Genomics Senior Systems Architect

NO VISA SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE FOR THIS POSITION.
Applicants must have current work authorization when accepting a Genomics Institute staff position. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa for staff.
This role is a five-year contract appointment with potential consideration for career status following the completion of the contract term, subject to operational needs and funding.

THIS RECRUITMENT WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL FILLED.

HOW TO APPLY

For full consideration, applicants should attach their resume and cover letter when applying for a job opening. For guidance related to the application process or if you are experiencing difficulties when applying, please review the Applicant Resources on our website.

• How to Apply
• Troubleshooting
• Tips for Applicants
• FAQ's

INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

UC Santa Cruz jobs are posted until filled. All application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring team for consideration. NOTE: Applicants who miss the IRD are still encouraged to apply; their materials will still be forwarded for consideration if requested by the hiring team. Application materials cannot be accepted outside of the jobs portal. Applications cannot be edited on an applicant's behalf. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link.

The IRD for this job is: 01-06-2026

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

Originally founded in 1997, the Baskin School of Engineering is the first professional school at UC Santa Cruz. Over the past 25 years, Baskin Engineering (BE) has become a unique 21st-century school of engineering, applied science and technology, characterized by evolutionary growth fueled by ongoing research opportunities that open new areas of intellectual inquiry. Baskin Engineering has grown to include six academic departments, a variety of research centers and institutes, and has ambitious plans for further programmatic growth. The focus of Baskin Engineering educational programming is to instill strong basic knowledge for sound practice in ethical engineering for the well-being of society, and its diverse curricula facilitate creative thinking and prepare students for productive and rewarding careers. Baskin Engineering is focused on building collaborative connections and expanding instruction and research activities for faculty and students in Santa Cruz and at the UC Santa Cruz Silicon Valley campus in Santa Clara.

The Genomics Institute (GI), an Organized Research Unit located within the Baskin School of Engineering, with faculty from several divisions on campus, leads UC Santa Cruz's efforts to unlock the world's genomic data and accelerate breakthroughs in health and evolutionary biology. With the theme of Creating a Healthier World, GI platforms, technologies, and researchers unite global communities to create and deploy data-driven, life-saving treatments and innovative environmental and conservation efforts, while addressing the most fundamental societal and policy questions. The Genomics Institute is committed to broadening participation in this endeavor and bringing the benefits of genomics to the widest range of world populations and ecosystems.

The Genomics Institute's operating budget is currently $31M per year, comprising $26M in sponsored funds from federal, state, and private sources and $4.7M in gifts and institutional funding, and is on a trajectory of increasing activity, partnerships, and extramural funding.

More information about the Genomics Institute can be found at: https://genomics.ucsc.edu/

More information about Baskin Engineering can be found at: https://engineering.ucsc.edu/

JOB SUMMARY

The Genomics Senior Systems Architect is a technical administrator for the Genomics Institute's complex computing infrastructure, including central and departmental systems, high-throughput storage, web systems, and both public and private cloud environments. The incumbent provides vision and advanced technical direction for the planning, development, implementation, maintenance, and documentation of computing and network resources.

The Senior Systems Architect oversees the seamless integration of various subsystems, including operating systems, databases, computing clusters, and data communications networks. The incumbent is also responsible for coordinating the installation, configuration, testing, and monitoring of hardware and software components to ensure system integrity, recoverability, performance, and reliability.

The Senior Systems Architect receives assignments in the form of objectives and defines the processes to achieve those goals. The incumbent identifies and responds to risks, recommends improvements to departmental policies and practices, supports priority-setting and workflow analysis, and in smaller teams, serves as both a technical leader and a hands-on contributor.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $132,300 - $156,500/year. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
• Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Contract appointment

Job End Date: 5 years from hire date, with possibility of extension

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus

Union Representation: Non-Represented

Job Code Classification: 000520 (SYS ADM 4) - Grade 25

Travel: Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

30% - Systems Architecture, Implementation, and Infrastructure Oversight

• Directs, analyzes, designs, and implements complex systems, services, and technology solutions.
• Directs, initiates, proposes, and implements system enhancements, including software and hardware configuration, updates, and installations of TOI projects or services.
• Maintains center servers on a regular and emergency basis.
• Assists users in tasks such as account creation, backups, and monitoring cluster use.
• Monitors systems for operation and capacity overload.
• Orders new equipment as specified by project requirements.
• Offers critical input on the selection of computing solutions.

