Systems Administrator 2
Apex Systems, Redmond, WA, United States
Systems Administrator 2 - HighPerformance Computing (HPC)
Location:
Redmond, WA (Hybrid - Onsite 3x/week)
Contract Role
Overview
We are seeking a Systems Administrator 2 with strong Linux and automation experience to support the design, deployment, and ongoing operations of highperformance compute (HPC) clusters used by Microsoft's Quantum Computing research teams. This role ensures our researchers have a secure, compliant, highly available, and highperformance environment for running advanced simulations and workloads.
You will work handson with compute, storage, and networking infrastructure; develop automation for cluster lifecycle management; and collaborate closely with engineering, security, and research partners. This position is ideal for someone who thrives in distributed Linux environments, enjoys solving complex systems problems, and wants to contribute directly to cuttingedge quantum research.
Key Responsibilities
Build, deploy, and maintain HPC cluster infrastructure, including compute nodes, storage systems, and networking components.
Develop and operate automation for cluster deployment, configuration, scaling, and lifecycle management.
Diagnose and resolve platformlevel issues affecting reliability, performance, or workload execution.
Participate in the full DevOps lifecycle, including code development, code review, testing, and production operations.
Validate HPC platforms for readiness, security compliance, and internal customer use.
Maintain accurate and comprehensive documentation for architecture, deployment processes, and operational procedures.
Collaborate with researchers to troubleshoot issues related to running simulations and workloads on HPC platforms.
Support a major migration of HPC infrastructure from a general Microsoft corporate tenant to a custom Quantum tenant to enhance security and isolation.
Typical Day in the Role
A typical day involves a blend of handson systems work and crossteam collaboration. You may be deploying new compute nodes, writing automation to streamline cluster configuration, debugging performance issues affecting research workloads, or validating new platform capabilities for compliance and readiness. You will regularly interact with researchers to ensure their simulations run smoothly and with engineering partners to maintain a secure, stable, and scalable HPC environment.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
2+ years of Linux systems administration experience
in production, lab, or research computing environments.
2+ years of experience with automation tools
such as Python, Ansible, or Terraform.
2+ years of experience supporting distributed, multiuser systems.
Strong proficiency with the Linux terminal and commandline tooling.
Experience troubleshooting performance, reliability, or configuration issues in production or preproduction systems.
Experience writing scripts or tools for automation, diagnostics, or operational workflows.
Ability to learn and operate within existing platforms and processes while contributing to longterm improvements.
Disqualifier:
Candidates without handson Linux administration experience will not be considered.
Preferred / Beneficial Skills
Experience with highperformance computing (HPC) as a user or developer of parallel/accelerated applications.
Familiarity with HPC schedulers such as
Slurm .
Exposure to HPC offerings in
Azure .
Experience with containers or microservices.
Experience supporting largescale Linux environments with complex networking and storage requirements.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The strongest candidates will have:
2+ years of Linux systems administration experience.
Handson experience supporting HPC environments or large distributed compute systems.
Familiarity with Slurm, parallel workloads, and multiuser research environments.
Experience with automation (Python, Terraform, Ansible) and strong commandline fluency.
Exposure to Azurebased HPC solutions or cloudhosted compute clusters.
Unique Value Proposition
This role offers the opportunity to directly impact Microsoft's quantum computing research by delivering a secure, reliable, and highperformance compute environment that enables groundbreaking scientific work. You will collaborate with teams across security, IT, and research, gaining exposure to cuttingedge technologies and contributing to one of Microsoft's most innovative programs.
Performance Expectations
Contractor performance will be measured by:
Timeliness and completeness of deliverables.
Quality, reliability, and validation of work prior to submission.
Adherence to planned work items tracked in Azure DevOps (ADO).
Work Location & Schedule
Hybrid Work Arrangement (HWA):
Onsite in Redmond at least 3 days per week.
Reason:
Collaboration, access to hardware, and team alignment.
Remote Flexibility:
Work hours are not flexible across time zones.
