Research User Computing Linux Specialist

About the Role

KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) is seeking a Research User Computing Linux Specialist to join its team in Thuwal, Makkah. This full-time role involves designing, operating, and continuously improving KAUST's Linux-based research end-user computing platforms. The specialist will ensure secure, reliable, and high-performance access to scientific desktop environments for faculty, researchers, and students.

Key Responsibilities

• Administer, maintain, and improve Ubuntu and Rocky Linux end-user platforms to provide stable and secure scientific workstation services.
• Develop, standardize, and maintain Linux workstation builds and images for physical and virtual scientific desktops.
• Manage and support remote scientific workstation platforms, including NICE DCV and Kasm Workspaces.
• Automate provisioning, configuration, patching, monitoring, and compliance activities using scripting, configuration management, Infrastructure as Code, and GitOps-aligned practices.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex Linux endpoint, workstation, remote desktop, GPU, driver, performance, identity, storage, and network-related issues.
• Integrate Linux desktops and workstations with enterprise IAM, storage, network, monitoring, security, and endpoint management services.
• Partner with faculty, researchers, students, research labs, HPC, storage, security, and advanced computing teams to translate requirements into sustainable workstation solutions.
• Support installation, validation, and maintenance of scientific and research software on Linux workstation environments.
• Implement and maintain security and compliance controls for Linux workstation environments, including patching, hardening, audit logging, and endpoint security.
• Develop and maintain operational documentation, runbooks, user guidance, dashboards, and service metrics.
• Evaluate new Linux desktops, remote access, virtualization, automation, and scientific workstation technologies, providing recommendations for improvement.
• Perform other applicable tasks and duties assigned within the realm of the employee's knowledge, skills, and abilities in the field of the position.

Experience and Qualifications

Candidates for this role should possess 5-10 years of relevant experience in Linux-based end-user computing environments. The position requires a strong understanding of Linux operating systems, specifically Ubuntu and Rocky Linux, and experience with scientific workstation platforms.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in administering and maintaining Ubuntu and Rocky Linux environments.
• Experience with remote scientific workstation platforms such as NICE DCV and Kasm Workspaces.
• Skills in automation using scripting, configuration management, Infrastructure as Code, and GitOps.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex issues related to Linux endpoints, GPUs, drivers, performance, identity, storage, and networking.
• Familiarity with enterprise IAM, storage, network, monitoring, security, and endpoint management services.
• Knowledge of security and compliance controls for Linux workstation environments.

Work Environment

This is a full-time position based in Thuwal, Makkah, at KAUST. The role involves collaboration with various academic and research teams, requiring strong communication and partnership skills to support scientific workflows effectively.