A

Argonne National Laboratory

Advanced scientific research and computing facilities

HPC Systems Administration Specialist

Full-Time
$69.8k - $134.6k/yr
Junior, Mid
Bachelor's, Master's
Lemont, IL, USA
Remote
IT OperationsSystem Administration
No H1B Sponsorship
US Citizenship Required

About the job

Requirements
  • Strong background in Linux systems administration, including cluster management, performance tuning, and resource allocation in high-performance computing settings.
  • Experience with package managers such as Spack for software deployment, including building from source, resolving dependencies, and maintaining multiple versions in a production high-performance computing setting.
  • Experience creating and managing programming environments, such as environment modules (e.g., Lmod or Environment Modules) or containers (e.g., Singularity/Apptainer), to integrate libraries and software development kits such as MPI, CUDA, BLAS, or FFTW.
  • Familiarity with version control systems for managing configurations and custom package definitions.
  • Knowledge of the installation, management, and use of software such as compilers, scientific applications, and job resource managers.
  • Experience working with continuous integration pipelines.
  • Proficiency in scripting and programming languages such as Python for Spack package definitions and automation.
  • Strong knowledge of build systems such as Make, CMake, and Autotools, and compilers such as GCC, Intel, and LLVM, for handling dependencies in Spack-managed stacks.
  • Ability to configure and use YAML-based files for Spack environments.
  • Proficiency with Podman or similar container-based build environments.
  • Problem-solving skills for debugging dependency conflicts.
  • Experience working in collaborative teams, including refining user requirements and supporting researchers in scientific computing settings.
  • Successful applicants must provide proof of U.S. citizenship to comply with federal regulations and contract.
  • For PT2: bachelor's degree and 2 or more years of experience, or equivalent.
  • For PT3: bachelor's degree and 4 or more years of experience, master's degree and 2 or more years of experience, or equivalent.
Responsibilities
  • Assist with the design, development, and advancement of the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility high-performance computing environment.
  • Focus on software integration with the facility site's broader software and operational ecosystem.
  • Contribute to the design and development of new high-performance computing systems, tools, and software stacks.

About the company

A

Argonne National Laboratory

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Argonne National Laboratory advances scientific discovery and sustainability by providing access to large-scale research facilities and high-performance computing for government, academia, and industry partners. Researchers use the Advanced Photon Source for atomic-level materials studies and the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility for complex simulations and data analysis. The lab differentiates itself through its shared-use, multi-institution partnerships and a focus on eco-innovation, net-zero goals, and AI accelerator development. Its aim is to address real-world energy, materials, and data science challenges by combining cutting-edge infrastructure with collaborative research efforts.

Company Size

5,001-10,000

Company Stage

Grant

Total Funding

$19.7M

Headquarters

Lemont, Illinois

Founded

1946

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • UChicago Argonne LLC won a renewed DOE contract in 2026 for five years.
  • 2026 launch of ChemGraph, GridMind, and AI inference services deepens Argonne's relevance.
  • Activated Materials Lab opened in 2026, expanding nuclear fuels research and user-facility demand.

What critics are saying

  • DOE's FY2027 request cuts Argonne funding about $155.8 million, hitting programs and construction.
  • 2025 buyouts showed staff pressure; more layoffs follow if Congress accepts budget cuts.
  • A prolonged federal reset or shutdown threatens APS, Aurora utilization, and Argonne's operating model.

What makes Argonne National Laboratory unique

  • Aurora and APS create a rare AI-plus-X-ray discovery stack for 2026 science.
  • Chain Reaction Innovations embeds startups inside Argonne with facilities, mentors, and DOE funding.
  • Q-NEXT and other DOE centers keep Argonne central to U.S. quantum research.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Disability Insurance
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Sick Leave
  • Paid Holidays
  • Remote Work Options
  • Flexible Work Hours
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • 401(k) Company Match

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

1%

1 year growth

1%

2 year growth

1%
The Register
Oct 7th, 2026
Argonne's AI X-ray nanoprobe beamline responds to natural language commands to analyse samples

Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory have developed an AI-enhanced X-ray microscope that researchers can control using natural language commands. The system combines an agentic AI platform with a hard X-ray nanoprobe beamline, allowing users to simply ask the microscope to examine specific areas of interest. The technology addresses a major challenge in X-ray imaging: modern experiments can generate millions of images in hours, requiring days of conventional analysis. Argonne's AI system reconstructs images in real time as data arrives. The microscope can autonomously collect data, process results, and identify additional areas requiring investigation. Computational scientist Mathew Cherukara said the AI-enhanced microscope could benefit numerous scientific fields beyond its initial microelectronics demonstration. The project forms part of the SYNAPS-I initiative, led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory under the Department of Energy's Genesis Mission, launched in November 2025.

Associated Press
Jul 7th, 2026
Argonne's ChemGraph uses AI to automate computational chemistry workflows

Researchers at the US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory have developed ChemGraph, an open-source framework that uses artificial intelligence to automate computational chemistry workflows. The tool provides a natural language interface, allowing researchers to describe scientific problems in plain language, which the system then maps onto computational tasks and analyses. ChemGraph was developed using resources at the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility, including the Aurora exascale supercomputer. The framework uses AI agents to handle different workflow tasks, from planning to execution and data aggregation. It calls appropriate scientific tools to reduce the risk of AI hallucination, using AI to run physics-based simulations rather than relying solely on existing knowledge. The framework supports applications in combustion efficiency, critical materials, and next-generation batteries, and complements DOE's Genesis Mission to accelerate science through AI.

The Register
May 27th, 2026
Argonne National Laboratory launches private AI inference service using spare supercomputer capacity

The US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory has launched an AI inference service using spare supercomputing capacity to support researchers across DoE labs and the Genesis Mission. The service runs on two clusters: Sophia, with 192 Nvidia A100 GPUs, and Metis, featuring 32 SambaNova SN40L AI accelerators. The platform provides secure access to various large language models, including OpenAI's GPT-OSS, Google's Gemma, and Meta's Llama, through a chatbot-like portal. Researchers are using the service to analyse experimental data in real time, including predicting plasma disruptions in fusion energy research and processing data from particle accelerators and telescopes. Argonne plans to extend the service to its Nvidia GH200-based Tara and B200-based Minerva systems, enabling scientists to experiment with AI without building their own infrastructure.

Business Wire
Mar 26th, 2026
Argonne Lab develops GridMind AI agent to support power grid operators

Researchers at the US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory have developed GridMind, an agentic AI system designed to assist power grid operators through natural language interaction. The system functions as a reasoning co-pilot for control rooms, simplifying complex grid management tasks. GridMind employs a multi-agent architecture where specialised AI agents handle different functions, such as power scheduling and weather-based contingency planning. Large language models coordinate these agents to analyse situations, reason across different tasks and provide explainable recommendations. The system transforms technical analysis into conversational support whilst maintaining rigorous accuracy. Tests on standard power grid models demonstrated that GridMind consistently produced correct results across multiple state-of-the-art language models. The technology aims to accelerate decision-making by integrating disconnected workflows into a coherent reasoning engine.

Yahoo Finance
Mar 11th, 2026
AI adviser helps Argonne's robotic lab discover advanced electronic materials in just 64 experiments

A research team led by the US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory has developed an AI adviser that optimises machine learning algorithms during autonomous experiments, accelerating discovery of advanced electronic materials. The system was applied to Polybot, Argonne's AI-guided robotic laboratory, to investigate mixed ion-electron conducting polymers for wearable electronics and energy storage. The adviser evaluates algorithm performance in real time and communicates insights to scientists who refine experimental plans. It reduced the study to just 64 experiments from over 4,300 possible combinations. During testing, the adviser suggested switching AI algorithms, leading to significant performance improvements, and identified deposition speed as a key performance driver. The research was published in Nature Chemical Engineering and included collaborators from the University of Chicago, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and other institutions.