HPC Application Engineer

Purpose of the Role: 

The High Performance Computing (HPC) Application Engineer is a key role to maximise performance of our HPC applications, and maintain a high-end HPC service that meets the very demanding requirements of the McLaren Racing’s computational engineering environment. This is an opportunity to work in a fast-paced, innovative high technology environment, focussing on pure performance and exploring a diverse range of new hardware and software technologies in supercomputing. 

Role Dimensions:  

  • Part of the HPC team, reporting to the HPC Team Leader. 

  • Flexibility in working hours is required (some evenings and weekends). 

  • This role is predominantly factory based. 

Key Relationships: 

  • HPC Team Leader and other members of the HPC team. 

  • HPC users – CFD methodology team and aerodynamicists. 

Principal Accountabilities:  

  • Keep abreast of latest HPC and industry developments and investigate the suitability of newly available technologies, including but not limited to: new CPU technologies, HMB memory and high speed infiniband / omnipath interconnect, web-based software technologies and parallel high performance computing applications tuning & optimization. Report back and make recommendations. 

  • Collaboration with leading Universities and external partners in order to develop and exploit the latest advancements in HPC technology. 

  • Assist in hardware and software upgrade programmes to implement these new technologies. 

  • Help to scope, develop, roll out and optimise new and existing web-based tools to improve the applications workflow on the HPC systems, working with the HPC users (CFD methodology engineers and aerodynamicists) to understand their needs. 

  • Provide Linux administrative skills and support to the HPC users. 

  • Participate in the day to day operational support of the McLaren Racing HPC estate: manage and solve any hardware and software issues that may arise. 

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:  

  • A degree in Computational Science or related subject. 

  • Knowledge and experience in application profiling, HPC system performance tuning. 

  • Excellent knowledge of Linux, shell scripting, python and javascript. 

  • Knowledge and experience with databases: both SQL and no-SQL. 

  • Knowledge of HPC hardware including clusters, storage and interconnects. 

  • Knowledge and experience with system and process virtualization. 

  • Knowledge and experience with HPC batch job schedulers. 

  • Knowledge of data analytics and machine learning techniques would be an advantage. 

Personal Attributes: 

  • A team player but with the initiative to make own decisions and work with minimal supervision. 

  • Self-starter, able to identify requirements independently, then make proposals for solutions. 

  • Good communication skills. 

  • Excellent problem-solving skills and analytical approach, with attention to detail. 

  • Aptitude to learn from others and share knowledge with others. 

  • High level of personal commitment, availability on weekends and out of hours may be required.