DIRECTOR, HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

Sanford Burnham Prebys is much more than a research facility and hub for innovation; it’s a vibrant global community of talented scientists and researchers from over 30 countries. This worldwide representation enriches our perspectives and enhances our creative approach to solving complex scientific challenges.We strive to be leaders not only in biomedical research but also in creating an environment where excellence thrives through collaboration across cultures and backgrounds. Our mission is to advance the biomedical sciences by cultivating the next generation of scientific leaders, providing meaningful opportunities for researchers of all backgrounds to learn, innovate, and make breakthrough discoveries that improve human health.Together, we translate science into health.The duties and responsibilities contained in the job description are intended to be examples of the accountabilities for which the person in the position will demonstrate competency through performance. The job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Duties and responsibilities are subject to change and other duties may be assigned as necessary.PositionSummary:The Director of High-Performance Computing (HPC) will lead both the strategy and day-to-day operations of the Institute’s research computing environment. This role is responsible for delivering a reliable, responsive, and scalable HPC platform that directly supports faculty research, accelerates scientific discovery, and adapts to evolving computational needs. The Director will oversee HPC as a shared institutional resource, ensuring that faculty and research teams have consistent, high-quality access to computing services. The role will also implement a transparent and sustainable cost recovery model, enabling the Institute to support expanding computational demand through grant-funded research.Duties and Responsibilities:Operations & Service Delivery Oversee and be accountable for day-to-day HPC operations, ensuring high availability, performance, and reliabilityEnsure faculty have consistent, timely access to computing resources critical to their research workflowsEstablish and manage service levels (SLAs) aligned with grant timelines and research prioritiesImplement monitoring, incident response, and continuous improvement processes to support stable and predictable operationsDevelop and oversee user support services, including onboarding, training, and troubleshooting for faculty and labsManage capacity allocation and workload prioritization to reflect research impact and time-sensitive projectsContinuously improve system performance, usability, and accessibility from a researcher’s perspectiveStrategy & Planning Develop and execute a research-driven HPC strategy and multi-year roadmap aligned with faculty priorities and institutional growthEngage faculty to anticipate emerging computational needs (e.g., AI/ML, genomics, large-scale data analysis) and translate these into infrastructure and service requirementsEvaluate and recommend future-state architecture, including on-premise, cloud, and hybrid computing modelsEnsure HPC capabilities evolve to support increasing scale, complexity, and competitiveness of grant-funded researchDefine long-term investment priorities, capacity planning, and technology lifecycle strategiesPartner with Finance and leadership to align strategy with sustainable funding and recharge modelsBenchmark HPC capabilities against peer institutions to ensure competitiveness and research enablementIdentify and enact (jointly with faculty and other stakeholders) creative funding strategic to maximize HPC capacitiesTeam Leadership & DevelopmentBuild, manage, and mentor a high-performing HPC teamSupervise staff responsible for system administration, storage, and user supportClearly define ownership for operations, support, and infrastructure componentsFoster a culture of service, accountability, and responsiveness to faculty needsCollaboration with Central IT ServicesPartner closely with central IT to ensure HPC services integrate seamlessly with the broader technology environment used by facultyCoordinate on infrastructure critical to research workflows, including: High-speed networking for large data transfersSecure and accessible storage systemsIdentity and access management for research teamsBackup and data protection servicesAlign with institutional cybersecurity and data governance standards while ensuring ease of use for researchersServe as a bridge between faculty computing needs and enterprise IT capabilitiesFaculty Engagement & Research PartnershipBuild strong relationships with directors, faculty, lab managers, and research staffBe a trusted advisor helping researchers optimize HPC usage for scientific outcomesGather and incorporate faculty feedback into service improvements and operational prioritiesEnsure HPC services directly contribute to research productivity, grant success, and scientific outputTechnology & Vendor ManagementEvaluate technologies that improve research performance and operational efficiencyOversee vendor relationships and ensure cost-effective solutionsAssess cloud and hybrid HPC options to support both burst capacity and long-term scalingPerform other related tasks, duties and responsibilities as required, assigned or directed.Minimum Qualifications:Education:Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, Data Science, Computational Science, or a related technical discipline. Advanced degree in a related field preferred.Experience:10+ years of experience in HPC, research computing, or large-scale infrastructureExperience operating shared services with recharge/cost recovery models preferredExperience collaborating with central IT organizations in complex environmentsSupervision of staff and/or project teamsCertifications, Licenses, etc: NoneOther Knowledge, Skills and/or Abilities:Demonstrated ability to lead both HPC strategy and hands-on operations in a research environmentClear understanding of cloud-based, on-prem and co-lo HPC environmentsStrong expertise in HPC architecture (compute, storage, networking)Familiarity with federal grant cost principles (OMB Uniform Guidance) preferredProven ability to manage and develop technical teamsStrong communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts into research impactSupervisory Responsibilities:Direct: YesIndirect: NoWork Environment:The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. This is a hybrid position. When working on-site, the work environment is in a standard office setting. Frequently exposed to low to moderate noise, various odors, temperature changes, and equipment with moving parts, including but not limited to computers, phones, printers, and other standard office equipment.When working from home, you are responsible for ensuring a quiet, organized, and comfortable setting, free from significant noise or distractions. This role requires the use of standard home office equipment, including but not limited to computers and phones. As you may be exposed to minimal noise and temperature variations depending on your home setup, it's important to maintain a workspace that supports productivity and well-being. Reliable internet connectivity and a suitable workstation are essential to fulfill job responsibilities effectively.Physical Requirements:The basic physical requirements of this role are: Sitting, Standing and Walking: Ability to occasionally (up to 3 hours) walk and stand during their work hours, but will be sitting for extended periods (6 – 8 hours) daily. Bending, squatting, climbing, kneeling, crawling or twisting: The capability to perform these activities is generally not required.Lifting and Carrying: The capability to lift and carry equipment and materials is generally not required. Manual Dexterity: Simple grasping with their hand, reaching above their shoulder and fine manipulation of their hands may occasionally be required.Repetitive Motions: The repetitive use of hands daily, usually for keyboarding/typing.Visual Acuity: Ability to view paperwork and computer monitors as virtually all work will be on paper or online. Work Location: This is a hybrid position; candidates must be willing to work onsite in San Diego. Out-of-state applicants must disclose their willingness to relocate.Compensation: The expected hiring range for this position is $135,641.00 to $195,000.00/annually commensurate with relevant experience.We welcome talented individuals of all backgrounds regardless of gender, sex, religion, race, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, perceived disability, pregnancy, pregnancy-related condition, reproductive health decisions, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS, marital status, covered veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations. We are proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer.As part of this commitment, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If a reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact our Benefits Team at (858) 646-3100 or via e-mail at [email protected]