Laboratory

Next-Generation HPC Infrastructure System Development Unit,
Next-Generation HPC Infrastructure Development Division,
RIKEN Center for Computational Science
(Unit Leader: Kentaro Sano)

Outline of Laboratory

The RIKEN Center for Computational Science (R-CCS), led by Center Director Satoshi Matsuoka, are threefold, centered around supercomputing: one is to target high performance computation itself as a scientific objective, or namely, the "Science of Computing"; another is to apply the enormous computational power thus obtained to solve difficult scientific problems, or namely the "Science by Computing"; finally, to collaborate with other scientific disciplines that contribute to advances in both sciences, or namely, the "Science for Computing." Our goal is to be recognized as one of the global leadership research centers to advance high-end computational science in this regard.

To promote science, technology, and various innovations, including generative AI, as well as to strengthen industrial competitiveness, the importance of computing infrastructure continues to grow. As demand for computing resources rises and their required functionalities evolve and diversify, providing world-class computing resources to researchers across academia, industry, and government is crucial. This necessitates the continuous development and deployment of flagship supercomputers. In this division, we will lead the development and deployment of the next-generation flagship system while also conducting research and development of advanced foundational technologies essential to its realization, in collaboration with domestic and international researchers and industry.

In order to promote the project, the division offers a hub function to collaborate with research organizations both within and outside RIKEN. For this purpose, the following four units are established to promote the development of the system and applications as well as to continuously develop the technologies necessary for the next-generation computing infrastructure.

• Next-Generation HPC Infrastructure System Development Unit (Unit Leader: Kentaro Sano)
• Next-Generation HPC Application Development Unit (Unit Leader: Yasumichi Aoki)
• Next-Generation HPC Operation Technologies Unit (Unit Leader: Keiji Yamamoto)
• Advanced HPC Technologies Development Unit (Unit Leader: Kento Sato)

In addition, the Next-Generation HPC Management Office (Office Director: Yoji Shimada) is established within this division to manage the promotion and development related to the next-generation computing infrastructure.

Job title and Job description

Job title

Senior Research Scientist, Research Scientist or Postdoctoral Researcher: A few positions

Position-specific tasks are as follows:

Senior Research Scientist

Assist Unit Leader; provide guidance to researchers and other personnel at corresponding laboratories; autonomously conduct research projects and other activities.

Research Scientist

Conduct research projects and other activities in corresponding Division.

Postdoctoral Researcher

Receive training and guidance from senior staff, conduct research projects and other activities for Programs or equivalent.

Job description

You will conduct the following research and development related to next-generation computing infrastructure.

• Contributing to the architecture and system software of the “FugakuNEXT” system.
• Contributing to the architecture and system software of next-generation computing infrastructure that goes beyond “FugakuNEXT.”

In addition, if you are hired as a Senior Research Scientist, you will be required to conduct research and development and provide guidance to researchers, technicians and other staff in addition to your own research duties.

The job description may be changed during the contract period or upon contract renewal to the extent described above.

Qualification

Applicants must meet the requirements for the position you are applying for, you must be passionate and have the communication skills necessary to take initiative and actively engage in the development and maintenance of next-generation HPC infrastructure, including the “FugakuNEXT” project. You must also be motivated to work as a member of the R-CCS and our division and units within this division. You should possess sufficient English proficiency to conduct meetings with overseas companies participating in this project, as well as to read English papers and technical documents in related fields and to write English documents.

Senior Research Scientist

A PhD holder in a field related to the “Job Description” with advanced research and development capabilities and achievements. At the time of appointment, at least 5 years have passed since the acquisition of doctoral degree.

Research Scientist

A PhD holder in a field related to the “Job Description”.

Postdoctoral Researcher

A PhD holder in a field related to the “Job Description” (including those who expect to obtain a doctoral degree before starting the position) and within 5 years after obtaining the doctoral degree.

Work location

RIKEN Kobe Campus – South (7-1-26, Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0047, JAPAN)
RIKEN may order the employee to change work locations, if necessary.

Salary and benefits

(Senior Research Scientist and Research Scientist)

A one-year fixed-term employment contract, renewable based on evaluation, to a maximum of seven years since the initial date of hire.

(Postdoctoral Researcher)

A one-year fixed-term employment contract, renewable based on evaluation, to a maximum of five years since the initial date of hire.

RIKEN may adjust the above maximum period of renewability based on a) the employee’s abilities, workload 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 70 years.

RIKEN has indefinite-term positions. Any scientists, including fixed-term employees 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 are 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.

Discretionary work, commuting and housing allowances will be provided. Social insurance will be applied.

The approximate amount of salary at the time of employment is as follows: the monthly salary including discretionary work allowance at the time of employment will be more than 620,000 JPY for Senior Research Scientist, 520,000 JPY for Research Scientist, and 400,000 JPY for Postdoctoral Researcher.

RIKEN has implemented a telecommuting system that allows employees to work from home or other locations permitted by RIKEN.

