ABOUT THE ALLIANCE
The Digital Research Alliance of Canada (the Alliance) serves Canadian researchers, with the objective of advancing Canada’s position as a leader in the knowledge economy on the international stage. By integrating, championing, and funding the infrastructure and activities required for advanced research computing (ARC), research data management (RDM) and research software (RS), we provide the platform for the research community to access tools and services faster than ever before. We have an ambitious mandate — to transform how research across all academic disciplines is organized, managed, stored, and used. We work with other ecosystem partners and stakeholders across the country to help provide Canadian researchers with the support they need for leading-edge research excellence, research, innovation, and advancement across all disciplines.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Lead Research Software Architect (software and platforms) is responsible for providing strategic leadership in the development of the technical architectures that supports Alliance initiatives in software frameworks, tools, and research platforms. As a member of the Strategy & Planning team, the Lead Research Software Architect reports to the Director of Architecture providing architectural leadership and best practices for the organization, with a focus on research software and enabling platforms. This position will deliver innovative solutions and high-quality architectural design services required for researchers and technicians to address challenges in all areas of research. This highly influential role will collaborate with other Lead Architects, Alliance team members, various working groups and ecosystem stakeholders, and Alliance executives.
This is a permanent position, however a secondment from a Canadian higher education institution or other broader public sector entity is an option.
RESPONSIBILITIES
· Work in a fast-moving team environment to analyze software and platform requirements from diverse stakeholder groups, and transform those into scalable, flexible, and resilient technical architectures (on prem, cloud, or hybrid).
· Perform architecture options and feasibility analysis, proactively debate alternatives with subject matter experts, and build consensus on recommended architecture within the research software and platforms SME community.
· Deliver well founded ARC technical architecture recommendations and defend the recommendations to the Architecture Review Board with rigorous analysis.
· Deliver comprehensive architecture models and documentation that describe technical architectures for various stakeholders and at various levels of detail.
Communicate technical information to both technical and non-technical staff and stakeholders
· Support the architecture governance process and Architecture Review Board (ARB) through detailed architecture review, analysis, and recommendations.
· Validate technical architectures with industry experts
· Develop strong working relationships with community stakeholders and vendors.
· Validate technical architectures with industry experts
· Work with the vendor and stakeholder community to understand the latest software and platform developments, and how they might be incorporated into the Alliance’s services and offerings.
· Lead working groups and committees in research software, science gateways, and other software streams for strategy development.
· Lead experimental and proof-of-concept projects to test feasibility and value of initiatives.
· Provide SME level expertise in all software architecture functional areas for workflow applications that lever distributed or scalable technologies, such as – high performance computing, high throughput computing, parallelization, virtualization, orchestration tools, high performance file systems (HPDA), various types of storage systems, databases, etc.
· Work with cybersecurity and research security frameworks and issues and translate those into functional requirements for the Alliance’s software and platform offerings.
· Participate in a range of national and international committees and working groups, and occasional speaking engagements to provide architectural and technical expertise.
· Participate in procurement exercises such as scenario design, requirements definition, and the evaluation of CFP/RFPs.
· Keep up with research software and platforms emerging trends and market insights, both in academia and in industry.
· Coach, mentor and guide Alliance staff and community members on matters related to HPC architecture and architecture documentation.
· Supervise project team members, as required.
QUALIFICATIONS
· Master’s degree in computer science, or a related area, with up to 10+ years of experience; or equivalent experience/training.
· Proven expert with software and platform standards and best practices, including data/software ontologies, software preservation, FAIR4RS, SMPs, SBOMs, OSPOs, etc.
· 5+ years’ experience working in an academic research environment, especially with researchers and their tools and platforms, or related experience
· Proficient storytelling and adept use of visual aids and diagrams to effectively communicate designs and strategies
· Demonstrated success in managing geographically dispersed collaborators from diverse disciplines and backgrounds
· Proven leadership skills with a collaborative approach that will facilitate interaction within all levels of the organization, as well as with ecosystem partners to generate high-level stakeholder engagement
· Knowledge of, or hands-on experience with Canadian research software platforms.
· Experience with open-source software development tools, development operations (DevOps), system design, programming, approaches, and business models.
· Experience with SDLC and SSDLC
· Advanced skills and demonstrated experience associated with several of the following:
- Experience with Advanced Research Computing and Research Data Management.
- Experience with Enterprise Architecture frameworks and methodologies
- Knowledge of parallel programming models, e.g.: MPI, OpenMP, OpenACC, etc.
- Knowledge of research tools and platforms used in a variety of disciplines, as well as general tools and platforms and languages such as R, Python, Jupyter Notebooks.
- Experience developing or working with scientific gateways, virtual research environments (VREs).
- Experience with distributed parallel architectures and software systems.
- Knowledge of Linux/UNIX systems and shell scripting.
- Familiarity with GPU computing and instruction sets like OpenCL, CUDA etc.
- Familiarity with CPU advanced instruction sets such as MMX, AVX, FMA, INT8 etc.
NICE TO HAVES
· IT consulting experience in a client facing role.
· Exposure to Quantum and AI technologies and workloads.
· Experience with cloud computing software and services.
· Experience with scientific visualization in one or more scientific domains.
· Previous HPC center support experience.
· TOGAF, ITIL, or other industry certifications.
· Fluency or working proficiency in both official languages
BENEFITS / WORK PERKS
In addition to a competitive salary and a rewarding career where you can truly make a difference in the Canadian research community, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that meets the various needs of our diverse team and that spans across Canada, including:
● Comprehensive Benefits Plan, including:
o Health
o Dental
o Long-Term Disability
o Life Insurance
o Flexible Spending Account
o Wellness Spending Account
o Mental Health Supports
● Defined Benefit Pension Plan
● Paid Vacation
● Remote Work
Please apply here: Lead Research Software Architect
The Alliance is strongly committed to equity and inclusion within the community and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including women, members of racialized groups, people of colour, persons with disabilities, and Indigenous- and 2SLGBTQIA+ identified people.