Hybrid Hardware & Software Support Engineer - HPC

About Bull

Bull is a story. One with a century of European innovation and a working environment where experts design powerful, sustainable, and sovereign digital solutions, enabling states and industries to retain full control over their data and their AI.

Bull is also thousands of engineers, researchers and passionate tech people shaping the future of high‑performance computing, AI, and quantum technologies.

Every day, our teams push the boundaries of what is technologically possible – from next‑generation HPC architectures to exascale supercomputers – supported by world‑class R&D, more than 1,600 patents, and unique end‑to‑end capabilities spanning hardware design, software engineering, data science and quantum research.

We are a people‑centric, innovation‑driven company, where collaboration spans Europe, the Americas and India. We share a common vision of a responsible and sustainable innovation that delivers concrete impact for our customers.

Location

Primarily on-site at a customer facility near Reading, Berkshire, with occasional support for additional HPC installations across Europe.
Requirement: Must be eligible for UK DV Security Clearance.

About the Role

Bull’s High-Performance Computing (HPC), Artificial Intelligence & Quantum Business Unit is seeking a Hybrid Hardware & Software Support Engineer to join our HPC Services team. This is a highly visible, customer-facing operational role supporting advanced HPC infrastructures in the UK.

You will work across computing, storage, and networking layers, ensuring the deployment, stability, and performance of large-scale Linux-based systems. While prior HPC experience is an advantage, it is not mandatory - strong Linux and infrastructure engineers eager to grow into HPC & AI are encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities:

Deployment & System Bring‑Up

• Install, configure, and integrate HPC cluster components (compute, storage, networking).
• Perform system installation, initial configuration, and operational readiness checks.
• Apply patches, updates, and conduct routine maintenance activities.

Hybrid Hardware & Software Support

• Provide Level 1 and Level 2 operational support for HPC environments.
• Diagnose and resolve issues involving:
• Linux operating systems
• Enterprise server hardware
• High-speed interconnects
• Storage subsystems
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions.
• Escalate appropriately within the global support organisation when needed.

Operations & Incident Handling

• Monitor system health and respond to incidents proactively.
• Perform troubleshooting in secure, mission-critical environments.
• Maintain detailed and accurate documentation of incidents and resolutions.

Customer Interface

• Act as the primary technical contact on-site.
• Communicate effectively regarding incidents, planned maintenance, and system status.
• Build trusted relationships with customer technical stakeholders.
• Represent Bull professionally in sensitive and high-profile environments.

Core Technical Skills

What you must know to perform the role successfully:

• Strong Linux expertise (RedHat and/or Debian-based environments)
• Solid understanding of enterprise server hardware (CPU, memory, storage, diagnostics)
• Scripting skills in Bash and/or Python
• Strong networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, routing, switching, security basics)
• Hands-on experience with infrastructure deployment, configuration, and maintenance
• Excellent troubleshooting and analytical abilities
• Proactive mindset and ability to work independently

Desirable Skills & Experience

Valuable, but not mandatory:

• Experience with HPC clusters
• High-speed networking (40/100GbE, InfiniBand)
• Virtualisation technologies (KVM, OpenStack)
• Storage systems (Ceph, SAN/NAS)
• Parallel filesystems (Lustre, GPFS, BeeGFS)
• Containers (Docker, Podman, Kubernetes)
• Configuration management (Ansible, Puppet)
• Monitoring and observability tools (Prometheus, Grafana, Icinga)
• Workload managers (Slurm, PBS Pro)
• Git version control

Candidate Profile

We are looking for someone who:

• Is hands-on, operationally focused, and detail oriented
• Thrives in secure, mission-critical environments
• Approaches troubleshooting methodically, even under pressure
• Communicates clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Takes full ownership of incidents through to resolution
• Is motivated to learn continuously and expand their technical expertise

Education & Experience

Option 1:

• Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field + at least 2 years of relevant experience

Option 2:

• 5+ years of relevant industry experience

Strong early-career candidates with solid technical foundations will also be considered.

Benefits:

• Working on advanced HPC and digital infrastructure projects
• Continuous learning and technical skill development
• Career growth within a global technology organisation
• Participation in internal initiatives and community-focused activities.

What happens next?

• Your application will be reviewed (1-2 business days)

• Short-listed candidates will be contacted for a discussion with HR 

• Interview with management team 

• Feedback (1-10 business days after the interview).

Join us!

Here, your ideas, your curiosity and your technical excellence directly shape the next era of advanced computing - unlocking enterprise value, accelerating scientific progress and driving positive impact for society.