Laboratory

System Operations and Development Unit, Operations and Computer Technologies Division, RIKEN Center for Computational Science (R-CCS)

Research Field

RIKEN Center for Computational Science (R-CCS), led by Center Director Satoshi Matsuoka, is an international hub for computational science that promotes "science of computing, by computing, and for computing." R-CSS positions the technology in which RIKEN has strengths (R-CCS technology) and the software developed by RIKEN that contributes to science, technology, industry, and society (R-CCS software) as its "core competence in computational science driving science as a whole." R-CCS aims to develop these technologies, disseminate them domestically and internationally, and produce results. In addition, R-CCS utilizes its expertise to operate the supercomputer Fugaku, developed as Japan's national project, in accordance with relevant ordinances.

The Operations and Computer Technologies Division, responsible for the stable operation of Fugaku, and for upgrading its operational technologies and surrounding environment, contains five units that handle these tasks. Of those, the System Operations and Development Unit conducts operations and maintenance management, user management, and user support for the stable operation of Fugaku, in addition to the research and development on its advanced management and operations. While conducting maintenance management on R-CCS networks, this unit will also promote development of operational technologies that contribute to Fugaku's optimization (energy-saving), and ways to work toward carbon neutrality with sights on next-generation computing infrastructure.

Job title and Job description

Job title

Unit Leader (full-time, fixed-term): 1 person

Job description

In addition to conducting research and development related to upgrading technologies for Fugaku, the Unit Leader will perform the following tasks:

• 1.Tasks related to operational management of the operation of Fugaku
• 2.Tasks related to configuring operational requirements for the operation of Fugaku

Qualification

Applicants must have a PhD degree or equivalent (including those who expect to obtain a PhD by the time of appointment) and have demonstrated ability to successfully lead the System Operations and Development Unit as a researcher in a management position. In addition, while actively participating in and contributing to the international and domestic community of HPC/data center operators, applicants should be enthusiastic to facilitate upgrading, operations, and R&D of HPC, starting with Fugaku. It is desirable that applicants have past work experience pertinent to the job description. Further, applicants must be able to balance cooperation with independent research, and have the management and communication skills necessary to carry out the work.

Work location

Branch and address

RIKEN Center for Computational Science
7-1-26, Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0047, JAPAN

RIKEN has implemented a work-from-home system. Employees can work from home in accordance with the prescribed procedures.

Salary and benefits

• 1.One-year fixed-term employment contract, renewable based on evaluation, up to seven years from the initial date of hire.
• 2.RIKEN may adjust the above maximum period of renewability based on a) the employee's abilities, work load at the time of contract completion, performance and work attitude and b) the continuation of the employee's center, laboratory or project and RIKEN's management situation and budget at the time. In principle, employment contracts will not be renewed for individuals older than 65 years.

RIKEN has indefinite-term positions, which are subject to the mandatory retirement age of 60. There is a subsequent re-employment program allowing hiring until age of 65. Any scientists, including fixed-term Unit Leaders of RIKEN who have been hired through this open call, are eligible to apply to open calls for indefinite-term positions.

In principle, the first two months of employment is considered a trial period.
Salary will be an annual salary based on experience, ability, and performance, and will consist of a base salary and a variable salary. The variable salary will be determined each fiscal year based on experience, ability, and performance. The monthly base salary is 599,000 JPY. The monthly base salary and variable salary are subject to change due to amendments to RIKEN regulations. Commuting and housing allowances will be provided. Social insurance will be applied.
The approximate amount of monthly salary at the time of employment:
The monthly salary at the time of employment will start from 599,000 JPY per month, with additions based on performance and experience. The monthly salary (base salary＋variable salary) at the time of employment for a candidate with 20 years of experience, ability, and achievement after completion of the doctoral course will be approximately 810,000 JPY.

Mandatory membership in the RIKEN Mutual Benefit Society (RIKEN Kyosaikai).
Work hours: 9:00 to 17:20 (lunch break 12:00 to 12:50). However, the employee may change starting and finishing times at their own discretion if it does not interfere with work performance.
Days off include public holidays, New Year's holidays (Dec. 29 - Jan 3), and RIKEN Foundation Day.
Paid leave includes annual paid leave (up to 20 days per year depending on the month of employment), special paid leave (childcare, family nursing care, etc.), and work-life balance holidays (up to 7 days per year depending on the month of employment).
There are also additional leave systems such as maternity leave, childcare leave, and family nursing care leave.
No smoking on site.
These and other provisions are in accordance with RIKEN regulations.

