Position Function:
Mississippi State University invites applications for the position of Research Compute Support Specialist (RCSS). This is an early career position designed for scientists and engineers to develop skills in high performance computing to support the scientific research community. This position liaises and supports faculty and researchers, translating domain needs into software solutions that drive discovery within and across disciplines. This role sits at the intersection of research and advanced software design. The RCSS engages with faculty across the university to support their access to computing resources and their ability to effectively use high performance computing (HPC) technologies to solve their specific research challenges.
This position is for a domain-trained graduate in an engineering or science discipline with minimal prior experience applying HPC to domain-specific problems but a desire to learn. The RCSS will be expected to spend the first year developing their knowledge of high-performance computing and software development skills, working with researchers designing solutions, and collaborating with external partners.
This position is supported by grant funding and is time limited.
Salary Grade: 15
Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.
Department Profile:
The High Performance Computing Collaboratory (HPC²), an evolution of the MSU NSF Engineering Research Center (ERC) for Computational Field Simulation, at Mississippi State University is a coalition of member institutes and centers that share a common core objective of advancing the state-of-the-art in computational science and engineering using high performance computing; a common approach to research that embraces a multi-disciplinary, team-oriented concept; and a commitment to a full partnership between education, research, and service. The mission of the HPC² is to serve the University, State, and Nation through excellence in computational science and engineering.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Serve as a technical bridge between domain researchers and highly specialized computing infrastructure, translating scientific workflows and data analysis pipelines into HPC solutions.
• Provide consultation and collaboration to researchers on grant proposals involving computational resources, enabling research teams to compete successfully for external funding.
• Deliver specialized training programs for researchers, both remotely and on-site, tailored to advanced scientific applications.
• Collaborate with internal teams to provide structured feedback on customer needs, contributing to product development and technical documentation.
• Author and maintain training resources, including technical guides, scientific protocols, and knowledgebase content.
• Participate in cross-functional projects, such as workflow optimization and the integration of AI/ML-based image analysis tools.
• Co-develop software components and applications to support ongoing research efforts.
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students pursuing careers in computing; offering hands-on experience and training opportunities, while promoting research computing as a professional career track.
• Work with HPC leadership to ensure research compute solutions and services integrate effectively with MSU high performance computing infrastructure and secure research environments.
Minimum Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s Degree in STEM field
Preferred Qualifications:
• Demonstrated experience in translating research needs into software solutions.
• Familiarity with research domains central to MSU’s mission.
• Some technical depth in areas such as HPC integration, distributed computing, GPU programming, workflow automation, reproducible computing environments (e.g., Jupyter notebooks, containerization, CI/CD), and data pipeline engineering.
• Experience with open-source communities, software sustainability practices, and modern DevOps frameworks (e.g. container orchestration, Kubernetes, microservices).
• Knowledge of compliance frameworks and secure research environments.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Knowledge of computational approaches to solving problems in their field.
• Introductory awareness of at least one programming language relevant to HPC and/or Data Science applications (e.g. C/C++, Python, R, …).
• Good communication skills with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong desire to learn new skills and apply them to challenging situations.
Working Conditions and Physical Effort
• Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.
• No or very limited exposure to physical risk.
• No or very limited physical effort required.
Instructions for Applying:
Link to apply: http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/
Apply online by submitting a cover letter, resume, and a copy of your transcript(s). Any social security numbers included on requested transcripts should be redacted prior to submitting online.
Apply online at jobs.msstate.edu
Restricted Clause:
Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.
What do I do if I need an accommodation?
In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.
If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.
