The Systems Engineer is the hands-on individual responsible for the design, security, and dayto- day operation of the Wicked Problems Lab's research computing environment — spanning AWS cloud, on-premises GPU/AI compute, databases, and systems security. This is a practitioner role for someone who provisions infrastructure, configures and hardens systems, and unblocks researchers directly, with a high degree of autonomy in a fastmoving national security research setting.
About the Work Unit:
The Wicked Problems Lab applies advanced computing, AI, and data science to highconsequence national security problems, with partnerships across the Five Eyes and Indo- Pacific communities. The environment is small, technically sophisticated, and fast-paced, and its systems must be secure, dependable, and built to handle sensitive research data.
Key Functions and Expected Performance:
- Cloud & on-prem infrastructure: Design, architect, and operate the Lab's hybrid environment — AWS (EC2, VPC, S3, IAM) under least-privilege and on-premises GPU/AI compute systems; scale storage and GPU capacity to meet workload demand; engineer for resilience through monitoring, backup, and disaster recovery; own workload placement across cloud and local systems for cost, performance, and data sensitivity.
- Systems configuration & administration: Administer Linux servers end to end; manageconfiguration as code (Terraform, Ansible, scripting) for reproducible, documentedenvironments; own SSH/key lifecycle and access across a distributed fleet.
- Data & database management: Stand up, secure, tune, and back up research databases (PostgreSQL, NoSQL, and comparable relational/vector stores); build and maintain reliable ETL and datatransfer/movement pipelines with attention to integrity, throughput, and reproducibility.
- Security & compliance: Harden systems against sophisticated threats — patch/vulnerability management, segmentation, secrets management, and endpoint detection and response; enforce access control and data-handling appropriate to sensitive research; comply with University and partner security requirements.
- Research enablement: Serve as first point of contact for researchers' systems needs and AI/developer tooling; advocate for Vanderbilt's core values; stay current with cloud, GPU/AI, and security technologies; other duties as needed.
- Networking & traffic analysis: Configure and troubleshoot network infrastructure (routers, switches, VPN, segmentation); capture and analyze network traffic at the packet level; deploy and tune intrusion detection/prevention systems to monitor for and investigate anomalous activity.
Supervisory Relationships:
This position has no supervisory responsibility and reports administratively and functionally to the Director of the Wicked Problems Lab.
Education and Certifications
- Bachelor's in Computer Science/Engineering or related field is necessary; equivalent experience may substitute. Relevant AWS/Linux/security certifications preferred.
Experience and Skills:
- 4+ years hands-on systems/infrastructure administration is necessary, with demonstrated command of AWS and strong Linux administration.
- Experience operating GPU compute for AI/ML (CUDA stack, model serving/fine-tuning) is necessary; experience with enterprise-class NVIDIA GPU systems preferred.
- Infrastructure-as-code (Terraform/Ansible), scripting (Bash/Python), database administration (PostgreSQL, NoSQL, or comparable), ETL/data-movement pipelines, and working systems/network security knowledge are necessary.
- U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain/maintain a U.S. security clearance are preferred.
At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice.
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