Manager, Cloud & Research Computing Platforms

Manager, Cloud & Research Computing Platforms

The MANIAC Lab, within the Enrico Fermi Institute of the Physical Sciences Division at the University of Chicago, designs, deploys, and operates advanced cyberinfrastructure in support of forefront particle physics research. This platform supports more than 500 ATLAS physicists and serves as a national testbed for high-bandwidth analysis workflows and emerging AI-augmented research methodologies.

As Manager, Cloud & Research Computing Platforms, you will report directly to the Principal Investigator of the MANIAC Lab and lead a technical team of systems administrators and research software engineers. In this role, you will develop high-level programmatic plans across multiple workstreams and translate them into detailed technical roadmaps for the Lab's systems engineering efforts. You will collaborate extensively with the U.S. ATLAS Computing operations program, the international ATLAS software and computing community, IRIS-HEP partners, and IT teams within the Physical Sciences Division.

Success in this position requires advanced technical depth, strong communication skills, and disciplined organizational capabilities to address complex cyberinfrastructure challenges and ensure reliable operations. You will guide the Lab's research and development agenda for computing facilities, advancing the transition from traditional HTC architectures to modern cloud-native systems, federated operational models, and AI-assisted monitoring, diagnostics and facility operations. Your leadership will be instrumental in shaping a forward-looking R&D program designed to meet the evolving demands of the HL-LHC.

Responsibilities include:

• Leading the MANIAC Lab's distributed computing and IT systems team, which is comprised of systems administrators and software engineers, overseeing Linux systems, cloud-native services, storage, networking, and cybersecurity.
• Supporting team development through training, mentorship, and continuous learning opportunities.
• Developing clear technical plans, team goals, and operational milestones across all Lab-supported computing platforms.
• Partnering with the Principal Investigator to implement strategic upgrades and ensure reliable, efficient operation of the Lab's cyberinfrastructure.
• Guiding modernization efforts, including automation, cloud-native adoption, and improved data-delivery workflows.
• Collaborating with U.S. ATLAS, IRIS-HEP, and University partners to support shared operations and expand research capabilities.
• Monitoring system performance and applying proactive measures to improve reliability and scalability.
• Engaging with researchers to understand computing needs and deliver solutions that support data-intensive science.
• Ensuring adherence to best practices for network operations and cybersecurity.
• Managing a single team's progress by maintaining accurate and up-to-date logs, ensuring that all projects have the necessary management oversight and approvals for successful completion.
• Ensuring the implementation of approved best practices and information technology policies that result in the highest quality systems administration.
• Managing the creation of standards and procedures to maintain production servers that run the operating system. Managing the installation, configuration, and maintenance of operating systems and utility software.
• Performing other related work as needed.

Minimum qualifications include a college or university degree in a related field and 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline. Preferred qualifications include a bachelor's degree in computer science or related field in the physical sciences, experience managing large-scale computing systems in academic, research, or enterprise environments, and demonstrated leadership of technical staff and successful delivery of complex cyberinfrastructure projects.

Working conditions require presence on campus full time at the Hyde Park campus of the University of Chicago and the capability of physically setting up server and networking equipment within professional data center environments.