Research User Computing Linux Specialist

About the Role

The Research User Computing Linux Specialist is responsible for designing, managing, and continuously enhancing KAUST's Linux-based user computing platforms. This includes maintenance of Ubuntu and Rocky Linux endpoints, physical scientific workstations, and virtual scientific desktop services. The position ensures secure, dependable, and high-performing environments for scientific desktops utilized by faculty, researchers, and students.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage, maintain, and optimize Ubuntu and Rocky Linux platforms to deliver secure and stable scientific workstations for academic communities.
• Standardize and develop Linux workstation builds and images for physical and virtual scientific desktops to guarantee uniformity and reliability.
• Administer remote scientific workstation services such as NICE DCV and Kasm Workspaces, facilitating secure and efficient remote research desktop access.
• Automate provisioning, configuration, patch management, monitoring, and compliance using scripting, configuration management tools, Infrastructure as Code, and GitOps methodologies.
• Diagnose and resolve complex issues with Linux endpoints, GPU and driver compatibility, remote desktops, identity management, storage, networking, and performance; escalate as needed.
• Integrate Linux workstations with enterprise IAM, storage, network, monitoring, security, and endpoint management systems to maintain compliance and operational reliability.
• Collaborate with faculty, researchers, students, labs, HPC, storage, security, and advanced computing teams to understand scientific workflows and develop sustainable solutions.
• Support installation, testing, and upkeep of scientific and research software on Linux platforms, ensuring compatibility, performance, and reproducibility.
• Implement and uphold security and compliance measures for Linux workstation environments, including patching, hardening, audit logging, endpoint protection, aligning with KAUST policies and frameworks.
• Create and maintain operational documentation, runbooks, user guides, dashboards, and service metrics to enhance support and drive continuous improvement.
• Assess emerging Linux desktops, remote access, virtualization, automation, and scientific workstation technologies to recommend enhancements for service quality.
• Perform additional relevant tasks as assigned within the employee’s expertise in the position’s domain.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, Engineering, or a related discipline is essential.
• Preferred certifications include Red Hat Certified Engineer, Linux Foundation Certified Engineer, LPIC, or equivalents.
• Formal training or certification in configuration management, automation, security, IT service management, NICE DCV, Kasm Workspaces, or comparable platforms is advantageous.
• Additional certifications in security, cloud, networking, or endpoint management such as Security+, CISSP, CCNA, ITIL, or equivalents are desirable.

Required Skills

• Advanced Linux administration and troubleshooting expertise, especially with endpoint, workstation, and scientific desktop systems.
• Proficiency in automation to minimize manual efforts through scripting, configuration management, Infrastructure as Code, and repeatable operational procedures.
• Understanding of scientific computing requirements, including GPU-enabled workstations, specialized software, reproducibility, performance, and secure remote access.
• Capability to diagnose cross-domain issues involving operating systems, drivers, remote platforms, identity, storage, network, security, and user configurations.
• Customer-focused approach with excellent communication skills to engage faculty, researchers, students, and technical teams effectively.
• Strong documentation skills and a commitment to creating runbooks, standards, support resources, and operational metrics supporting continuous improvement.
• Collaborative mindset to work well with platform, network, security, IAM, storage, HPC, vendor, and research support units.
• Awareness of security, compliance, audit standards, and operational risks within enterprise and research computing contexts.
• Ability to prioritize workload effectively under deadline-driven academic and research settings, ensuring service reliability and user confidence.
• Willingness and enthusiasm to learn and evaluate new Linux, remote workstation, automation, and scientific computing technologies.

Preferred Skills

• Practical experience with remote scientific workstation platforms such as NICE DCV, Kasm Workspaces, or similar technologies.
• Familiarity with GPU-enabled Linux workstations, NVIDIA CUDA environments, scientific software suites, and specialized research desktops.
• Knowledge of security and compliance frameworks like NIST 800-171, NIST 800-53, CIS Benchmarks, ISO standards, or institutional security policies.
• Experience working directly with academic and research stakeholders, vendors, and cross-functional IT groups to gather requirements and deliver sustainable solutions.