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Research Computing Specialist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Computing Specialist

Arlington, VA · On-site

$85K - $93K/yr

The Computing Specialist (High Performance Computing) provides technical and operational support to Office of Naval Research (ONR) Program Officers overseeing the Navy's High Performance Computing ...

Computing Specialist

Arlington, VA · On-site

$85K - $93K/yr

The Computing Specialist (High Performance Computing) provides technical and operational support to Office of Naval Research (ONR) Program Officers overseeing the Navy's High Performance Computing ...

Computing Specialist

Arlington, VA · On-site

$85K - $93K/yr

The Computing Specialist (High Performance Computing) provides technical and operational support to Office of Naval Research (ONR) Program Officers overseeing the Navy's High Performance Computing ...

The Computing Specialist (High Performance Computing) provides technical and operational support to Office of Naval Research (ONR) Program Officers overseeing the Navy's High Performance Computing ...

$201K/yr

None If filled as Scientific Computing Software Specialist (ARL) - Advanced Professional, this ... None ARL's purpose is to research and develop innovative solutions to challenging scientific ...

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Research Computing Specialist information

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$34K

$43.6K

$59.5K

How much do research computing specialist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for research computing specialist in the United States is $43,638.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $37,500.00 and $47,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a research computing specialist?

Research Computing Specialists are professionals who provide technical support and expertise to researchers using advanced computing resources. They help design, implement, and optimize computational workflows, often working with high-performance computing systems, data management tools, and specialized software. Their role bridges the gap between IT and research by ensuring scientists have the computational infrastructure and guidance needed for complex data analysis, simulations, and other research tasks. Additionally, they may offer training, troubleshoot issues, and contribute to the development of new research technologies.

How do research computing specialists typically collaborate with researchers to support scientific projects?

Research Computing Specialists work closely with researchers by providing technical expertise on high-performance computing (HPC), data management, and software optimization. They often participate in project planning meetings to understand research goals, recommend appropriate computational resources, and assist with troubleshooting complex technical issues. This collaborative environment requires strong communication skills and the ability to translate technical concepts for users with varying levels of computing experience. Over time, successful specialists may take on larger projects or leadership roles, expanding their impact across research teams.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a research computing specialist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Research Computing Specialist, you need expertise in scientific programming, high-performance computing (HPC), and data management, often backed by a degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field. Familiarity with HPC clusters, Linux operating systems, and scripting languages such as Python or Bash is typically required, along with knowledge of job schedulers and version control systems. Strong problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and a collaborative mindset help you effectively support researchers and troubleshoot computing challenges. These competencies are crucial for enabling advanced research, optimizing computational resources, and facilitating scientific discovery.

What is the difference between Research Computing Specialist vs Data Analyst?

AspectResearch Computing SpecialistData Analyst
CredentialsBachelor’s or Master’s in Computer Science, IT, or related fieldsBachelor’s or Master’s in Statistics, Data Science, or related fields
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, universities, research institutionsBusiness, healthcare, finance, or government sectors
Employer & IndustryAcademic and research organizationsVarious industries including finance, healthcare, and marketing

While both roles involve data handling and technical skills, a Research Computing Specialist primarily supports research infrastructure, high-performance computing, and research data management. In contrast, a Data Analyst focuses on analyzing data to generate insights for decision-making. The roles often overlap in technical skills but differ in their core focus and work environment.

More about Research Computing Specialist jobs
What job categories do people searching Research Computing Specialist jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Research Computing Specialist jobs are:
Infographic showing various Research Computing Specialist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $43,638 per year, or $21 per hour.

Research Computing Specialist

California State University

Humboldt, TN • On-site

$7.2K - $7.5K/mo

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


California State University rating

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Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

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Job description

Research Computing Specialist

Apply now Job no: 559279
Work type: Staff
Location: Humboldt
Categories: Unit 9 - CSUEU - Technical Support Services, Probationary, Full Time, Information Systems & Technology, On-site (work in-person at business location)


Research Computing Specialist

Enterprise and Client Technology

Job #559279

Close Date:  08/04/2026

Internal Recruitment

At Cal Poly Humboldt, bold hearts and open minds shape the future.

Founded in 1913, Cal Poly Humboldt began as a small college for teachers. Today Humboldt has grown into a comprehensive university with rigorous science and liberal arts programs. Designated a polytechnic in 2022, Cal Poly Humboldt provides hands-on, impactful educational opportunities that lead to meaningful, measurable outcomes for the individual, for the state, and the world.

Cal Poly Humboldt is proud to have more than 6,000 students of all backgrounds spread across 61 majors, 13 graduate programs, and 4 credential programs - all of whom contribute passion and creativity within their fields and set the stage for a future grounded in equity and sustainability. Hands-on learning, inspired teaching, ground-breaking research, and thought-provoking creative activity happen daily at Humboldt.

