Systems Engineer (HPC & AI)

Role Type: Full-time Two Years contract
Salary: Commensurate with experience

The opportunity:

At MCRI, we're investing in the future of computational research by strengthening our high-performance computing (HPC) capability and expanding access to cutting-edge AI technologies. We're seeking an experienced HPC & AI Infrastructure Engineer to join our eResearch team and play a pivotal role in enabling world-class scientific research.

This unique hybrid position combines deep expertise in HPC systems administration with hands-on AI engineering. You will design, build and optimise the infrastructure that supports large-scale research computing while developing and operating AI platforms that help researchers unlock new insights and accelerate discoveries.

As the bridge between infrastructure and innovation, you'll work closely with researchers, bioinformaticians, data scientists and technology professionals to deliver reliable, scalable and secure computing solutions.

What you'll do

• Maintain HPC cluster infrastructure, including compute and GPU nodes.
• Administer and automate large-scale Linux environments using modern provisioning and configuration management tools.
• Manage research software stacks, containers, module systems and package build frameworks.
• Optimise HPC performance, utilisation and reliability through monitoring, tuning and observability practices.
• Design and operate secure in-house AI platforms, including model-serving infrastructure and inference services.
• Develop AI capabilities such as RAG pipelines, vector databases, fine-tuning workflows and researcher-facing tools.
  
  

You are a systems thinker who enjoys solving complex technical challenges and working closely with researchers to create meaningful impact. You bring a strong foundation in HPC environments together with a genuine interest in emerging AI technologies.

You'll have:

• Tertiary qualifications in Information Technology or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
• 3+ years' experience administering HPC or large-scale Linux environments within research, academic or scientific settings.
• Strong Linux administration skills across Red Hat, Rocky and/or Ubuntu environments.
• Experience with automation and scripting using tools such as Ansible, Bash and Python.
• Expertise in HPC provisioning and lifecycle management platforms, including Foreman, Katello, BCM or Red Hat Satellite.

Please view the position description here.

Any questions? Reach out to Nauman Maqbool at Nauman.maqbool@mcri.edu.au.

What you'll enjoy

• Access a range of salary packaging options—covering entertainment, novated leases, and more
• Enjoy a variety of flexible work arrangements
• Work at the forefront of research and innovation, supporting world-leading researchers with advanced HPC and AI technologies.
• Make a real impact by enabling scientific discoveries that improve child and adolescent health outcomes.
• Shape MCRI's AI future, playing a key role in the design and growth of our in-house AI capability.
• Access cutting-edge technology, including large-scale HPC infrastructure, GPU platforms, and emerging AI tools and frameworks.
• Collaborate with leading researchers, bioinformaticians, data scientists and technology experts in a highly multidisciplinary environment.
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements that support work-life balance.

Who we are

Murdoch Children's Research Institute envisions a transformative future for child health. Our institute is a hub of impactful scientific breakthroughs, particularly in early interventions, enhanced diagnosis, prevention, and potential cures. We thrive on collaborative, multidisciplinary problem-solving to address challenging queries in child health. Committed to inclusivity and respect, we foster a positive working environment that values diverse backgrounds and experiences. As a proud member of the Australian Network on Disability and a dedicated supporter of Science Australia Gender Equity (SAGE), we uphold principles of equal opportunity and diverse representation.

We are committed to the safety of children and young people and takes a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of child abuse, exploitation and harm. Child safety is prioritised in our decision-making at all levels of the Institute.

Apply now!

If you believe this role is a good fit for you, please apply by submitting:

• Your resume
• A cover letter addressing the selection criteria

Ensure these documents are combined into a single PDF file.

We welcome individuals of diverse genders, ages, ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, abilities, religions, and sexual orientations in our workplace. We actively encourage talented individuals from all walks of life to apply for our job openings. Our commitment lies in fostering a workplace that is barrier-free and inclusive, aiming to attract the most skilled candidates.

For any questions related to the recruitment process, feel free to reach out to our Recruitment Team at ••••@mcri.edu.au. Ensure that you include the position number and job title in the subject line. Please refrain from sharing your application to this email address.

Please note, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

No recruitment agencies please.

Applications close: Sunday 30 August 2026