Executive Director Research Computing

Executive Director, High Performance & Research Computing

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The Executive Director of High Performance and Research Computing provides vision, leadership, and oversight for Mississippi State University’s high performance computing and research computing resources and services. The Executive Director directs strategic investments in HPC technologies, ensures compliance with federal and institutional requirements, and manages staff supporting HPC and enterprise research computing infrastructure. The Executive Director serves as the primary institutional liaison with federal agencies and partners for HPC‑related grants, contracts, and collaborations, including NOAA, USDA, NSF, DoD, and other sponsoring organizations.

The Executive Director also serves as the primary point of contact for MSU’s high performance computing data center, overseeing strategic and operational decisions for the facility.

• Provides leadership and operational oversight for HPC and institutional research computing services and support.
• Directs strategic decisions regarding the deployment, investment, and growth of high performance computing infrastructure and research computing activities in alignment with institutional priorities and federal research needs.
• Serves as the primary liaison for HPC efforts with federal government partners and agencies, ensuring compliance with contracts, timely communication, and effective collaboration.
• Assists in the development of budgets for proposals supporting HPC infrastructure and operations, provides strategic input on spending decisions, and collaborates with the Research Business and Operations Center on federally sponsored projects.
• Leads the preparation and submission of proposals for extramural funding, including federal, state, and industry opportunities, to expand and sustain HPC resources and capabilities.
• Establishes technical strategies for computing, networking, storage, backup, disaster recovery, and cybersecurity to ensure reliable and secure operations.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for MSU’s HPC data center, providing leadership for strategic planning, operations, and decision‑making.
• Leads compliance efforts with government regulations, audits, and reporting requirements to maintain eligibility for federal contracts.
• Builds and sustains partnerships with federal agencies, industry collaborators, and academic institutions to advance MSU’s HPC mission.
• Directs the recruitment, development, and supervision of HPC staff, setting expectations and fostering a high‑performance culture, while representing MSU’s HPC enterprise nationally.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Ten or more years of experience directly related to HPC or enterprise IT operations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams and manage complex computing environments.
• Experience working with federally sponsored research contracts or cooperative agreements.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident; eligibility to obtain federal security clearance required.

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Proven success in securing and managing federal contracts in HPC or advanced computing.
• Broad technical expertise across computing, networking, storage, and cybersecurity.
• Strong skills in leadership, negotiation, and communication with government sponsors.

• Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams and manage complex computing environments.
• Experience working with or on federally sponsored research contracts or cooperative agreements.

The position requires the incumbent to occasionally stand, walk, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must regularly use hands, lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift or move up to 30 pounds. Work is performed in a typical interior/office work environment with very limited exposure to physical risk.