HPC Security SME

High-Performance Computing (HPC) Security - Contract Opportunity

Job Title: DV-Cleared High-Performance Computing (HPC) SME - Cyber Security
Location: On-site, Secure Facility (UK, Defence)
Clearance: Active Developed Vetting (DV) required
Engagement: Contract/Interim
Start Date: ASAP/subject to DV transfer timelines

Overview

Our Defence client is seeking a DV-cleared High-Performance Computing (HPC) Subject Matter Expert with a strong Cyber Security background to join a classified programme supporting national security.

You will be the technical lead for secure HPC environments, advising on architecture, performance, resilience and security controls across complex, data-intensive workloads in a highly regulated, air-gapped setting.

Key Responsibilities

• HPC Design & Architecture

  • Lead the design, optimisation and operation of HPC clusters (compute, storage, interconnects, scheduling).
  • Define and maintain reference architectures and patterns for secure HPC workloads within classified environments.
  • Work closely with infrastructure, network and platform teams to ensure performance, scalability and resilience.

• Cyber Security & Assurance

  • Embed security-by-design principles into HPC architectures, in line with NCSC and Defence standards.
  • Work with Security Architects and Accreditor to ensure solutions meet accreditation requirements for DV-level systems.
  • Define and validate hardening baselines, access control models, logging/monitoring and incident response approaches for HPC platforms.
  • Support risk assessment, threat modelling and vulnerability remediation for HPC services.

• Platform Engineering & Operations

  • Oversee build, configuration and tuning of HPC operating systems, schedulers and Middleware (eg Slurm, PBS Pro, LSF, Kubernetes-based HPC, etc.).
  • Optimise performance for parallel and high-throughput workloads, including benchmarking and capacity planning.
  • Guide automation of deployment and configuration using modern tooling (eg Ansible, Terraform, CI/CD where permitted).

• Stakeholder & Technical Leadership

  • Act as the go-to SME for HPC and Security on the programme, advising technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Produce high-quality documentation (HLD/LLD, security artefacts, operational runbooks, test reports).
  • Mentor engineering teams and champion best practice in HPC engineering and cyber security.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Active DV clearance with recent experience working on classified/highly sensitive government or Defence programmes.
• Proven track record as an HPC Engineer/Architect/SME in complex, mission-critical environments.
• Stronghands-on experience with:
  • HPC clusters (on-prem, air-gapped or secure environments).
  • Linux (eg RHEL, Rocky, CentOS, Ubuntu) in large-scale compute estates.
  • Schedulers/workload managers (eg Slurm, PBS Pro, LSF, Grid Engine or similar).
  • High-performance networking (eg InfiniBand, high-speed Ethernet, RDMA).
  • High-performance storage (eg Lustre, GPFS/Spectrum Scale, BeeGFS or similar).
  • Solid Cyber Security background, including:
  • Familiarity with NCSC, MOD, or equivalent standards and security controls.
  • Experience contributing to security accreditation activities for secure platforms.
  • Understanding of identity and access management, logging/monitoring, hardening and vulnerability management in secure environments.
• Experience working within Defence, National Security, or UK Government secure environments (preferably DV-only).

Desirable Skills

• Experience with:
  • Secure DevOps/DevSecOps practices in constrained environments.
  • Containerisation and orchestration (eg Docker, Kubernetes/OpenShift) adapted for HPC workloads.
  • Cloud-adjacent HPC (AWS, Azure, GCP) and hybrid secure architectures (where policy permits).
• Familiarity with:
  • NIST, ISO 27001, JSP, DEFCONs, or HMG Security Policy Framework.
  • Cryptography, data-at-rest/data-in-transit protection in HPC environments.
• Background in:
  • Scientific computing, modelling & simulation, or data-intensive analytics in Defence/national security.
  • Working closely with researchers, scientists or mission teams to translate requirements into robust technical solutions.

Personal Attributes

• Comfortable working in highly sensitive, regulated environments with strict security processes.
• Strong communicator, able to translate complex technical concepts for senior stakeholders and non-technical teams.
• Collaborative mindset with the confidence to challenge, advise and set direction where necessary.
• Proactive, delivery-focused and able to operate with limited external connectivity and tooling.

What's on Offer

• Opportunity to work on a high-impact, classified Defence programme central to UK national security.
• Long-term engagement potential for the right individual.
• Competitive day rate/salary commensurate with experience and clearance level.

How to Apply

• If interested, please send me your most recent CV with your contact information so that we can speak in more detail.