DevOps/SRE Engineer

SURF is looking for a DevOps Engineer with an affinity for SRE (Site/Service Reliability Engineering). Are you excited about the latest technologies in Infrastructure as Code, Containers and Cloud Technologies?

We offer a unique, interesting and dynamic work environment where the connection between science, ict and society is central. Our goal is to design and develop the most comprehensive and user-friendly cloud services for research and education. This is done in co-creation with Dutch researchers, students and teachers.

About SURF and the HPC/Research Cloud team

SURF is the collaborative ict organization for Dutch education and research. SURF works with education and research institutions on ict facilities and ict innovation to make the most of the opportunities of digitization.

The HPC Cloud team works closely with other SURF teams to provide the SURF Research Cloud (SRC) service. SURF Research Cloud is focused on realizing efficient virtual research environments that allow users to increase their scientific impact. We take the time to get to know and understand the scientists, translate their projects into technical and usability requirements, and find the solution together. If necessary, we modify components or extend our environment to meet the requirements.

The HPC Cloud team is a diverse, energetic, multidisciplinary DevOps team. We develop, manage and support SURF Research Cloud. This is a multicloud development and deployment framework programmed in Python, Django and React. The SRC technology stack consists of: Terraform, Vault, Nomad, Packer, Ansible, Docker compose and Kubernetes. The clouds we support are on premise OpenStack, AWS, Azure and Google Cloud Platform. Other hypervisors, job-based systems and clouds are being worked on. SRC supports various Linux flavors and MS Windows on virtual machines.

What does the position entail?

As a DevOps Engineer, you will develop services for our end users in the areas of science, research and education. You will also contribute to the development of the DevOps and Agile culture within SURF.

You will proactively participate in the design and implementation of services running on platforms such as Openstack, AWS, Azure, Google GCI, Oracle OCI, Kubernetes, Nomad for both our internal users (e.g. developer teams, consultants) and end users.

What exactly are you going to do?

• Actively participate in the ongoing process of redesigning our Cloud Services offerings;
• Terraform Modules, Ansible Playbooks, Helm Charts writing, with a touch of Bash and Python;
• Designing CI/CD Pipelines (Gitlab) to deploy Services on Openstack and Public Clouds;
• Many services run on Kubernetes, you will spend time creating and troubleshooting implementations and feeding back your findings to the codebase to improve the overall quality of the CI/CD Infrastructure as Code;
• Participate in Developers Sprint meetings representing DevOps Ops;
• Talking with vendors and users to link state of the art technologies to possible future research and teaching needs.

We ask

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in a technical discipline;
• You are familiar with DevOps and Git-centric approaches, and willing to help and guide others in adopting those methodologies;
• You are comfortable being responsible for the availability, performance and monitoring of services;
• You are curious about emerging technologies; words like Docker and Kubernetes are part of your “normal” toolbox, but you are very comfortable with the “basics” (aka Linux Skills);
• You have experience with a programming or scripting language, such as Python, and are comfortable with Configuration Management tools and Infrastructure as Code (Ansible, Terraform, etc.);
• You understand and appreciate the complexity of multi-tier it environments and have a functional understanding of concepts and definitions such as: Frontend, Backend, Databases, Network Topologies, Identity Management, Security Groups, Firewalls, Services Meshes, Service Discovery, zero-trust, etc;
• You are service-oriented, solution-oriented and feel comfortable in a team where we share what we don’t know, we ask for help and guidance, we don’t hide mistakes, and we work hard to make each other better and more productive;
• Previous experience with a Cloud Provider is strongly preferred, we can always supplement later where necessary.

We offer

• A varied and challenging job for 32-40 hours (0.8 – 1.0 FTE) in an informal and collegial atmosphere with a high level of ambition;
• SURF offers extensive training opportunities and excellent benefits;
• This position has a salary range of €3,886 to €6,378 gross based on full-time depending on knowledge and experience;
• 8.33% vacation pay, a fixed year-end bonus of 8.33%;
• 36 vacation days per year (based on a 40-hour work week);
• We offer the opportunity for hybrid work and you will receive a home office allowance on work-at-home days;
• An NS Business Card 1 class;
• Our Amsterdam office is located at the Amsterdam Science Park, with good public transportation facilities nearby.
• Initially, the contract will be for one year, with the intention to convert to permanent employment after one year.

SURF takes great pleasure in doing its recruitment itself; acquisition is therefore not appreciated.