Systems Engineer - Cloud and Platform Services
80%-100%, Lugano, fixed-term
The Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) develops and operates a high-performance computing and data research infrastructure that supports world-class science in Switzerland. Its user laboratory is accessible to domestic and international researchers in academia, industry, and the business sector. The centre is operated by ETH Zurich and has offices at its data centre in Lugano and in Zurich.
Project Background
As high-performance computing, AI, and cloud technologies continue to converge, CSCS is redefining how to design and deliver advanced computational services. Modern scientific and engineering workloads are increasingly complex, data-intensive, and diverse, pushing existing infrastructure to its limits.
This position is funded through the Helvetic AI Resources, Technologies, and Services (HEARTS) project and is based on a two-year contract, which can be extended or potentially become permanent.
Our Core Values
We are looking for candidates who share our guiding principles:
- Curiosity: You enjoy learning, exploring new ideas, and deeply understanding problems.
- Openness: You listen, collaborate, and are receptive to different perspectives.
- Courage: You take responsibility, tackle challenging problems, and engage in meaningful conversations that move a team forward.
- Supportive: You help colleagues and users succeed, contributing to a positive team culture.
- Integrity: You act honestly, ethically, and reliably, taking ownership of your work.
Job Description
- The primary goal of this position is to design, implement, and operate scalable inference services within a multi-tenant HPC infrastructure.
- As a systems engineer, you will play a key role in the architecture deployment, operation, and documentation of production-grade inference platforms that support a wide range of AI-driven workloads.
Your work will directly influence the evolution of CSCS’s AI and HPC capabilities, enhancing the performance, reliability, and efficiency of our inference services and enabling researchers and engineers to deploy and run advanced models at scale.
Profile
You should have a bachelor’s degree or higher in computer engineering, computer science, a relevant technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
You should have a sound knowledge of:
- Linux administration skills
- Deploying services on Kubernetes
- Infrastructure-as-Code tools (e.g., Terraform/openTofu)
- Automation tools and frameworks, including CI/CD processes (e.g., GitLab CI, HashiCorp Vault)
Experience with the following is preferred, although you will have ample opportunities to learn and gain experience with these skills on the job:
- Versioning systems and CI/CD workflows such as ArgoCD
- Automated installation systems for physical servers, such as MAAS or Foreman
- Developing Ansible configurations
- Developing services on top of Kubernetes
Personal Qualities
- Self-motivated and proactive team player
- Strong communication skills or a desire to develop them
- Strong problem-solving mindset with tolerance for uncertainty and change
- Ability to understand user needs and collaborate effectively
- Adaptive and eager to learn new technologies from others
- Comfortable tackling complex or ambiguous problems
- Willing to admit when you do not know something and seek the right expertise when needed
Project Management and Methodology
- Experience working in self-organized teams
- Familiarity with Agile methodology
- Experience with test-driven development is a plus
Workplace
Your work environment will be dynamic and inclusive, emphasizing collaboration and innovation.
We Offer
- Meaningful impact: Join ETH Zurich, which actively supports your professional development while contributing to positive societal change.
- Numerous benefits, including public transport season tickets, car sharing, a wide range of sports offered by the ASVZ, childcare, and attractive pension benefits.
- Our commitment to building a diverse and inclusive engineering team encourages applications from women and others who are underrepresented in tech. If you are technically strong, curious, and eager to grow, we want to hear from you.
- Exciting working environment with cultural diversity and attractive offerings.
We Value Diversity and Sustainability
Aligned with our values, ETH Zurich promotes an inclusive culture. We advocate for equality of opportunity, value diversity, and nurture a working and learning environment where the rights and dignity of all staff and students are respected. Sustainability is a core value for us as we work towards a climate-neutral future.
Curious? So Are We.
Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.
About ETH Zürich
ETH Zurich is one of the world's leading universities specializing in science and technology. Renowned for excellent education, cutting-edge fundamental research, and the direct transfer of new knowledge into society, our university brings together over 30,000 people from more than 120 countries. Located in the heart of Europe, we work collaboratively to develop solutions for the global challenges of today and tomorrow.