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Research Computing Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Five + years of IT project management experience in Research Computing, Research Early Development Data Assets, Virtual Screening, Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), Cloud computing, Schrodinger ...

ML Infrastructure Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$126K - $166K/yr

What You'll Work On Research Computing & Developer Experience * Build compute abstractions that handle the team's diverse workloads: GPU-accelerated simulation, distributed training, high-throughput ...

What You'll Work On Research Computing & Developer Experience * Build compute abstractions that handle the team's diverse workloads: GPU-accelerated simulation, distributed training, high-throughput ...

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Research Computing information

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$11

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How much do research computing jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for research computing in California is $21.93, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.07 and $23.51 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Research Computing position, and why are they important?

To excel in Research Computing, a strong background in computer science, data analysis, and scientific research methodologies is essential, often supported by an advanced degree in a STEM field. Familiarity with high-performance computing (HPC) systems, cluster management tools, programming languages (such as Python, R, or C++), and certifications in cloud platforms or data science are commonly required. Effective problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills help professionals work closely with researchers and interdisciplinary teams. These skills and qualities are crucial for supporting complex computational research, ensuring efficient system use, and driving innovation in scientific discovery.

What are the typical day-to-day responsibilities of someone working in Research Computing?

In a Research Computing role, you will often support researchers by managing and optimizing access to high-performance computing resources, troubleshooting technical issues, and assisting with the setup of specialized software or tools. You may also help develop computational workflows, maintain data storage systems, and guide users on best practices for maximizing resource efficiency. Collaboration with scientists, faculty, and IT staff is common, as you play a key role in enabling advanced research projects. This hands-on, problem-solving environment provides opportunities to learn new technologies and contribute directly to impactful scientific work.

What is a Research Computing job?

A Research Computing job involves supporting computational and data-intensive research by providing expertise in high-performance computing (HPC), data management, software development, and cloud technologies. Professionals in this field work closely with researchers to optimize code, manage large datasets, and ensure efficient use of computing resources. They may also develop and maintain computing infrastructure, troubleshoot technical issues, and assist with grant proposals requiring specialized computing capabilities.

What are the most commonly searched types of Research Computing jobs in California? The most popular types of Research Computing jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Research Computing jobs in California? For Research Computing jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Co-Director, CSC, Head Computation Strategies, California Nanosystems Institute

Co-Director, CSC, Head Computation Strategies, California Nanosystems Institute

University of California Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA • On-site

$21.25 - $29/hr

Other

Posted 5 days ago


University Of California Santa Barbara rating

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 7 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

173rd of 535 rated colleges and universities


Job description

Position description
The California Nanosystems Institute (CNSI) at UCSB provides a wide base of infrastructure resources, facilitating myriad collaborative research and education endeavors on the UCSB campus. CNSI's mission is to catalyze growth and development in research and education. It plans an aggressive expansion of its programs and facilities. A critical component of this growth is the development of extensive computational tools, leveraging the latest advances in AI as appropriate, to allow the optimal acquisition, storage, manipulation, modeling and simulation of all forms of scientific data. As the science and technology of the fields supported by CNSI develop, the requirements for access to rapid and powerful computational tools will continue to grow. The CNSI is committed to support access to state-of-the-art computational environments to the research labs and facilities housed within CNSI and to the broader UCSB campus.
The Center for Scientific Computing (CSC) is housed within CNSI and managed jointly by CNSI and the Materials Research Lab (MRL). CSC provides High Performance Computing (HPC; both hardware and technical expertise) to the UCSB research community in both campus available, and dedicated 'condo' clusters. It currently serves approximately 100 campus faculty and 300 individual users, spanning 24 different campus departments and research organizations; the CSC has been cited over 1,000 times in peer-reviewed journals. The CSC Co-Director serves triple roles as the primary system administrator of these clusters (including management of the CSC data center, a 1300 square foot raised-floor dedicated machine room with 40 racks and 66 tons of cooling), as a research computing consultant, and as a partner in the strategic planning of the center, in collaboration with the Director of CNSI and the CSC faculty advisory committee. The Co-Director assists in the writing of grants to replace/upgrade HPC resources, organizes quarterly instructional workshops and occasional conferences on HPC topics and research computing, and is responsible for assuring CSC compliance with applicable federal, state and campus regulations, policies and procedures. As one of the few high-level research computing professionals on the UCSB campus, the Co-Director participates in campus-wide IT governance, through service on various standing and ad hoc committees. The Co-Director oversees a secondary system administrator and a user-support specialist.
The Head of CNSI Scientific Data & Computation Strategies is responsible for managing computer systems within CNSI's shared experimental facilities and individual research laboratories that are integrated with lab equipment and/or workflows (LIMS or data analytics, e.g.), and identifying new technologies and tools that assure CNSI lab capabilities remain at the cutting edge. Elings Hall also has a number of shared facilities managed by other entities and the incumbent works with those facilities managers as well to advance research capabilities. UCSB is known for its wide ranging, cross disciplinary research. As such, this position works closely with other IT groups on campus to assure that researchers enjoy a seamless, easy-to-use IT ecosystem. Further, the Head manages CNSI-UCSB computing interactions with various off-campus organizations, including the CNSI-UCLA sister site and the National Research Platform. The Head is also responsible for developing strategies for CNSI to integrate AI into its research computing infrastructure and to identify new AI-enabled
opportunities for the provision of recharge services.
Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
Applicants for this position must hold either a Master's degree in a scientific or engineering field or a Bachelor's degree with equivalent experience (five years or more).
Preferred qualifications
Strong preference given to applicants holding an advanced degree and/or with experience in research computing.
A proven track record of systems administration within a Linux environment, familiarity with desktop operating systems (Windows, macOS), strong programming and debugging skills, and a history of using and maintaining HPC systems is desired. There are currently four clusters, with approximately 50-100 nodes each.
Familiarity with HPC systems and software, e.g. Infiniband, Warewulf, Slurm, etc. is also strongly desired.
It is desirable that the applicant have experience working with computer-controlled scientific instrumentation.
Application Requirements
Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
  • Cover Letter

Reference requirements
  • 3-5 required (contact information only)

References will be contacted for the top applicants. We will provide notice to applicants before reaching out to references.
Apply link: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF03110
Help contact: alexis_torres@ucsb.edu
About UC Santa Barbara
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.
  • "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 or discrimination as defined by the employer.
  • UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
  • UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, students and third parties
  • APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Additionally, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs , as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.
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 status under state or federal law.
Job location
Santa Barbara, CA