Machine Learning Research Computing Facilitator

Job Summary

The Center for High Throughput Computing (CHTC) is hiring a Machine Learning Research Computing Facilitator to join the Research Computing Facilitation team. CHTC's Research Computing Facilitation team introduces researchers to large-scale computational approaches and enables their use of large-scale computing systems like CHTC's in-house clusters, the Open Science Pool, and the PATh Facility (operated by the NSF Partnership to Advance Throughput Computing (PATh) project).

The Machine Learning Facilitator role complements the existing Facilitation team by providing specific support to researchers regarding AI/machine learning (ML) methods and implementation on shared computing systems.

• Formalize an understanding of automation, data, and computing needs for AI workloads and communicate these with the CHTC team.
• Provide recommendations and develop reference examples, prompts, and scripts for specific needs for AI/ML workloads. Example techniques include:
  • Implementing checkpointing
  • Handling large datasets
  • Managing large numbers of tasks (for inference)
  • Profiling GPU code
• Develop and deliver presentations, training materials, and user guides specific to AI workloads.
• Participate in campus events around AI and connect AI users with shared problems and solutions at CHTC.
• Identify gaps in tooling and recommendations for CHTC users to leverage agentic AI.
• Provide input into and manage owned capacity and priority schemes.

The preferred applicant has experience in applying AI/ML methods to research questions, is motivated to help other researchers deploy machine learning methods in a cluster computing environment, and understands the challenges of scaling machine learning workloads. They can communicate technical concepts to a general audience, collaborate effectively across teams, and are eager to learn unfamiliar technologies.

• Contribute to the design and content development of documentation, training content, and advanced curricula, and instruct at workshops.
• May provide consultation and expertise for aspects of research proposals specific to research CI, and may serve as a project contributor or Co-Principal Investigator on proposals around facilitation functions.
• Connect and coordinate interactions between researchers and technology providers; provide regular communications to or collaborate with systems and software/data professionals regarding service enhancements.
• Communicate and collaborate with internal collaborators and/or potential external collaborators around facilitation and relevant service models.
• Engage with researchers in their selection and use of relevant CI systems, tools, and computing strategies; contribute to facilitating design and debugging of research workflows alongside researchers.
• May contribute to regular communications with researchers and internal stakeholders.

• At least a year of work or study experience in an industry or academic research group.
• Experience working with common machine learning tools (e.g., Python, PyTorch) to solve research questions.
• Demonstrated interest and experience in teaching or mentoring peers.

• Experience using agentic AI as part of daily workflows.
• Experience working with datasets greater than 300 GB in size.
• Experience with different dataset file formats.
• Experience using cluster or distributed computing systems, like Kubernetes, SLURM, HTCondor, etc.
• Experience in a user support or education role.

Bachelor's Degree Required.

The minimum salary for this position is $71,994. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health, dental, vision and life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. For a summary of benefits, see https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW‑Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinions enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inseparably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin‑Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background—students, faculty, and staff serving Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin‑Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran, and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies.