Manager, Scientific Computing Support

Role Overview

Manager, Scientific Computing Support at Khalifa University, responsible for delivering scientific computing support services to the research community through hands-on technical expertise and team leadership.

Role Purpose

Provide both technical leadership and operational management of scientific computing support services, including HPC, AI/ML workflows, LLM workloads, and GPU-accelerated research support. Enable the research community to effectively leverage advanced computational resources for complex workflows and cutting-edge research projects while managing a team that delivers advanced user support, guidance, and training.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Planning

• Contribute to long-term strategies for HPC, AI, ML, and data-intensive research support within the University.
• Identify emerging technologies and advise leadership on future investments.
• Contribute to the development of the Department's strategy and annual business plans.
• Contribute to the development of the Department's policies and procedures in line with the overall business objectives of the University, ensuring they promote leading practices and excellence.
• Develop future planning strategies, track usage metrics, and prepare analytical reports to support operational efficiency and informed decision-making.
• Stay informed about emerging trends and technologies in scientific computing and contribute to the development of strategic plans.

Technical Operations & Infrastructure

• Oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of HPC and AI/ML environments.
• Provide advanced technical support for scientific computing applications, HPC workflows, AI/ML workflows, and infrastructure.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex computational issues, collaborating with researchers to understand and address their unique requirements.
• Optimize system performance, scalability, and reliability to meet the computational demands of scientific research projects, including both traditional HPC workloads and emerging AI workloads.
• Manage and allocate computational resources efficiently to meet the diverse needs of various research projects.
• Ensure adherence to the University's information security policies and procedures, and report breaches or other security risks accordingly.

Team Leadership & Development

• Oversee a team responsible for supporting traditional HPC workflows and emerging AI workloads, ensuring Khalifa University remains at the forefront of computational research capability.
• Manage and prioritize team tasks to meet project deadlines and ensure high-quality support services.
• Provide coaching, guidance, and mentoring as required to enhance the internal capabilities of the team and ensure the achievement of established objectives and plans.
• Mentor, coach, and develop team members, fostering a collaborative and technically strong work environment.
• Carry out performance appraisals for subordinates according to planned schedules and recommend necessary actions as per the applied practices.
• Recommend appropriate training courses as per the pre-determined training needs, evaluate their effectiveness, and monitor their results.
• Follow up on employees' administrative affairs such as vacations, leaves, and other administrative and related matters.

User Engagement & Support

• Engage with research teams to understand their computational requirements and provide guidance on best practices.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation for scientific computing systems, processes, and best practices.
• Develop documentation and best practice guides for HPC, GPU, and AI/ML infrastructure usage.
• Deliver training workshops for researchers and team members to enhance their understanding of scientific computing resources and methodologies.
• Plan and organize outreach events to promote scientific and AI computing capabilities within the research community and beyond.
• Collaborate with external partners, institutions, and organizations to participate in or host workshops, conferences, and seminars on scientific computing.

Performance & Reporting

• Establish and track performance metrics, service levels, and operational workflows to continually improve team effectiveness.

Organizational Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development of AI-driven tools to enhance internal operations, improve research productivity, and support departmental automation initiatives.
• Ensure coordination with other departments to facilitate the accomplishment of tasks and responsibilities as and when needed.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment and practice to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment.
• Perform any other tasks assigned by Line Manager.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Legal, or other related academic discipline with knowledge of relevant laws.
• Minimum 12 years of relevant experience.

Skills & Competencies

• Advanced technical expertise in HPC, AI/ML workflows, LLM workloads, and GPU-accelerated research support.
• Hands-on technical capability in scientific computing systems design, optimization, and troubleshooting.
• Team leadership and people management.
• Coaching, mentoring, and staff development.
• Strategic planning and technology assessment.
• Research community engagement and stakeholder management.