This position falls under the specialized duties discretionary work system; one working day will be calculated as 7 hours and 30 minutes.

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 depending on the month of employment), special paid leave (caring for a sick child , family nursing care, etc.), and work-life balance holidays (up to 7 days depending on the month of employment). There are also additional leave systems such as maternity leave, childcare leave, and family nursing care leave.

Smoking is entirely prohibited on site.

These and other provisions are in accordance with RIKEN regulations.

Mandatory membership in the RIKEN Mutual Benefit Society (RIKEN Kyosaikai).

• *Eligible to apply for the MEXT Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kakenhi).
• *The Kobe Campus has an on-site daycare,PO-I Kids Kobe.
  For details, please send an email to kobe-kosei@riken.jp.
• *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

Required documents

Please submit the following items in English. (Resumes and letters of recommendation may be submitted in Japanese.)

• 1.Complete CV or CV
  • *Email address is required.
  • *Application Number [25-1425] and position to apply (e.g. : Research Scientist) should be clearly written at top-right in the margin.
  • *Format is free. Or the format attached is available.
• 2.List of research and development achievements
  (including ResearcherID or Google Scholar ID, if available)
  Include not only peer-reviewed papers but also a list of patents, a list of invited lectures. Also include quantitative measures for evaluation such as the Google Scholar citation index, whenever possible.
• 3.Copies of up to five most important publications (Please mark the papers on the list of publications.)
  When the original publications are not in PDF format, convert the papers and save them as PDF documents prior to submission.
• 4.List of competitive funds acquired, awards received, and other achievements including, contributions to university/institution operations, contribution to society through activities in academic societies, joint research projects, technology transfers, etc.
• 5.Description of previous research, future research plans, and career goals: No format specified, approximately three to four A4 pages in total. It is desirable that a diagram describing the research is provided.
• 6.At least one letter of recommendation from a person who can evaluate your work
  • *In principle, the letter of recommendation should be from the applicant’s current supervisor. When it is difficult to do so, a letter of recommendation written by a third party may be accepted. If your current affiliation is the laboratory you apply for, the referee should be a person who does not belong to the laboratory you apply for including the supervisor.
  • *The letter of recommendation must be sent directly by the referees.
  • *The letter of recommendation should be addressed to R-CCS Director. Digital signature image can be embedded in the letter of recommendation 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.
• 7.Consent form for handling personal information based on GDPR/UK GDPR
  If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA) or the UK, you are required to sign and submit the document, “Consent form for handling personal information based on Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) and the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation.”
  • *For residents of the EEA, you will find detailed information about the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on the following website:
    Data protection | European Commission
  • *For residents of the UK, you will find detailed information about Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation) on the following website:
    The UK GDPR | Information Commissioner’s Office

How to apply

Combine the above documents except the recommendation letters into a single PDF file and upload them to the following link:
Applications for Next-Generation HPC Infrastructure System Development Unit

The file name of the PDF should contain the job ad number “25-1425, R-CCS Next-Generation HPC Infrastructure System Development Unit” and the applicant’s name.
Please write the job ad number and the name of the position that you apply for in the “Add additional information” box. After you uploaded the PDF file, please let us (kobe-jobs@riken.jp) know the file name of the uploaded file. When you send us an email, please write your name, Job Ad number and the name of the position that you apply for.

The letter of recommendation must be directly submitted from the referees to the link mentioned above with the subject line "Letter of recommendation for [applicant’s name], [name of the position], R-CCS Next-Generation HPC Infrastructure System Development Unit”. Please tell them to email us (kobe-jobs@riken.jp) that they have uploaded the PDF file and to specify the applicant's name, 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@riken.jp.

Note: None of the submitted documents will be returned.

Deadline

Applications will be accepted until the positions are 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 at RIKEN. Personal information will not be disclosed, transferred or loaned to a third party under any circumstances without just cause.

Selection process

Applications will be reviewed upon receipt, and interviews will be conducted for selected applicants (2 interviews for Senior Research Scientist and Research Scientist positions and one interview for Postdoctoral Researcher position). The second interview for Senior Research Scientists and Research Scientists will be conducted in English. No inquiries on the selection process and results will be answered.

Notification of hiring decision

The notification of hiring decision (conditional offer of employment) regarding this selection shall be carried out through the presentation of an Employment Contract or a Conditional Offer of Employment issued by RIKEN.

Start of Employment

As soon as possible (Negotiable)

Contact Information

Inquiries regarding research and development about this call

Kentaro Sano
Next-Generation HPC Infrastructure System Development Unit,
Next-Generation HPC Infrastructure Development Division,
RIKEN Center for Computational Science
Email: kentaro.sano@riken.jp

General inquiries about this call

Next-Generation HPC Management Office,
Next-Generation HPC Infrastructure Development Division,
RIKEN Center for Computational Science
Email: ng_pmo_app@riken.jp