to 400 Gbps.

The Senior Systems Administrator will oversee full implementation projects from start to finish. This includes managing provider relations, creating and maintaining documentation, conducting validation and testing, and resolving complex technical configurations. The ideal candidate should have a robust background and experience in related technologies, with the ability to independently acquire any additional knowledge as needed. Furthermore, the candidate will be expected to contribute to continuous technical improvement cycles by proposing and implementing new designs and solutions. Additionally, adherence to procedural and standard policies such as ITIL and ISO 27001 is required.

The Team

The successful candidate will join the CNAG IT Department, coordinated by Dr. Gonzalo Vera, as a Head of IT. The team is part of the CNAG Information Systems Unit (led by Dr. Simon Heath), which currently has 3 members and offers continuous growth and support on a professional level.

The team works in a stimulating scientific environment, applying state-of-the-art technologies to breakthrough research projects in Genomics that have an impact on people’s health.

Responsibilities

System Management: Oversee the installation, configuration, and maintenance of servers, HPC compute clusters, networks, and related hardware and software.

Performance Monitoring: Continuously monitor system performance, identify potential issues, and implement solutions to ensure optimal performance of the HPC cluster and other critical systems.

Security: Develop and enforce security policies to protect the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data and systems, particularly within the HPC environment.

Backup and Recovery: Design and implement robust backup and disaster recovery plans to ensure data integrity and business continuity, focusing on the large-scale storage requirements of the HPC cluster.

Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve complex system issues, providing expert support to other IT team members and end-users, with a focus on HPC-related problems.

Automation: Develop and deploy automation scripts and tools to streamline system administration tasks and improve efficiency, especially within the HPC infrastructure.

Documentation: Maintain comprehensive documentation of system configurations, processes, and procedures, with detailed records of HPC configurations and optimizations.

Project Management: Manage full implementation projects from initial kickoff to production, including planning, execution, and delivery. Coordinate with vendors and providers, ensuring timely and successful project completion.

Mentorship: Provide guidance and mentorship to junior system administrators and IT staff, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

Continuous Improvement: Contribute to the technical continuous improvement cycles by proposing and implementing new designs and solutions.

Policy Adherence: Adhere to procedural and standard policies such as ITIL and ISO 27001.

Requirements

Education: Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field. Relevant certifications (e.g., MCSE, RHCE, AWS Certified SysOps Administrator) are a plus.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience in system administration, with a focus on enterprise-level IT environments. Experience with high-performance computing (HPC) environments is highly desirable.

Technical Skills:

Proficient in managing operating systems (Windows, Linux, and UNIX).

Strong knowledge of network protocols, firewalls, VPNs, and security best practices.

Experience with virtualization technologies (e.g., VMware, Hyper-V, Proxmox).

Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).

Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., PowerShell, Python, Bash).

Strong knowledge of programming languages, such as Ruby, Java, C#, etc.

Experience with configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, Chef).

Extensive experience with HPC systems, including job scheduling, performance tuning, and resource management.

Knowledge of parallel file systems (e.g., Lustre, GPFS) and large-scale storage solutions.

Understanding of high-speed networking technologies and configurations (e.g., InfiniBand, Ethernet).

Experience with open-source software (OSS) and tools commonly used in system administration.

Desired experience with bioinformatics tools or other processes dealing with large amounts of data.

Desired experience with analysis pipelines or any other multi-stage workflow managers.

Soft Skills:

Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Proven leadership and mentoring abilities.

Strong project management skills, including planning, coordination, and execution.

Demonstrated ability to independently acquire new technical knowledge as needed.

The Offer

Contract duration: Permanent Contract

Estimated annual gross salary: Salary is commensurate with qualifications and consistent with our pay scales.

Target start date: as soon as possible

Benefits

Highly stimulating environment with state-of-the-art infrastructures, and unique Professional Career Plan and development opportunities.

We offer and promote a diverse and inclusive environment and welcomes applicants regardless of age, disability, gender, nationality, race, religion or sexual orientation, in a collaborative and supportive environment.

We are committed to reconcile a work and family life for our employees and are offering the opportunity to benefit from annual leave, full health and dental Insurance, flexible schedule, and the possibility of remote work.

We look forward to receiving your application and discovering how you can contribute to CNAG's success! 

How to Apply:

All applications must include:

A complete CV including contact details.

Contact details of two referees.

Cover Letter.

All applications must be addressed to People Department – people@cnag.eu

Deadline:Please submit your application by 25/07/2024

Interview:Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview at CNAG on 25/07/2024

See the CNAG Career site at our website: https://www.cnag.eu/jobs

# sequencing for a better life