Finding a better future is a task for the bold and open, the down-to-earth and visionary. Cal Poly Humboldt strives to cultivate these qualities in leaders, innovators, and scholars in every field. As part of the California State University (CSU) system, Cal Poly Humboldt is part of one of the nation's largest and most impactful public university systems, where education, innovation, and service create meaningful change for California and beyond. See what it's like to work at the CSU-watch our video and imagine your future at Cal Poly Humboldt.

(Job #559279) Business Systems Analyst III, Research Computing Specialist, CSU Classification Salary Range: $7,284 - $10,611 per month (Step 1- Step 20), Anticipated Hiring Range: $7,284- $7,578 per month (Step 1-3).

Final salary placement is commensurate with experience, internal equity, and budget considerations.  This is a full-time, benefited, exempt, 12-month pay plan permanent position with a one-year probationary period in Enterprise and Client Technology Department.

 This position comes with a premium benefits package that includes outstanding vacation, medical, dental, and vision plans, life insurance, voluntary pre-tax health and dependent care reimbursement accounts, a fee waiver education program, membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and 15 paid holidays per year. Additional benefits information can be found at https://www.humboldt.edu/hr/employee-benefits.

Please note that this is an internal recruitment open only to active, stateside, Cal Poly Humboldt Employees.

 

Position Summary:

The purpose of this position is to lead the day-to-day facilitation of Humboldt's High Performance Computing Center and research computing services by consulting with faculty, students, and campus partners to understand research needs and map them to appropriate technology options. The position supports research, student projects, and creative activities by coordinating research computing service delivery, providing technical quality review of research workflows and code, developing training and outreach, maintaining current service documentation and website content, and providing lead work direction and mentoring to student assistants.

 

Key Responsibilities:

 

Research Computing Consultation and Faculty Partnership - 25%

  • Consult with faculty, students, and research partners to understand research computing needs.
  • Translate research goals into technical requirements, workflows, and service options.
  • Guide users through available research computing, HPC, cloud, data, and related ITS services.

HPC Center Service Facilitation and Project Coordination - 20%

  • Lead day-to-day facilitation of Humboldt's High Performance Computing research services.
  • Coordinate research computing projects from intake through implementation.
  • Partner with ITS teams, faculty, and campus partners to define scope, track progress, identify barriers, and support successful delivery of research technology solutions.

Technical Assistance - 20%

  • Provide technical guidance for research computing workflows.
  • Write and review scripts, code, documentation, and related technical deliverables for quality, reproducibility, maintainability, and alignment with service standards.
  • Help faculty and students apply appropriate tools, platforms, and technical practices.

Training, Outreach, Presentations, and Service Adoption - 15%

  • Develop and deliver training, presentations, demonstrations, and outreach to faculty, students, and campus groups to increase awareness and effective use of research computing services.
  • Promote HPC and related services in support of research, student projects, and creative activities.

Student Assistant Lead Work Direction and Mentoring - 10%

  • Provide lead work direction, training, mentoring, task coordination, and review of work for student assistants supporting research computing services, projects, documentation, and outreach.

Research Computing Documentation, Website Content, and Service Information - 5%

  • Maintain current and accurate user-facing documentation and website content for research computing services.
  • Develop guides, service descriptions, training materials, intake information, and communications that help users understand and access available services.

Other Duties as Assigned - 5%

 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Associated with this Position Include:

As listed in Classification Standards:

  • Thorough and advanced knowledge of business systems analysis concepts, principles, protocols, and best practices.
  • Demonstrated competence in independently applying advanced judgment to resolve difficult and complex technical problems and issues.
  • Ability to anticipate the impact of problems and solutions on other systems.
  • Advanced analytical skills to investigate and research new systems and technologies and to develop complex information technology systems and solutions.
  • Excellent project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple complex projects and ensure successful delivery within scope, budget, and timelines.
  • Advanced communication and interpersonal skills to build and foster strong relationships and drive change initiatives.
  • Advanced skill in mentoring and overseeing the work of others.
  • Ability to effectively communicate with a diverse population.

