Research Infrastructure Engineer

Job Purpose This role sits within Research Computing as a Service (RCaaS), a brand-new function within the University of Glasgow, and key enabler for the creation and delivery of world changing research. RCaaS offers a wide range of computing services and support to researchers across the University. The primary responsibilities of the role are associated with the delivery of the Urban Big Data Centre (https://www.ubdc.ac.uk), a research centre and national data service funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. The Centre’s work draws on data and data science methods to explore issue of how cities function and prosper and how their residents behave and interact. The postholder will contribute to the development of overall Research Computing as a Service strategy for provision of research infrastructure engineering and related computing services. Within this project the postholder will be responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership related to the Centre’s infrastructure and services. This is expected to include specifying, setting up and administering systems and services, contributing to the development of Centre IT strategy and policy, and supporting the work of the Centre’s research and data science teams and external data service users. The successful applicant will demonstrate their experience and knowledge of specifying, deploying and supporting research computing infrastructure and services (including server, cloud and dedicated workstations) and will be committed to providing excellent support. Main Duties and Responsibilities 1. Contribute substantively to the development and implementation of IT-related strategy, policies and procedures for the project, making a leading contribution to the continual evaluation and enhancement of IT services. 2. In discussion with RCaaS and IT Services colleagues and infrastructure vendors, specify and establish project server, desktop and cloud IT hardware and software (including Windows, Linux, Azure) and related infrastructure, prioritising service quality, efficiency and continuity. 3. Engage with project stakeholders and RCaaS colleagues to develop and improve services and/or channel requests to relevant support providers, promoting and offering guidance and/or training on best practice use of IT, with a view to facilitating productivity and mitigating relevant risks. 4. Deploy and manage specialist desktop, server and cloud IT hardware and services (e.g, GIS, database, statistical, data mining, visualisation) for project stakeholders, offering services including but not limited to system specification, installation, maintenance, upgrade management, security monitoring and fault diagnosis. 5. Proactively identify, evaluate and issue recommendations for new and emerging technologies, tools or IT methods capable of enhancing the project’s approaches to the management and provision of relevant services. 6. In collaboration with RCaaS and wider IT Services colleagues, take steps to ensure the resilience of project IT infrastructure, including approaches to backup, redundancy and IT resource allocation and ensuring that systems are maintained to the appropriate level of system security (in accordance with the University’s information security policies and procedures) and patched based on systematic impact assessments and in accordance with vendor recommendations. 7. Maintain robust, exhaustive and accessible documentation capable of facilitating infrastructure continuity and/or reinstatement in event of system failure, data loss or staffing transition, meeting relevant regulatory, ethical or policy standards.
8. Maintain a close and proactive dialogue with relevant IT and Information Services stakeholders to ensure continuous understanding of relevant University IT policies, guidance and infrastructure that may impact on project and broker communications to facilitate IT technology and policy interfaces between the project and the University. 9. Maintain comprehensive registry of project IT infrastructure assets with details of deployment, usage and licensing, ensuring availability and accessibility of information to support related administrative functions. Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience Knowledge/qualifications Essential: A1 Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in a similar or number of different roles OR Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9, (ordinary/honours degree, Scottish Vocational Qualification level 4), or equivalent (including professional accreditation with relevant formal training), and experience of personal development in a similar or related role(s). A2 Extensive current knowledge of IT standards, systems and provision capable of supporting the secure and effective delivery of research and teaching within an academic environment. A3 Excellent technical knowledge across a range of IT areas with specialist in depth knowledge of Linux/Unix enterprise server technology. A4 Significant knowledge of virtualisation technologies including Microsoft Hyper-V. Desirable: B1 ITIL Foundation qualification preferably v3. B2 Significant knowledge of Microsoft Windows Server operating systems. B3 Knowledge of administering tools and technologies for big data management including Hadoop and SQL/NoSQL databases. Skills Essential: C1 Excellent shell scripting skills in e.g. Bash, PowerShell. C2 Excellent IT skills in hardware and software support and in the specification of IT infrastructure systems capable of supporting research outcomes. C3 Excellent interpersonal and communication skills both written and oral, and excellent service-oriented approach. C4 Excellent problem-solving skills with a particular aptitude for interpreting problems and projects and translating to appropriate, applied IT solutions. C5 Highly developed people, time, and project management skills. C6 Ability to work independently and as a member of a team. C7 Highly adaptable to changing technical systems and approaches. Desirable: D1 Ability to manage the deployment of containerisation technologies such as Docker. D2 Ability to demonstrate the application of orchestration skills such as Ansible. Experience Essential: E1 Significant experience in an IT related discipline preferably within a research or Higher Education environment. E2 Experience of multi-OS (inc. Windows and Linux) systems in the context of hardware support and server and IT infrastructure management. E3 Experience in development of IT systems and policies and contribution to IT strategy. E4 Experience administering and deploying cloud services. E5 Experience of managing complex IT systems within a University or comparable partly centralised environment. Desirable: F1 Experience providing end user computing support services. F2 Experience with publishing and/or administering web services. F3 Experience of information privacy and related legal aspects and implications for processing of sensitive data. Terms and Conditions Salary will be Grade 7, £38,474 - £43,155 per annum. This post is full time (35 hours per week) and is funded until 30th September 2024. As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity. As a valued member of our team, you can expect: 1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared. 2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages. 3 A flexible approach to working. 4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/. We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/. We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University. We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.