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Hpc Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Senior HPC Systems Engineer

Chicago, IL · Remote

$107K - $146K/yr

About the role Parallel Works is hiring a Senior HPC Systems Engineer to build and run the clusters behind our defense and research programs. The work covers GPU node bring-up, Slurm configuration ...

About the role Parallel Works is hiring a Senior HPC Systems Engineer to build and run the clusters behind our defense and research programs. The work covers GPU node bring-up, Slurm configuration ...

Senior HPC Systems Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$107K - $147K/yr

About the role Parallel Works is hiring a Senior HPC Systems Engineer to build and run the clusters behind our defense and research programs. The work covers GPU node bring-up, Slurm configuration ...

Quantum Integrations Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$107K - $144K/yr

Build and maintain integrations with cloud, HPC, AI, and scientific-computing environments ... Collaborate with quantum software engineers to translate application prototypes and quantum ...

Showing results 21-40

Hpc Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$24.7K

$111.3K

$177.3K

How much do hpc engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for hpc engineer in Chicago, IL is $111,298.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $86,100.00 and $137,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an HPC engineer do?

An HPC (High-Performance Computing) Engineer designs, deploys, and optimizes high-performance computing systems used for intensive computational tasks. They work with parallel computing, cluster management, and performance tuning to ensure efficient processing of large-scale simulations, data analysis, and scientific research. Their role often involves configuring hardware, optimizing software, and troubleshooting issues to maximize system performance.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an HPC engineer?

To thrive as an HPC Engineer, you need a solid background in computer science, mathematics, or a related field, with expertise in parallel computing, Linux systems, and high-performance cluster management. Proficiency with job schedulers (like SLURM or PBS), programming languages such as C/C++ or Python, and experience with distributed file systems are highly valuable, and certifications in relevant areas can enhance your qualifications. Strong problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills help you work efficiently within technical teams and explain complex concepts to non-experts. These skills and qualities are essential for ensuring high performance, reliability, and scalability of computing systems in scientific and enterprise settings.

What are some of the common challenges faced by HPC engineers in their day-to-day work?

HPC Engineers often encounter challenges such as optimizing performance for complex workloads, troubleshooting system failures, and efficiently managing large-scale infrastructures. You may be required to balance the needs of multiple users and projects, quickly address hardware or software issues, and stay ahead of evolving technologies. Collaboration with researchers, IT staff, and software developers is key to designing robust solutions. Overcoming these challenges helps improve computational efficiency and supports critical research and business objectives.

Are HPC engineers in demand?

HPC (High-Performance Computing) engineers are in high demand due to the increasing need for advanced computing in fields like scientific research, data analysis, and artificial intelligence. Employers seek professionals skilled in parallel programming, cluster management, and tools such as Linux and MPI, often requiring relevant certifications and experience with large-scale systems.

How much do HPC engineers make in the US?

HPC (High-Performance Computing) engineers in the US typically earn between $80,000 and $150,000 annually, depending on experience, education, and location. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in parallel computing, cluster management, or specific tools like MPI or CUDA can earn higher salaries.

What are the most commonly searched types of Hpc Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Hpc Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

Infographic showing various Hpc Engineer job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $111,298 per year, or $53.5 per hour.

Junior HPC Applications Engineer

Parallel Works, Inc.

Chicago, IL • On-site

$65 - $90/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 4 days ago


Job description

About Parallel Works

Parallel Works builds and operates ACTIVATE, a control plane for high performance computing and AI. Our customers run large scientific and AI workloads across their own on-premises clusters, Government and commercial cloud, and commercial GPU providers, and ACTIVATE gives them one way in to all of it. The high security boundary is authorized at Impact Level 5, with FIPS validated cryptography and STIG hardening throughout.

The work reaches most fields that depend on computing at scale: weather and climate forecasting, defense and intelligence programs, aerospace and structural analysis, molecular and materials science, energy, and AI research. A quarter here can include standing up a GPU cluster for one of those communities, federating a laboratory's existing on-premises system with burst capacity it did not have before, and getting a domain code written decades ago to run on current hardware.

Customer success sets our priorities. We are a small engineering company, so engineers here work directly with the people using the systems and carry a problem from the first report through to the fix. This is what we call mission engineering: understanding what a customer is trying to accomplish and why the computing matters to it.

About the role

Parallel Works is hiring a Junior HPC Applications Engineer to support the researchers and engineers running work on our platforms. The role handles first line support: build failures, batch script problems, environment issues, and the first diagnosis on failed jobs.

It suits someone who has run scientific or machine learning workloads on a cluster as a user and wants to move to the other side of the ticket. Our users work across on-premises clusters, cloud, and commercial GPU providers, and the same question often has a different answer in each. The role works alongside a senior applications engineer, building software stacks for users and handling second tier diagnosis after about a year.

What you will do
  • First line support:own incoming tickets, reproduce the problem, resolve what you can, and escalation with diagnosis attached.
  • Batch scripts:write, debug, and tune Slurm submission scripts with users, including GPU requests, array jobs, and resource sizing.
  • Environments and modules:build and install user requested software under senior review, and maintain module and container environments.
  • Onboarding:walk new users through access, storage layout, and first jobs when a cluster comes online.
  • Documentation:user guides and FAQ entries that cut repeat tickets.
  • Coverage rotation:a support coverage rotation. Some engagements carry coverage outside standard United States business hours, agreed in advance.
  • 2 or more years supporting users on Linux systems, or running scientific or machine learning workloads on a cluster as a practitioner.
  • Comfort on the Linux command line, including building software from source.
  • Writing and debugging batch scripts under Slurm, PBS, or LSF.
  • Proficiency with Python, plus either a machine learning framework or a domain scientific code.
  • Writing a complete, correct answer to a user in plain language.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with Spack, EasyBuild, or Lmod.
  • Multi-GPU or multi-node job experience.
  • Use of containers such as Apptainer, Singularity, or Docker.
  • Exposure to any profiling or debugging tooling.
  • Graduate coursework or a research computing background, or time on a university or laboratory HPC help desk.

Medical, vision, and dental coverage, a 401(k) with company match, short term disability, and generous paid vacation and sick time.

Equal employment opportunity

Parallel Works is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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