Postdoctoral Research Associate - HPC Confidential Computing and Secure Multi-tenancy

Requisition Id 15603 

Overview:

The National Center for Computational Sciences (NCCS) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking a postdoctoral research associate in the area of HPC Confidential Computing and Secure Multi-tenancy. The candidate will be able to make research contributions in areas of system software architectures to support secure computing enclaves on large scale HPC and supercomputing resources. The candidate will also contribute to the development of large-scale identity and key management solutions.

We are a leader in computational and computer science, with signature strengths in high-performance computing and data analytics with applications in a large variety of science domains and NCCS is home to some of the fastest supercomputers and storage systems in the world. This position is in the Technology Integration group within NCCS.

Specific areas of research interest include:

• Integration of memory encryption, confidential computing, and trusted execution environments on both CPU and GPU based HPC systems.
• Exploration of the capabilities of DPU/IPU SmartNICs to support network security isolation, platform level root-of-trust, and secure platform management/partitioning.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with internal and external researchers on system software architectures for secure multi-tenancy.
• Architect secure virtualization-based solutions for sharing a single node between multiple secure workloads.
• Investigate and evaluate mechanisms for secure encrypted communication across RDMA based networks.
• Design and evaluate key distribution and management solutions for large scale HPC platforms.
• Explore the integration of attestation and identification into HPC resource management systems.
• Collaborate in authoring peer reviewed papers, technical papers, reports.
• Seek membership in professional, academic, and research organizations.

Basic Qualifications:

• A PhD in computer science/engineering or relevant area with an education and a research track record in HPC research within past five years.

Preferred Qualifications:

• The ability to work independently and develop and deploy methods at scale.
• Experience in high-performance computing and software development.
• Experience using virtualization-based solutions and/or IaaS platforms.
• The ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written forms.
• Flexibility in R&D assignments.
• Ability to collaborate with scientists, engineers, and sponsors.
• Interest in mentoring students.
• Good oral and written communication skills.

Applicants cannot have received their PhD more than five years prior to the date of application and must complete all degree requirements before starting their appointment. The appointment length will be up to 24 months with the potential for extension. Initial appointments and extensions are subject to performance and availability of funding.

Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements:

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain an HSPD-12 PIV badge.
• For employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Real ID compliant form of identification will be required.
• Additionally, ORNL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which requires a favorable post-employment background investigation.
• To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

For foreign national candidates:

• If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) risk determination to maintain employment.
• Once you meet the three-year residency requirement, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment.

About ORNL:

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.