Senior Research Infrastructure Engineer

Braingeneers is an interdisciplinary research team of biological, computer, and mechanical engineers building remotely controlled growth and analysis chambers to grow and study brain organoids to better understand how human brains evolved and function. Results from cloud-stored, longitudinal experiments, including electrophysiology and other high-density, time-resolved measurements, are analyzed using machine learning and signal-processing workflows. The Senior Research Infrastructure Engineer maintains and expands this technical infrastructure, ensuring that research platforms, data pipelines, and computational systems operate efficiently and reproducibly, enabling scalable, collaborative experimentation across institutional partners. The incumbent plays a critical role in supporting current and future research initiatives and advancing data-driven neuroscience at UCSC.

For the SSPsyGene consortium, which integrates a wide variety of experiments and data types from multiple nationwide research groups, Braingeneers serves as the Data Resource and Administrative Coordination Center (DRACC) and generates data analysis pipelines, data analysis, and data display. The incumbent maintains and expands an infrastructure capable of supporting the intake of heterogeneous data types into the UCSC data portal, including imaging, electrophysiology, molecular assays, and behavioral readouts, while maintaining auditable provenance from raw data through downstream analyses and publications., 15% - Infrastructure Maintenance & Support

• Monitors and maintains core services (e.g., Uploader, BraingeneersPy, NRP, Workflows).
• Manages automated authentication systems and resolves emergent issues.

15% - Cloud and IoT Integration for Automated Experimentation

• Builds and maintains secure cloud interfaces for instrument control and datastreaming.
• Enables remote execution and monitoring of microfluidics and sensor platforms.

15% - Scalable Compute & Containerized Workflows

• Deploys reproducible, container-based pipelines across HPC and federated compute environments.
• Supports real-time inference and low-latency AI feedback workflows.

10% - Automation of Data Management

• Finalizes and deploys the automated data pruning process.
• Replaces manual backup procedures with robust, automated pipelines.

10% - Data Governance & Cleanup

• Audits and updates S3 permissions on production buckets.
• Assists with metadata cleanup and lifecycle enforcement.

10% - CI/CD & DevOps Oversight

• Maintains and improves CI/CD workflows across core repositories.
• Supports container image builds and automated testing pipelines.

10% - Operational Monitoring, Data Governance & Security

• Implements system health monitoring, role-based access controls, and data validation checks.
• Tracks uptime, data integrity, and compliance with responsible AI practices.

10% - Cross-Site Standards & Reproducibility Support

• Ensures interoperability of APIs, data formats, and execution environments across UCSC, UCSF, and partner institutions.
• Coordinates on reference datasets and reproducibility validation.

5% - User-Facing Compute Services & Documentation

• Supports onboarding and access for external collaborators and education users.
• Maintains technical documentation and tracks user metrics for service evaluation., * Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.

MISCONDUCT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

• “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct:
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Applicants must have current work authorization when accepting a Baskin Engineering or affiliate staff position. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa for staff., * Bachelor’s degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.

• In-depth knowledge of Linux-based research computing environments, cloud platforms, and secure authentication systems.
• Advanced skill in designing, deploying, and maintaining reliable, scalable research infrastructure and core computational services.
• Advanced skill in developing automated data management, backup, and archival pipelines using scripting and workflow tools.
• In-depth knowledge of containerization technologies, CI/CD pipelines, and reproducible workflow systems in research and production environments.
• Advanced skill in deploying and managing containerized workflows across high-performance and federated computing platforms.
• In-depth knowledge of data governance principles, metadata standards, access controls, and data lifecycle management practices.
• Advanced skill in implementing system monitoring frameworks, diagnosing complex technical issues, and ensuring operational stability.
• Demonstrated ability to independently analyze, design, and implement complex technical solutions in support of research programs.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary and cross-institutional research teams.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly through documentation and direct user support., * PhD.
• Ability to function as both a scientist and an engineer.
• Experience operating research compute and storage systems at scale.
• Experience building high-throughput analysis and machine learning pipelines for electrophysiology and organoid-adjacent systems.
• Ability to deliver infrastructure with sufficient reliability to serve as a stable platform for collaborators., * Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• Ability to work long periods of time at a computer with or without accommodation.
• The selected candidate will be required to work a hybrid work schedule and must be able to work successfully from a home/remote office and fulfill the requirements of the UCSC telecommuting agreement.
• Ability to maintain appearance and conduct suitable for working in a professional setting.

Budgeted Salary: $119,400 - $145,000/year. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience. Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It’s known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus’s DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world., The Baskin School of Engineering at UC Santa Cruz is unique among public engineering schools. Founded in 1997, in the age of the internet, the Baskin Engineering community is deeply committed to addressing the most important engineering challenges posed by our modern world. Faculty and students pursue novel, visionary research guided by a mission to create positive societal impact. Through future-looking programs of study and opportunities to engage in collaborative research across campus and with industry partners in Santa Cruz and nearby Silicon Valley, Baskin engineers are developing meaningful innovations that improve the lives of people and the health of our planet.

In addition to the scenic residential campus in Santa Cruz, the Westside Research Park hosts genomics and electrical and computer engineering labs and interdisciplinary research. Our Silicon Valley campus is home to faculty, graduate students, and professional master’s programs with deep connections to this world-renowned hub for research and innovation.

We champion new ideas, foster collaboration, and uphold the UCSC Principles of Community.

More information about Baskin Engineering can be found at: https://engineering.ucsc.edu/

The Genomics Institute (GI), an Organized Research Unit located within the Baskin School of Engineering, with faculty from several divisions on campus, leads UC Santa Cruz’s efforts to unlock the world’s genomic data and accelerate breakthroughs in health and evolutionary biology. With the theme of Genomics for Everybody, GI platforms, technologies, and researchers unite global communities to create and deploy data-driven, life-saving treatments and innovative environmental and conservation efforts, while addressing the most fundamental societal and policy questions. The Genomics Institute is committed to broadening participation in this endeavor and bringing the benefits of genomics to the widest range of world populations and ecosystems.

The Genomics Institute’s operating budget is currently $31M per year, comprising $26M in sponsored funds from federal, state, and private sources and $4.7M in gifts and institutional funding, and is on a trajectory of increasing activity, partnerships, and extramural funding.