FAC Lead Storage Architect

This position works remotely with occasional onsite presence in San Francisco as required.

This role serves as the authoritative architect and strategic advisor responsible for the design, standards-setting, and lifecycle strategy of storage and data infrastructure supporting the Facility for Advanced Computing (FAC) and broader UCSF research initiatives. The position is responsible for architecting scalable, high-performance storage solutions that integrate seamlessly with UCSF’s FAC Compute & CoreHPC environment and research platforms.

The incumbent applies advanced IT architecture concepts to support large-scale, data-intensive research across AI, data science, clinical, and computational domains. This includes evaluating emerging technologies, defining long-term storage strategies, and ensuring alignment with institutional priorities for security, compliance, and performance.

This position operates within Central IT / Academic Research Services (ARS) and functions as a principal architect and institutional authority for FAC storage systems.

The role partners closely with the Senior Research DevOps Engineer and cross-functional teams to define architectural standards and guide the design of large-scale storage environments supporting CoreHPC, the Research Analysis Environment (RAE), and OS Nexus-aligned data platforms.

The incumbent will:

• Lead the architecture and evolution of FAC storage systems across on-premises and hybrid environments 

• Define integration architecture and standards between storage platforms and FAC Compute & HPC infrastructure, providing technical direction to engineering staff responsible for implementation 

• Establish architectural standards and requirements that ensure scalable, reliable, and high-performance data access for research workloads 

• Provide technical leadership in storage strategy, long-term system design, and architecture governance 

 

Department Overview: 

This position will be housed within the Central IT, which provides architecture, infrastructure, network, security, analytics, integration, and application support services and is essential to the organization’s ability to support growth, mitigate security risk, and manage, store and share sensitive information. 

 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS - Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, IT, or a related engineering field, or equivalent practical experience. - A minimum of four (4) years of demonstrated experience supporting the IT and data needs of research/clinical informatics - Working knowledge of information security best practices and demonstrated commitment to information security. Knowledge of software, database, infrastructure, or other IT functions. Knowledge relating to the design and development of research tools, infrastructure, and data. - Familiarity with compliance regulations in security and healthcare IT environments (NIST, HIPAA, HITRUST, PCI, etc.) - Demonstrated ability to create and maintain architecture documentation, including design standards, reference architectures, architecture decision records (ADRs), and strategic roadmaps. - Demonstrated ability to translate business needs into long-term architecture solutions in a matrixed environment. Expertise relating to the design and development of software across the organization. - Demonstrated effective communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate technical information to technical and non-technical personnel at various levels in the organization - Ability to understand research business needs and how research systems and enterprise architectures can support those needs - Knowledge of other related areas of IT. Ability to apply department processes and procedures to work. - Ability to understand business needs and how business systems can support those needs. - Demonstrated ability to work with others from diverse backgrounds. - Self-motivated and works independently and as part of a team. Demonstrates problem-solving skills. Able to learn effectively and meet deadlines. - Advanced knowledge of data storage, processing, and analysis, and how they are used in administrative, medical, and/or academic endeavors. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - Certifications in Compute and Storage areas. - Familiarity with Enterprise Research systems and services, experience with Cloud Service Providers (e.g., Amazon Web Services, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform) - Thorough knowledge of other areas of IT including business process methodologies and analysis techniques, including deep understanding of and experience with the full software development lifecycle (SDLC) including Waterfall, Agile, Scrum, etc. - May require skills in web software, web software language, and object-oriented software concepts. May require knowledge of network protocols and how they are used on a large (campus / medical center / OP-wide, institution-wide or beyond) network. May require advanced knowledge of data storage, processing analysis and visualization technologies and how they are used in administrative and / or academic endeavors at a large, top-tier research university or medical center. - Experience setting up or developing in a cloud environment and focused on research tools. - Experience with the integration of complex, diverse, internally and externally developed implementations of business functions to build scalable systems.

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It is the only campus in the 10-campus UC system dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. We bring together the world’s leading experts in nearly every area of health. We are home to five Nobel laureates who have advanced the understanding of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, aging and stem cells.

UCSF is a diverse community made of people with many skills and talents. We seek candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence – also known as https://www.ucsf.edu/about/mission-and-values . In addition to , UCSF is committed to equity – both in how we deliver care as well as our workforce. We are committed to building a broadly diverse community, nurturing a culture that is welcoming and supportive, and engaging diverse ideas for the provision of culturally competent education, discovery, and patient care. Additional information about UCSF is available https://diversity.ucsf.edu/ . Join us to find a rewarding career contributing to improving healthcare worldwide.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.