Computational Research Support Specialist, Research Computing

Computational Research Support Specialist, Research ComputingEmpire AI is establishing New York as the national leader in responsible artificial intelligence. Backed by a consortium of top academic and research institutions including Columbia, Cornell, NYU, CUNY, RPI, SUNY, Rochester Schools, Mount Sinai, Simons Foundation, and the Flatiron Institute.By leveraging the state’s rich academic resources and research institutions, Empire AI is driving innovation in fields like medicine, education, energy, and climate change, all while giving New York’s researchers access to computing resources that are often prohibitively expensive and only available to big tech companies, fueling statewide innovation, driving economic growth, and preparing a future-ready AI workforce to tackle society’s most complex challenges.The initiative is funded by $500+ million in public and private investments, State Capital Grant, Academic Institutions, Simons Foundation, Flatiron Institute, and Tom Secunda (Co-Founder of Bloomberg).Position SummaryThe Computational Research Support Specialist helps faculty, researchers, and students turn scientific ambition into real-world impact through Empire AI’s shared advanced computing platforms.This role reports to the Manager, Computational Research Support. It is a hands-on technical role and the person in it will be a go-to expert in high-performance computing (HPC), AI workflows, and data-intensive science. The Specialist works directly with users to resolve issues, optimize workloads, and build the knowledge base, so that every Empire AI user has the tools, knowledge, and guidance to succeed on the platform.Duties and ResponsibilitiesProvide hands-on technical support for HPC systems, AI tools, secure enclaves, and distributed storageDiagnose and resolve user-reported issues related to software environments, job performance, and accessWork tickets and consulting queues to deliver fast, effective resolutions, and escalate complex or platform-side issues as neededSupport new users with account provisioning, environment configuration, and system orientationHelp users understand system architecture, policies (e.g., storage quotas, job scheduling), and available software environmentsConsult with researchers on workflow design, job optimization, and scaling AI/ML and simulation workloadsInstall, build, and maintain scientific software, libraries, and containerized environments for user communitiesSupport secure computing onboarding, including guidance on compliance frameworks and protected data workflowsCollaborate with systems administrators and developers to troubleshoot platform-side incidents and support system uptimeDevelop and maintain in-depth knowledge of Empire AI infrastructure, user tools, and HPC best practicesCreate and maintain user-facing documentation, quick-start guides, and troubleshooting resourcesDeliver technical training sessions and workshops tailored to different user skill levels and scientific domainsContribute to Empire AI user community events, forums, and collaboration platformsPromote inclusive access to Empire AI systems, including engagement with underrepresented communities in AI researchRecommend improvements to support workflows, tooling, and documentation based on recurring user issuesParticipate in pilots, infrastructure rollouts, or tool evaluations to assess and expand Empire AI’s service capabilitiesAssist researchers with computational resource estimates and data management planning for grant proposalsShare usage insights and user feedback with the team to improve training materials and support strategyMinimum QualificationsPh.D. in a STEM discipline involving computational research (e.g., Computer Science, Physics, Bioinformatics, Applied Math, Engineering)At least 1 year of experience using or supporting high-performance or research computing systemsStrong communication and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse usersExperience with Linux/Unix systems, job schedulers (e.g., Slurm), and scientific software environmentsScripting experience (e.g., Bash, Python, or similar)Preferred QualificationsFamiliarity with machine learning workflows, AI research tools (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow), or scientific simulation environmentsExperience with GPU computing, CUDA, MPI, or performance profiling and optimizationExperience working with faculty or research groups in academic, national lab, or industry research settingsExposure to secure or regulated research environments (e.g., HIPAA, NIST 800-171)Experience with containers (Apptainer/Singularity, Docker) and version control systems (e.g., Git)Background in delivering user training, workshops, or documentationCompensationOur compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets. The base pay and target total cash for this position range from $100,000 to $130,000. Pay is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.