Van Andel Institute (VAI), a world-class biomedical research institute, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is dedicated to improving human health. We are pioneers in the fight against cancer, Parkinson's, and other diseases. We are committed to inspiring the next generation of scientists and educators.

Van Andel Institute (VAI) is seeking a collaborative and technically skilled High Performance Computing (HPC) Engineer to support and advance the Institute’s research computing environment. This role is ideal for a systems-minded professional who enjoys partnering with scientists, solving complex computational challenges, and building scalable infrastructure that accelerates discovery.

Position Summary

The HPC Engineer supports the operational and strategic needs of the Institute’s high-performance computing systems and research applications. This position works closely with faculty, research staff, and students to design, implement, and optimize computational infrastructure that enables large-scale data processing and advanced scientific analysis.

The successful candidate will combine deep technical expertise with a strong customer-service mindset, helping researchers leverage HPC resources efficiently and effectively to drive impactful research outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Research & Faculty Support

• Partner with faculty, scientists, technicians, and students to assess computational needs within the HPC environment

• Provide expert technical support for HPC usage, scientific workflows, and large-scale data processing

• Troubleshoot complex computational and performance issues in collaboration with research teams

Infrastructure & Systems Strategy

• Design and implement infrastructure solutions aligned with research and business requirements

• Support the deployment of new system technologies and improve performance of data collection and analysis systems

• Optimize HPC systems to enable faster, deeper, and more reproducible research insights

Data Management & Best Practices

• Assist researchers in developing effective data management plans

• Promote best practices in data organization, documentation, and scientific computing workflows

• Support parallel computing, job scheduling, and resource management

Training & Knowledge Sharing

• Conduct training sessions and workshops on HPC best practices and research computing

• Develop system documentation and user-facing guidance materials

• Coach and mentor less experienced team members

Professional Development & External Engagement

• Stay current with emerging HPC technologies and trends

• Participate in conferences and maintain professional connections with peer institutions

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computational Science, Mathematics, or a closely related field

• Strong experience with:

  • High-performance computing environments

  • Linux systems administration

  • Python and/or R

  • Scientific workflows

  • Slurm workload manager

• Demonstrated customer-facing technical support experience

• Experience writing system documentation and training end users

• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills

• Proven ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams

Preferred:

• Experience working in an academic or scientific research environment

• Background or familiarity with life sciences, biomedical research, or data-intensive research domains

What Makes This Role Unique

• Direct impact on cutting-edge biomedical research

• Opportunity to collaborate with world-class faculty and scientists

• Strategic involvement in advancing research computing capabilities

• A mission-driven environment focused on innovation and discovery

About Van Andel Institute

Established in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1996 by the Van Andel family, VAI is now home to nearly 500 scientists, educators and support staff, who work with national and international collaborators to foster discovery. The Institute’s scientists study the origins of cancer, Parkinson’s and other diseases and translate their findings into breakthrough prevention and treatment strategies. Our educators develop inquiry-based approaches for K–12 education to help students and teachers prepare the next generation of problem-solvers, while our Graduate School offers a rigorous, research-intensive Ph.D. program in molecular and cellular biology.

VAI is committed to excellence through broad participation and diverse perspectives. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences who share our passion for innovation and collaboration.

Van Andel Institute is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Employer.

As Van Andel Institute is a drug free employer, all prospective new employees undergo a urinalysis/drug test as part of our pre-employment process. This is a 7-panel drug screen and it includes testing for Marijuana, Cocaine, Amphetamines, Opiates, PCP, Barbiturates, and Benzodiazepines.

About Grand Rapids, MI

Van Andel Institute is in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan in the center of the Medical Mile. A remarkable combination of a cosmopolitan atmosphere and small-town warmth, Grand Rapids is known for its philanthropic and sustainability-driven community. It’s fun affordable and family-friendly.

Located on the banks of the Grand River, Grand Rapids offers all the big-city excitement you'd expect from a million-resident metropolis, featuring hundreds of restaurants and nightspots, theaters, museums, sports and concerts. The safe and clean downtown is surrounded by an eclectic mix of walkable neighborhoods and natural areas. The downtown area is safe and clean with an eclectic mix of walkable neighborhoods and natural areas.