COSMOS - System Engineer

Summary of Job Duties

The Project/Program Manager (Systems Engineer) is a full-time, provisional position at the COSMOS Research Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The role focuses on the deployment, configuration, monitoring, and maintenance of GPU‑enabled servers, virtualized environments, and hybrid infrastructure supporting research and enterprise systems. It is a non‑coding role requiring strong Linux/Windows administration skills, virtualization experience, automation knowledge, and familiarity with data center operations.

The Project/Program Manager collaborates with researchers, developers, and partners to maintain high‑performing, secure, and scalable infrastructure that powers computational workloads.

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline;
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline;
• Strong Linux and Windows server administration skills;
• 1+ year(s) of hands‑on experience in server management, system administration, or infrastructure support;
• Basic knowledge of Linux system administration;
• Certifications such as RHCSA/RHCE, MCSE, CompTIA Network+/Security+;
• Experience with GPU environments (NVIDIA preferred), CUDA drivers, and related tools;
• Experience in research labs, AV systems, and hybrid on‑prem/cloud setups.

• Configure, maintain, and troubleshoot GPU servers, workstations, and physical hardware;
• Deploy and manage virtual machines using VMware, KVM, Proxmox, etc.;
• Establish and maintain on‑premises cloud architecture (e.g., Open Stack);
• Monitor system performance, health, and storage integrity;
• Perform hardware installations, upgrades, diagnostics, and repairs;
• Administer and maintain Linux and Windows operating systems;
• Manage user access, permissions, and security compliance;
• Collaborate with AI/ML and research teams to ensure infrastructure readiness;
• Design and implement scalable infrastructure using enterprise and open‑source tools;
• Automate server provisioning and system tasks using Bash, Power Shell, or Python;
• Use automation platforms such as Ansible, Terraform, and Cloud Formation;
• Manage containers (Docker) and orchestration platforms (Kubernetes);
• Maintain Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, and identity/authentication protocols;
• Administer networking components: VLANs, routing, firewalls, VPNs;
• Configure and manage Arista switches and related network appliances;
• Lead projects for AV systems and hybrid learning environments;
• Maintain physical network setups, including rack mounting and cabling;
• Support hybrid cloud infrastructure, ensure uptime, compliance, and documentation;
• Assist with infrastructure for data ingestion, storage, and processing;
• Other tasks as assigned.

• Proficient in remote server management (e.g., iDRAC) and dynamic resource allocation;
• Familiar with data models, pipelines, ETL workflows, and storage systems;
• Skilled in identifying and resolving performance and system issues;
• Experience with virtualization tools (VMware, KVM, Proxmox);
• Advanced scripting skills (Bash, Power Shell, Python);
• Experience with monitoring tools (Prometheus, Grafana, Nagios);
• Familiarity with network segmentation, firewalls, VLANs, and TCP/IP;
• Knowledge of Arista EOS CLI, ACLs, BGP, STP, EVPN, VXLAN;
• Hands‑on experience with switch configuration, patch panels, and physical network setup;
• Experience in classroom AV systems, hybrid learning setups, and IP management.

$65,000 annually

Resume

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The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity institution. We do not discriminate in employment on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, or pregnancy. Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment. All application information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

Prof. Nitin Agarwal, Maulden‑Entergy Endowed Chair, Donaghey Distinguished Professor, and Director, COSMOS Research Center at UA‑Little Rock.
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