Our Unit actively utilizes a telecommuting system. The post currently being offered may be carried out through telecommuting (full-remote work) within Japan for the entire specified work period, provided that the required procedures are completed and approval is obtained from RIKEN. For more information, please get in touch with the hiring at r-ccs-kikaku [at] ml.riken.jp.

The Kobe Branch has an on-site daycare, Po-I Kids Kobe.
For details, please send an email to the Kobe Human Resource Section at kobe-kosei [at] riken.jp.

Also, eligible for an exemption from repayment for category 1 scholarship loans provided by the Japan Student Services Organization before fiscal year 2003, and eligible to apply for the MEXT Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kakenhi).

RIKEN is actively undertaking initiatives to promote gender equality and diversity, and moving forward with the establishment of a diverse and vibrant research environment. If multiple candidates are found to have the same aptitude following a fair assessment, active efforts will be made to recruit female candidates.

Application and required documents

Please prepare the following documents in English.

• 1.CV
  There is no format specified for the CV, but it must include the following information: name, nationality, date of birth, educational background and employment history, including current affiliation and address of affiliation, and the applicant's email address to be used for contact information.
• 2.Research and development achievement list
  Include lists of papers (divided by original papers, reviews, and others), patents, invited talks, etc. Please also include quantitative measures for evaluation, such as the Google Scholar citation index, whenever possible.
• 3.Copies of up to five major papers (Please mark the major papers in the list of research achievements.)
  If the original papers are not in PDF format, scan the papers and save them as PDF documents for submission.
• 4.List of competitive funds acquired, awards received, and other achievements
  Include contributions to university/institution operations, contributions to society through activities in academic societies, joint research projects, technology transfers, etc.
• 5.Description of the research conducted to date (no more than two A4 pages). It is best to attach a diagram describing your research.
• 6.Technological development plan if you are employed by R-CCS (no more than two A4 pages)
  Your philosophy on team management/human resources development (roughly one A4 page)
• 7.Recommendation letters from two persons who can evaluate your work
  • *One recommendation letter should be written by the applicant's current supervisor. If this is difficult to provide, a recommendation letter written by a third party may be accepted.
  • *If the applicant currently works for RIKEN, recommendation letters should be written by a person outside of RIKEN.
  • *Both recommendation letters should not come from the same institution.
  • *Recommendation letters must be sent directly by the referees.
  • *The letters should be addressed to President of RIKEN. Digital signature image should be embedded in the recommendation letters within the PDF file. Or please specify the referee's contact information (name, affiliation, job title, phone number, and email address) in the letter. Please make sure to write the date.
• 8.Consent form for handling personal information based on GDPR
  If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA), you are required to submit the document, "Consent form for handling personal information based on GDPR" with your signature.

  *You will find detailed information about General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on the following website:
  Data protection | European Commission

How to apply

Combine the above documents except the recommendation letters into a single PDF file and upload them to the following website:
Applications for R-CCS-PI2302 System Operations and Development Unit

The file name of the PDF should contain the job ad number "R-CCS-PI2302, System Operations and Development Unit" and the applicant's name.

After you upload the PDF file, please let us (kobe-jobs[at]riken.jp) know the name of the uploaded file. Please make the email subject line:
"Your Name_R-CCS-PI2302 System Operations and Development Unit_Unit Leader application documents"

Referees should submit recommendation letters directly by sending to (kobe-jobs [at] riken.jp) as an email attachment. The email subject line should be:
"RIKEN Center for Computational Science, R-CCS-PI2302 System Operations and Development Unit, Unit Leader Application (Applicant's Name) recommendation letter."
Specify the applicant's name, and the referee's name and contact information in the body of the email.

If a confirmation email is not received within 7 days after submission, please contact: kobe-jobs [at] riken.jp

Deadline

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Handling Personal Data

Submitted documents are strictly protected under the RIKEN Privacy Policy and will be used only for the purpose of applicant screening. Personal information will not be disclosed, transferred or loaned to a third party under any circumstances without authorization by the applicant.

Selection process

We will conduct the screening procedures upon receipt of the applications. Only selected candidates will move on to the interview process. Please understand that we cannot respond to inquiries about the selection results.

Start of Employment

At the earliest opportunity (subject to negotiation)

Contact Information

For inquiries on this open position, please contact the person named below by email:

SHOJI, Fumiyoshi
Director
Operations and Computer Technologies Division,
RIKEN Center for Computational Science
Email: shoji [at] riken.jp

Note

Updated as of Nov 6, 2023:　"Application and required documents", "Deadline" and "Start of Employment"