System Administrator (Ops)

The University of Manchester

The University is a global institution known for innovation and world firsts, with 25 Nobel Prize winners. The computer revolution started here in 1948 when a machine known affectionately as ‘The Baby’, ran its first stored program. The celebrated wartime codebreaker Alan Turing worked on this computer during his time at Manchester.

The University has committed to becoming one of the world’s leading research institutions through one of the largest investments in facilities ever seen at a UK university, with £750 million spent so far and another £1 billion to follow.

Research IT (RIT) and the Research Platforms Team

The research community at the University carries out world-leading research in many areas — beacons include advanced materials, industrial biotechnology and cancer treatments. RIT is a fast growing, can-do group within IT Services (ITS) which delivers specialist, e-research capabilities which are critical to the success of that research.

This role is within the Research Platforms Team, around 25 technical IT specialists — and growing — many with a research background themselves. We develop and support e-infrastructure platforms for the University research community including: high-throughput (HTCondor) and high-performance (HPC) computing; a dedicated research VM platform; data management and storage; edge computing; and highly-secure platforms for hosting/processing sensitive data. Provision is via both on-site hardware and use of off-site, commercial cloud resources (e.g., AWS).

About This Role

The successful candidate will lead on the technical development and support of a new secure research data platform, and potentially others, similar to the Data Safe Haven (https://ri.itservices.manchester.ac.uk/dsh/). In particular:

• they will lead in architecting, testing and delivering a secure research data storage and processing environment for data classified as highly restricted.
• the environment will enable the provisioning and management of secure Linux and Microsoft Windows VMs at scale.
• the environment will support a mechanism for secure ingress and egress and seek to align with the Trusted Research Environment specification (https://satre-specification.readthedocs.io/en/stable/).
• the candidate will develop the documentation and processes required for operational maintenance and alignment with internal and external technical security standards.
• It is expected that the role will be approximately: 70% technical; 30% operational support and engagement with the research community. To find out more you are strongly encouraged to contact Danielle.Owen@Manchester.ac.uk.

You Will Have — Essential:

• Previous relevant work experience.
• Knowledge and experience administrating virtualisation platforms (e.g., VMware, Nutanix, OpenStack and Proxmox).
• A good working knowledge of: Network essentials (TCP/IP, firewalls, routing); networking for VMs (Bridging and Openvswitch).
• A good working knowledge of: data storage protocols (e.g., NFS, SMB); storage systems particularly tuned to virtualisation storage types, file, block and object storage; SAN, NAS and storage servers.
• An in-depth knowledge of the Windows and Linux operating systems, including administration and support.
• Experience of using at least one high-level programming language (e.g., BASH, Perl or Python).
• The ability to work as an effective part of a team and to establish productive relationships with academics, researchers, technical and non-technical IT staff and research support staff.
• Enthusiasm and initiative: the capacity to anticipate problems and find solutions; the ability to see opportunities and take advantage of them; and a can-do approach to work as it arises.
• Good communication and presentation skills.
• A keen appetite to learn new skills and technologies.

You will Have — Desirable:

• A good working knowledge of the MS Windows operating system, including administration and support.
• Knowledge and experience administrating enterprise hypervisors (KVM/QEMU, Xen and Vmware) and management (Libvirt, oVirt, KVM, Xen).
• Good working knowledge of Software Defined Networking (NSX, Linux bridging and overlay networks, (VXLAN, GRE, GENEVE) for multi-tenancy environments.
• Knowledge of provisioning and orchestration with Terraform and Ansible. Knowledge of deployment pipelines, GitOps and codebase management. Experience with GitLab.
• Experience working within an academic research environment.
• An understanding of the storage and computational infrastructure and capability of at least one major cloud provider.
• Familiarity with CyberEssentials, ISO 27001 and CIS methods.
• Familiarity with UoM Information Governance procedures.
• Experience in stakeholder management and engagement in providing services.

Benefits

• 29 days annual leave allowance, plus Christmas/New Year closure.
• Pension scheme membership.
• Hybrid working (the team is usually on campus 2 or 3 days a week).
• Well-being programme including fitness and sports facilities.
• Learning and development opportunities.
• Season ticket loans for public transport.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Workplace nursery scheme.
• Staff recognition schemes.
• Staff discounts on a range of products and services including travel and high street savings.

For more information, visit https://www.manchester.ac.uk/connect/jobs/benefits-working-here/

As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.

Our university is positive about flexible working – you can find out more here

Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.

Please be aware that due to the number of applications we are unfortunately not able to provide individual feedback on your application.

Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from Recruitment Agencies.

Any recruitment enquiries from recruitment agencies should be directed to people.talent@manchester.ac.uk

Any CV’s submitted by a recruitment agency will be considered a gift.

Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:

Name: Danielle Owen

Email: Danielle.owen@manchester.ac.uk

General enquiries:

Email: recruitmentservices.people@manchester.ac.uk

Technical support:

https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.

Please see the link below for the Further Particulars document which contains the person specification criteria.