EEO Employer
ApexSystemsisanequalopportunityemployer.Wedonotdiscriminateorallowdiscriminationonthebasisofrace,color,religion,creed,sex(includingpregnancy,childbirth,breastfeeding,orrelatedmedicalconditions),age,sexualorientation,genderidentity,nationalorigin,ancestry,citizenship,geneticinformation,registereddomesticpartnerstatus,maritalstatus,disability,statusasacrimevictim,protectedveteranstatus,politicalaffiliation,unionmembership,oranyothercharacteristicprotectedbylaw.Apexwillconsiderqualifiedapplicantswithcriminalhistoriesinamannerconsistentwiththerequirementsofapplicablelaw.Ifyouhavevisitedourwebsiteinsearchofinformationonemploymentopportunitiesortoapplyforaposition,andyourequireanaccommodationinusingourwebsiteforasearchorapplication,pleasecontactourEmployeeServicesDepartmentat [email protected] or844-463-6178.
Everforth Apex is a world-class IT services company that serves thousands of clients across the globe. When you join Everforth Apex, you become part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. We offer quality career resources, training, certifications, development opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in many awards, including ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing® in Talent Satisfaction in the United States and Great Place to Work® in the United Kingdom and Mexico. Everforth Apex uses a virtual recruiter as part of the application process. Click here for more details.
Everforth Apex Benefits Overview:
Everforth Apex offers a range of supplemental benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance plans that offer an optional layer of financial protection. We offer an ESPP (employee stock purchase program) and a 401K program which allows you to contribute typically within 30 days of starting, with a company match after 12 months of tenure. Everforth Apex also offers a HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan), a SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions, a corporate discount savings program and other discounts. In terms of professional development, Everforth Apex hosts an on-demand training program, provides access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure, and certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA. Everforth Apex has a dedicated customer service team for our Consultants that can address questions around benefits and other resources, as well as a certified Career Coach. You can access a full list of our benefits, programs, support teams and resources within our 'Welcome Packet' as well, which an Everforth Apex team member can provide.
Location:
Redmond, WA (Hybrid - Onsite 3x/week)
Contract Role
Overview
We are seeking a Systems Administrator 2 with strong Linux and automation experience to support the design, deployment, and ongoing operations of highperformance compute (HPC) clusters used by Microsoft's Quantum Computing research teams. This role ensures our researchers have a secure, compliant, highly available, and highperformance environment for running advanced simulations and workloads.
You will work handson with compute, storage, and networking infrastructure; develop automation for cluster lifecycle management; and collaborate closely with engineering, security, and research partners. This position is ideal for someone who thrives in distributed Linux environments, enjoys solving complex systems problems, and wants to contribute directly to cuttingedge quantum research.
Key Responsibilities
Build, deploy, and maintain HPC cluster infrastructure, including compute nodes, storage systems, and networking components.
Develop and operate automation for cluster deployment, configuration, scaling, and lifecycle management.
Diagnose and resolve platformlevel issues affecting reliability, performance, or workload execution.
Participate in the full DevOps lifecycle, including code development, code review, testing, and production operations.
Validate HPC platforms for readiness, security compliance, and internal customer use.
Maintain accurate and comprehensive documentation for architecture, deployment processes, and operational procedures.
Collaborate with researchers to troubleshoot issues related to running simulations and workloads on HPC platforms.
Support a major migration of HPC infrastructure from a general Microsoft corporate tenant to a custom Quantum tenant to enhance security and isolation.
Typical Day in the Role
A typical day involves a blend of handson systems work and crossteam collaboration. You may be deploying new compute nodes, writing automation to streamline cluster configuration, debugging performance issues affecting research workloads, or validating new platform capabilities for compliance and readiness. You will regularly interact with researchers to ensure their simulations run smoothly and with engineering partners to maintain a secure, stable, and scalable HPC environment.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
2+ years of Linux systems administration experience
in production, lab, or research computing environments.
