Software Engineer / Software Engineeress

Join the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS)

The Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) is at the forefront of high-performance computing and data research infrastructure, empowering world-class scientific endeavors in Switzerland. Our user laboratory is accessible to both domestic and international researchers across academia, industry, and the business sector. Operated by ETH Zurich, our facilities are located in Lugano and Zurich.

Position Overview

We are seeking a driven software engineer to operate at the intersection of machine learning and high-performance computing, tackling complex, open-ended challenges to deliver scalable solutions. In this role, you will design and optimize a software-defined infrastructure that supports cutting-edge AI/ML projects in a high-performance and data-intensive environment.

At CSCS, we value technical excellence, curiosity, and the desire for ongoing growth rather than an initial perfect match of skills. If you are motivated to make a significant impact in this field but don’t meet all the qualifications, we enthusiastically encourage you to apply.

Contract Details

The position offers an initial contract limited to two years, providing the opportunity to contribute to a rapidly evolving AI landscape where CSCS plays a pivotal role in high-impact initiatives both nationally and internationally, including contributions to the Swiss AI Initiative and support for the development and release of the Apertus models. There is potential for contract extension or permanent placement.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with researchers and users to understand and address complex, real-world problems.
• Contribute to AI/ML projects, including large language model training, inference, fine-tuning, and HPC-accelerated workflows.
• Develop, maintain, and optimize software and systems, from core libraries programming to scripting and automation.
• Take ownership of high-impact tasks and ensure effective communication with stakeholders throughout the process.
• Engage with ill-defined problems, explore diverse solutions, and learn continuously.

Who We Are Looking For

We welcome engineers from diverse backgrounds eager to contribute to our mission. We prioritize strong technical foundations, sound engineering judgment, and the ability to bridge gaps across various domains. Curiosity, adaptability, and the willingness to learn matter more to us than an initial perfect match of technical requirements.

Technical Environment and Areas of Interest

• Large-scale parallel and distributed systems, including performance tuning.
• Programming and tooling such as C/C++, Python, CUDA, OpenMP, and Spack.
• Linux-based systems, scripting, Slurm, and general systems engineering.
• Containerized and Kubernetes-based service deployment and operations.
• Large-scale machine learning and LLM workflows (e.g., PyTorch, Megatron, pre-training, fine-tuning, inference).
• Storage and data systems (e.g., Lustre, NFS, VAST).
• Collective communication and high-speed networking (e.g., NCCL, RCCL, MPI).
• Monitoring and observability (e.g., DCGM, LDMS, metrics dataflow pipelines and data products development).
• Testing frameworks, software quality practices, and DevOps/GitOps approaches.

Personal Qualities

• Self-motivated, proactive, focused, and collaborative.
• Strong problem-solving mindset with comfort in tackling complex or ambiguous situations.
• Clear communicator with an excellent understanding of user needs.
• Open to learning new technologies and working across multidisciplinary teams.
• Willing to ask for assistance and leverage the right expertise when needed.

Working Approach

Ability to thrive in collaborative, self-organizing environments based on Agile principles. Experience with structured development practices such as test-driven development is a plus.

Core Values

• Curiosity: You enjoy learning, exploring new ideas, and understanding problems deeply.
• Openness: You listen, collaborate, and are receptive to different perspectives.
• Courage: You confront challenging or ambiguous problems and take initiative.
• Supportive: You help colleagues and users succeed, contributing to a positive team culture.
• Integrity: You act honestly, ethically, and reliably in your work.

Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive engineering team and particularly encourage applications from groups underrepresented in technology. If you are technically adept, curious, and eager to grow, we want to hear from you.

Expectations and Benefits

Your role will not only support your professional development but also contribute to positive societal changes. Expect numerous benefits, including public transport season tickets, car sharing options, a variety of sports activities offered by ASVZ, childcare, and attractive pension benefits.

Application Process

Apply online using the form below. Please ensure that your application includes the following documents:

• Motivation letter (PDF)
• CV (PDF)
• Relevant certificates and diplomas (PDF)

Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

For further information about CSCS, please visit our website. Questions regarding the position can be addressed to Stefano Schuppli at schuppli@cscs.ch (no applications).