Research User Computing Linux Specialist📣 Job Ad

About KAUST and the Role

KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) is seeking a Research User Computing Linux Specialist to join its team. This full-time position focuses on the design, operation, and continuous improvement of Linux-based research end-user computing platforms within the university's environment.

Role Overview

The Research User Computing Linux Specialist is responsible for enabling secure, reliable, and high-performance access to scientific desktop environments for faculty, researchers, and students. This includes managing Ubuntu and Rocky Linux endpoints, physical scientific workstations, and virtual scientific workstation services to support KAUST's research and academic communities.

Core Responsibilities

• Administer, maintain, and improve Ubuntu and Rocky Linux end-user platforms to ensure 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 issues related to Linux endpoints, workstations, remote desktops, GPUs, drivers, performance, identity, storage, and networks.
• Integrate Linux desktops and workstations with enterprise IAM, storage, network, monitoring, security, and endpoint management services.
• Partner with faculty, researchers, students, and various technical teams to understand scientific workflows and translate requirements into sustainable workstation solutions.
• Support the 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, and audit logging.
• Develop and maintain operational documentation, runbooks, user guidance, dashboards, and service metrics.
• Evaluate new Linux desktop, remote access, virtualization, automation, and scientific workstation technologies.

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong automation mindset, with the ability to reduce manual work through scripting, configuration management, Infrastructure as Code, and repeatable operational processes.
• Good understanding of research and scientific computing needs, including GPU-enabled workstations, specialized software, reproducibility, performance, and secure remote access.
• Ability to diagnose issues across operating systems, drivers, remote desktop platforms, identity, storage, network, security controls, and user-side configurations.
• Customer-centric approach, with the ability to work directly with faculty, researchers, students, and technical teams, communicate clearly, and set realistic expectations.
• Strong documentation and continuous improvement mindset, with the ability to create runbooks, standards, support materials, and operational metrics.
• Good collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with various platform, network, security, IAM, storage, HPC, vendor, and research support teams.
• Awareness of security, compliance, auditability, and operational risk in enterprise and research computing environments.
• Ability to prioritize work in a deadline-driven research and teaching environment while maintaining service reliability and user trust.
• Willingness to learn and evaluate new Linux, remote workstation, automation, and scientific computing technologies.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Relevant Linux certification (*, Red Hat Certified Engineer, Linux Foundation Certified Engineer, LPIC) or equivalent.
• Certification or formal training in configuration management, automation, security, IT service management, NICE DCV, Kasm Workspaces, or related platforms.
• Security, cloud, networking, or endpoint management certifications (*, Security+, CISSP, CCNA, ITIL) or equivalent.
• Hands-on experience with remote scientific workstation platforms such as NICE DCV, Kasm Workspaces, or similar technologies.
• Experience with GPU-enabled Linux workstations, NVIDIA/CUDA environments, scientific software stacks, or specialized research desktop environments.
• Exposure to security and compliance baselines such as NIST 800-171, NIST 800-53, CIS Benchmarks, ISO standards, or institutional security requirements.
• Experience working directly with faculty, researchers, students, labs, vendors, and cross-functional IT teams to gather requirements and deliver sustainable technical solutions.

Application Process

Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.