The Role

The Supercomputing File Systems Administrator, working under limited direction, is a specialist in supercomputing storage, networking and file systems. The supercomputing File Systems Administrator will be responsible for ensuring the security, performant accessibility and availability of data stored within the supercomputing capability.

This role operates and maintains supercomputing systems and infrastructure, typically with petabytes to exabytes of data under management. The supercomputing File Systems Administrator will work in a team environment to undertake the installation, operation and maintenance of networking and storage infrastructure.

They will provide supercomputing system administration and operational support, with the following key responsibilities:

• Responsible for a secure, reliable, and supercomputing storage and network service supporting Defence science and technology outcomes
• Perform supercomputing Linux system administration duties under limited direction, including storage systems, and associated high-performance network infrastructure
• Design, configure, operate and optimise high-bandwidth, low-latency supercomputing networking, including interconnects (e.g. InfiniBand or high-speed Ethernet), storage networks, and data transfer pathways
• Apply judgement and technical expertise to troubleshoot and resolve complex supercomputing issues, including those arising from interactions between storage, compute, and network subsystems
• Investigate faults and performance bottlenecks across storage and network layers, including throughput, latency, congestion, and data movement inefficiencies
• Maintain currency with emerging supercomputing technologies and best practices across both data management and high-performance networking, and apply these within Defence research environments
• Provide high-performance data services spanning parallel file systems, object storage, hierarchical storage management, and high-speed network access mechanisms
• Contribute to the management of large-scale scientific data throughout its lifecycle, including data ingestion, movement, replication, archiving, and access optimisation across networks
• Support secure network architecture design and operations, aligning with Defence security requirements, including segmentation, access control, monitoring, and auditability
• Contribute to security accreditation activities, including compliance with the Australian Government Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF) and Information Security Manual (ISM), particularly as they relate to data-in-transit and network security controls

About our Team

Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) hosts the Defence Supercomputing Capability, which provides Defence and national security agencies with a world-class, secure, multi-tenanted collaboration ecosystem at the scale of supercomputing. The capability enables Innovation, Science and Technology (IS&T) outcomes that support timely authoritative advice, allowing well informed decision-making through advanced modelling, simulation, data processing, artificial intelligence and machine learning.

The Supercomputing Branch covers the end-to-end management of the Supercomputing Capability including strategy, design, technology refresh and all aspects of operations from infrastructure up to user workflows, researcher training and support.

Supercomputing Infrastructure (SI) oversees the day-to-day operations of the data centre, including managing Supercomputing systems and networking. Their responsibilities encompass a wide range of tasks, such as installing, integrating, and maintaining SC systems, monitoring system usage, ensuring optimal performance and reliability, and collaborating with senior systems staff to meet researchers’ specific needs.

SI also configure batch queuing systems for parallel computing, collect system utilisation statistics, identify and resolve operational issues, and provide expert advice relating to computers, storage, networking, data centre facilities and interfaces (power and cooling). SI are required to undertake capability development, benchmark test suite maintenance and development, and participate in technical refresh activities.

Our Ideal Candidate

We are seeking applicants who have a technical background in supercomputing infrastructure, networking and/or data management. The right person will have an understanding and appreciation for the intricacies of managing high-performance data and networking services, including the secure handling of datasets within classified environments.

Ideally you will be formally qualified in engineering, information and computing sciences, or a related academic discipline, or have significant practical experience in infrastructure operations, networking and/or data frameworks.

This role has been identified as requiring access to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) controlled technologies. The ITAR is United States (US) law that controls the manufacture, sale, use and access of defence and military end-use articles on the United States Munitions List. It is the policy of the US to deny exports of ITAR controlled technologies to proscribed countries. This may also apply to access by persons who hold or have held a citizenship, or current permanent residency, of said countries. Defence utilises workforce mechanisms to mitigate these restrictions, which will require applicants provide details of all current citizenships and permanent residencies, as well as previously held citizenships. Defence collects citizenship details to confirm an applicant’s eligibility for the role and to maintain compliance with international obligations.

Application Closing Date: Thursday 23 July 2026

For further information please review the job information pack, reference DSTG/03381/26 on https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=4974777D-C9BA-1CBB-1313-ED07A7C13ED8