30% - Operating System and Network Infrastructure Management

• Independently manages operating systems for campus, system, or cross-institutional facilities.
• Assists facilities engineering by recommending selections for purchase or upgrade of new computer hardware, software, and services, and makes purchasing decisions.
• Performs complex and advanced analysis to acquire, install, modify, and support operating systems, databases, utilities, and web-related tools.
• Independently conducts complex systems software and systems support activities.
• Performs advanced analysis techniques.
• Designs and implements networked systems.
• Leads a team of systems and infrastructure professionals.

20% - Software and Scripting Development for System Automation

• Specifies, writes, and executes complex software and scripts that may involve systems or services of enterprise-level scope.

20% - Network and Information Security Management

• Executes complex security controls to prevent unauthorized access to campus, system, and institutional networked resources.
• Specifies and designs network access controls.
• Makes recommendations and assists management with the implications of implementing campus, university, system, and regulation-based security policies.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• In-depth knowledge of Linux, specifically RedHat and clones (RHEL, Rocky, Alma) and Ubuntu/Debian variants.
• Extensive experience with clustered file systems capable of handling petabytes of data (e.g. GPFS, CEPH, glusterfs).
• Extensive experience with UNIX/Linux scripting using shell scripts (bash or csh) or scripting languages (Perl or Python)
• Experience configuring and maintaining Apache web servers and MySQL and MariaDB database servers.
• Ability to elicit and communicate technical and non-technical information in a clear and concise manner.
• Self-motivated and works independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills.
• Ability to learn effectively and meet deadlines.
• Basic knowledge of how to apply technologies and systems to meet business needs.
• Ability to write technical documentation in a clear and concise manner.
• Understanding of system performance monitoring and actions that can be taken to improve or correct performance.
• Knowledge of the design, development and application of technology and systems to meet business needs.
• General knowledge of other areas of IT. Thorough understanding of and experience with systems-related issues and actions that can be taken to improve or correct performance.
• Demonstrated skills associated with adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs. Demonstrated comprehensive understanding of how system management actions affect other systems, system users and dependent / related functions.
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge, skills and abilities associated with system problem identification and resolution. Experience with design, configuration, operation, repair, and tuning of technology systems.
• Advanced experience writing and editing the most complex scripts used to perform system maintenance and administration.
• Demonstrated ability to regularly interact effectively with senior management.
• Demonstrated ability to identify complex problems and related information to develop and evaluate options and Implement solutions.
• Experience with determining how systems and technology should operate most efficiently and how changes to technology systems will affect outcomes, operations, and business objectives.
• Expert knowledge of computer security best practices and policies contribute to campus-wide medical center or Office of the President and or institution-wide policy efforts.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience configuring and managing configuration management tools such as Puppet or Chef.
• Experience configuring and managing broad/complex Layer 2 networks, including Cisco IOS and similar.
• Experience setting up, monitoring, and troubleshooting UCSC Genome Browser and BLAT servers.
• Experience designing, installing, monitoring and troubleshooting large computational clusters.
• Experience with cloud computing vendors (eg. Amazon, Google, Microsoft).
• Advanced knowledge of database management, including development and production environments, staging new version releases, worldwide distribution, and data replication for disaster recovery and minimal downtime.
• Experience working with different levels of securing data, including setting up firewalls, encryption, and access rules and procedures.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• Ability to work long periods of time at a computer with or without accommodation.
• The selected candidate will be required to work a hybrid work schedule and must be able to work successfully from a home/remote office and fulfill the requirements of the UCSC telecommuting agreement.
• Ability to maintain appearance and conduct suitable for working in a professional setting.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. To be compliant with the policy, covered employees must submit proof of vaccination or have an approved exception or deferral, eight (8) weeks from date of hire.
• Exercise the utmost discretion in managing sensitive information learned in the course of performing their duties. Sensitive information includes but is not limited to employee and student records, health and patient records, financial data, strategic plans, proprietary information, and any other sensitive or non-public information learned during the course and scope of employment. Understands that sensitive information should be shared on a limited basis and actively takes steps to limit access to sensitive information to individuals who have legitimate business need to know. Ensure that sensitive information is properly safeguarded. Follow all organizational policies and laws on data protection and privacy. This includes secure handling of physical and digital records and proper usage of IT systems to prevent data leaks. The unauthorized or improper disclosure of confidential work-related information obtained from any source on any work-related matter is a violation of these expectations.

MISCONDUCT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:
  • UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
  • UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
  • Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.