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Linux/HPC System Administrator

Argonne National Laboratory · Lemont, IL · $86,299–$134,626 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 24, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you automated a repetitive admin task. What tools did you use, and what did it save?

What they are checking: Whether they reduce manual work with scripting or config management rather than repeating fixes by hand.

Tell me about a time you had to explain a technical limit to a scientist who wanted something the system couldn't safely do.

What they are checking: Communication with demanding users while protecting system stability for everyone.

What would you do

You need to patch the clusters for a security issue, but beamlines are running experiments around the clock. How do you plan it?

What they are checking: Balancing security against uptime for users who can't easily reschedule beam time.

A data acquisition system on a beamline goes down in the middle of the night. What do you do first?

What they are checking: Priorities during an outage that directly costs users experiment time.

About the work

A beamline user says their jobs are stuck in the PBS Pro queue during their allocated experiment time. Walk me through how you troubleshoot it.

What they are checking: Whether they can diagnose scheduler problems quickly when real experiment time is at stake.

How have you administered IBM Spectrum Scale or a similar parallel file system? Tell me about a performance or availability problem you solved.

What they are checking: Real depth with GPFS-class storage, which the APS clusters depend on.

How do you troubleshoot an InfiniBand fabric problem, like a node that shows degraded bandwidth?

What they are checking: Hands-on knowledge of IB tools and fabric diagnostics rather than general networking knowledge.

What do you do to configure and keep GPU nodes healthy for ML workloads, from drivers to CUDA versions to monitoring?

What they are checking: Whether they can keep a GPU software stack stable while users need different versions.

Users need to move large datasets off site after an experiment. How would you set up and support Globus data transfer nodes?

What they are checking: Understanding of high-throughput data movement, which is central to a synchrotron facility.

How do you decide what to monitor on an HPC cluster, and how do you avoid alert fatigue?

What they are checking: Whether their monitoring catches real problems early without burying the team in noise.

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The full job description

As published by Argonne National Laboratory.

The APS Engineering Support Division (AES) provides reliable operations and technical support to the Advanced Photon Source user community. AES works to ensure that the Advanced Photon Source maintains its status as a preeminent scientific user facility. We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Linux/HPC System Administrator to manage and support the onsite HPC resources, beamline systems, and beamline services. Our administrators design, install, implement, and manage services running on Linux systems within our dynamic environment. The role involves maintaining and optimizing four unique HPC clusters, Globus data transfer nodes, GPU nodes, monitoring systems, IBM Storage Scale appliances, PBS Pro scheduler, and the support of data control and acquisition systems operating beamline experiments. The ideal candidate will ensure the reliability, performance, and scalability of our HPC and beamline infrastructure to support advanced computational workloads. Key Responsibilities GPU Nodes Administration: • Configure and maintain GPU nodes for computational workloads. • Optimize GPU utilization for machine learning, AI, and other GPU-intensive applications. Storage Management: • Administer IBM Storage Scale 6K appliances and Spectrum Scale to ensure high availability and performance. • Administer Nvidia InfiniBand switches and IB network to ensure high availability. • Monitor storage usage and plan for capacity upgrades as needed. Beamline Support: • Provide advanced level support to Advanced Photon Source Xray Science Division beamline computers, storage, and their associated networking on Linux. • Provide second level technical assistance for beamline user support and problem resolution. • Implement software and hardware installation and configuration for computers along with network troubleshooting. Monitoring & Visualization: • Maintain monitoring tools such as Grafana to track system health and performance. Job Scheduling: • Manage and optimize PBS Pro scheduler installations for efficient job queuing and resource allocation. • Troubleshoot scheduling issues and implement policies to improve throughput. Documentation & Reporting: • Maintain detailed documentation of system configurations, processes, and procedures. • Generate regular reports on system performance, utilization, and incidents. Collaboration & Support: • Work closely with researchers, developers, and other stakeholders to understand their computational and experimental needs. • Provide technical support and training to users of the HPC systems. Security & Compliance: • Implement security best practices to protect sensitive data and computational resources. • Ensure compliance with organizational policies, industry standards, and government regulations. May be required to perform other duties as assigned. Position Requirements • To perform the essential functions of this position, successful applicants must provide proof of U.S. citizenship, which is required to comply with federal regulations and contract. • Minimum Education and Experience Requirements: Bachelors and 4+ years’ experience, Masters and 2+ years’ experience, or equivalent • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field. • 2+ years of experience in HPC systems administration or a similar role. • Proficiency in Linux/Unix system administration. • Experience with Globus, GPU nodes, and HPC cluster management. • Experience with IBM Storage Scale or GPFS. • Familiarity with PBS Pro scheduler and job queuing systems. • Hands-on experience with monitoring tools like Grafana. • Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills. • Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities. • Attention to detail and commitment to quality. • Ability to model Argonne’s core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork. • Interpersonal skills, oral and written communication skills, and ability to interact with people at all levels both within and outside the laboratory. Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Experience • Master's degree in a relevant field. • Certifications in HPC, Linux, or storage technologies. • Experience with scripting languages (e.g., Python, Bash) for automation. • Knowledge of networking protocols and security practices. Work Environment • Office-based with on-site work at HPC facilities. • May require after-hours support for critical issues. Job Family Professional Technical (PT) Job Profile Systems Integration Admin/Support 3 Worker Type Regular Time Type Full time The expected hiring range for this position is $86,299.00 - $134,626.05. Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package. Click here to view Argonne employee benefits! As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law. Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department. All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis. Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements. Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.

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