2+ years of experience with automation tools
such as Python, Ansible, or Terraform.
2+ years of experience supporting distributed, multiuser systems.
Strong proficiency with the Linux terminal and commandline tooling.
Experience troubleshooting performance, reliability, or configuration issues in production or preproduction systems.
Experience writing scripts or tools for automation, diagnostics, or operational workflows.
Ability to learn and operate within existing platforms and processes while contributing to longterm improvements.
Disqualifier:
Candidates without handson Linux administration experience will not be considered.
Preferred / Beneficial Skills
Experience with highperformance computing (HPC) as a user or developer of parallel/accelerated applications.
Familiarity with HPC schedulers such as
Slurm .
Exposure to HPC offerings in
Azure .
Experience with containers or microservices.
Experience supporting largescale Linux environments with complex networking and storage requirements.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The strongest candidates will have:
2+ years of Linux systems administration experience.
Handson experience supporting HPC environments or large distributed compute systems.
Familiarity with Slurm, parallel workloads, and multiuser research environments.
Experience with automation (Python, Terraform, Ansible) and strong commandline fluency.
Exposure to Azurebased HPC solutions or cloudhosted compute clusters.
Unique Value Proposition
This role offers the opportunity to directly impact Microsoft's quantum computing research by delivering a secure, reliable, and highperformance compute environment that enables groundbreaking scientific work. You will collaborate with teams across security, IT, and research, gaining exposure to cuttingedge technologies and contributing to one of Microsoft's most innovative programs.
Performance Expectations
Contractor performance will be measured by:
Timeliness and completeness of deliverables.
Quality, reliability, and validation of work prior to submission.
Adherence to planned work items tracked in Azure DevOps (ADO).
Work Location & Schedule
Hybrid Work Arrangement (HWA):
Onsite in Redmond at least 3 days per week.
Reason:
Collaboration, access to hardware, and team alignment.
Remote Flexibility:
Work hours are not flexible across time zones.
EEO Employer
ApexSystemsisanequalopportunityemployer.Wedonotdiscriminateorallowdiscriminationonthebasisofrace,color,religion,creed,sex(includingpregnancy,childbirth,breastfeeding,orrelatedmedicalconditions),age,sexualorientation,genderidentity,nationalorigin,ancestry,citizenship,geneticinformation,registereddomesticpartnerstatus,maritalstatus,disability,statusasacrimevictim,protectedveteranstatus,politicalaffiliation,unionmembership,oranyothercharacteristicprotectedbylaw.Apexwillconsiderqualifiedapplicantswithcriminalhistoriesinamannerconsistentwiththerequirementsofapplicablelaw.Ifyouhavevisitedourwebsiteinsearchofinformationonemploymentopportunitiesortoapplyforaposition,andyourequireanaccommodationinusingourwebsiteforasearchorapplication,pleasecontactourEmployeeServicesDepartmentat [email protected] or844-463-6178.
Everforth Apex is a world-class IT services company that serves thousands of clients across the globe. When you join Everforth Apex, you become part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. We offer quality career resources, training, certifications, development opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in many awards, including ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing® in Talent Satisfaction in the United States and Great Place to Work® in the United Kingdom and Mexico. Everforth Apex uses a virtual recruiter as part of the application process. Click here for more details.
Everforth Apex Benefits Overview:
Everforth Apex offers a range of supplemental benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance plans that offer an optional layer of financial protection. We offer an ESPP (employee stock purchase program) and a 401K program which allows you to contribute typically within 30 days of starting, with a company match after 12 months of tenure. Everforth Apex also offers a HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan), a SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions, a corporate discount savings program and other discounts. In terms of professional development, Everforth Apex hosts an on-demand training program, provides access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure, and certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA. Everforth Apex has a dedicated customer service team for our Consultants that can address questions around benefits and other resources, as well as a certified Career Coach. You can access a full list of our benefits, programs, support teams and resources within our 'Welcome Packet' as well, which an Everforth Apex team member can provide.