 

As related to the major responsibilities for this position:

  • Demonstrated ability to consult with faculty, students, and research partners to understand research computing needs and map those needs to appropriate technology options, workflows, services, and implementation plans.
  • Working knowledge of research computing, high performance computing, cloud computing, data-intensive research workflows, and related research technology services.
  • Working knowledge of the National Research Platform, or NRP, or comparable research computing platforms, including the ability to help users understand available services and appropriate use cases.
  • Working knowledge of Python coding in support of research computing, data analysis, automation, scripting, workflow support, or technical quality review.
  • Working knowledge of coding in a distributed computing environment, including basic familiarity with parallel processing concepts and research workflows that use distributed or multi-node computing resources.
  • Working knowledge of NVIDIA-specific technologies relevant to research computing, such as GPU-enabled workflows, CUDA-enabled tools, GPU resource use, or AI/ML computing environments.
  • Basic familiarity with Linux operating systems, including command-line navigation, file permissions, shell usage, software environments, and user-level troubleshooting in research computing contexts.
  • Demonstrated ability to provide technical quality review of research workflows, scripts, code, documentation, and project deliverables for quality, reproducibility, maintainability, and alignment with service standards.
  • Demonstrated ability to coordinate complex technology projects involving cross-functional ITS teams, faculty, students, and campus partners.
  • Ability to develop and deliver training, presentations, demonstrations, documentation, and outreach materials for faculty, students, and campus groups.
  • Ability to maintain accurate user-facing service documentation, website content, guides, and communications for research computing services.
  • Ability to provide lead work direction, training, mentoring, task coordination, and review of work for student assistants.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality and protect the integrity of university data and electronic information.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Equivalent to a bachelor's degree in a related field and four years of relevant experience. Additional experience which demonstrates acquired and successfully applied knowledge and abilities may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. An advanced degree in a related field may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Advanced experience designing, implementing, optimizing, or administering research computing, high performance computing (HPC), AI/ML computing environments, GPU-enabled infrastructure, cloud-based research platforms, or large-scale data-intensive research workflows.
  • Experience deploying, administering, supporting, or developing services within the National Research Platform (NRP) or comparable large-scale distributed research computing environments.
  • Advanced experience developing, reviewing, optimizing, or maintaining Python-based applications, automation tools, scientific workflows, data-processing pipelines, or research computing services.
  • Experience developing, troubleshooting, optimizing, or supporting distributed computing applications, parallel processing frameworks, multi-node workloads, containerized research environments, or GPU-accelerated computing solutions.
  • Experience configuring, optimizing, or supporting NVIDIA GPU infrastructure, CUDA-enabled applications, AI/ML model training environments, GPU resource scheduling, or performance tuning activities.
  • Experience administering, troubleshooting, automating, or maintaining Linux-based research computing, high performance computing, or scientific computing environments.
  • Experience serving as a technical advisor to faculty, researchers, or research teams by evaluating computational requirements, designing research technology solutions, and recommending advanced computing strategies, services, or architectures.
  • Experience supporting faculty research, student projects, grants, creative activities, sponsored projects, or research data management practices.
  • Experience designing and delivering technical training programs, workshops, user communities of practice, or outreach initiatives related to research computing, AI/ML, data science, or advanced technology services.
  • Experience leading complex technology initiatives involving project management, service development, process improvement, requirements analysis, stakeholder engagement, organizational change management, and service adoption strategies.

Application Procedure: To apply, qualified candidates must electronically submit the following materials by clicking the Apply Now button:

  • Letter of Interest
  • Resume or Curriculum Vitae
  • Contact information for at least three Supervisor references

Application Deadline: The deadline to submit application materials is 11:55 p.m. on 08/04/2026

Any inquiries about this recruitment can be directed to careers@humboldt.edu or Cal Poly Humboldt's Human Resources Office at (707) 826-3626.

We acknowledge that Cal Poly Humboldt is located on the unceded lands of the Wiyot people, where they have resided from time immemorial. We encourage all to gain a deeper understanding of their history and thriving culture. As an expression of our gratitude we are genuinely committed to developing trusting, reciprocal, and long lasting partnerships with the Wiyot people as well as all of our neighboring tribes. Cal Poly Humboldt was the first campus in the California State University system to offer a stand-alone major in Native American Studies.

Cal Poly Humboldt is committed to enriching its educational environment and its culture through the diversity of its staff, faculty, and administration. Persons with interest and experience in helping organizations set and achieve goals relative to diversity and inclusion are especially encouraged to apply.

Working in the state of California is a condition of employment for this position. Even if part or all of an employee's assignment can be performed remotely, the employee must maintain a permanent residence in the state of California. The employee must be able to accept on-campus work assignment, as assigned, and come to campus when needed.

CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) operated or controlled by the University follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measure es...


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California State University, Fresno is one of 23 campuses in the California State University System. The University's mission is to boldly educate and empower students for success through our values of Discovery, Diversity and Distinction. The current student population is more than 25,000, including a large percentage of students with diverse and culturally rich backgrounds. The University serves the San Joaquin Valley while maintaining deep involvement with the state, nation, and across the globe.

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