High-Performance Computing (HPC) Data Center Operator
LLNL · Livermore
$43.55–$63.97/hrfrom the description
Jul 15, 2026
Livermore
Jul 21, 2026
What this job asks for AI summary
This role involves monitoring, troubleshooting, and repairing faults across large-scale HPC systems, Linux clusters, storage systems, and networks in a national laboratory data center, working non-standard shifts (swing or overnight). Day-to-day work includes responding to customer issues, tracking problems via a ticketing system, and supporting hardware installation and decommissioning. The position suits candidates with hands-on Linux and data center hardware experience; a higher-level tier exists for those with deeper independent troubleshooting and procedure-development experience.
Mid level · San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA · Top Secret clearance · Full-time
Posted 2 times — it's one opening, so apply once.
We read this from the posting text with AI. Skim the description below before ruling yourself out.
How this req sits in the market our data
Most people in this occupation already list these. Still required — just not what gets you shortlisted.
What the occupation pays Median $136,293 (middle half $104,938–$171,398). This posting is about at that midpoint.
Estimated from BLS employment for this occupation and area, per-skill prevalence across our listing corpus, and published wage benchmarks — as of Jul 28, 2026. It is a model, not a headcount.
Why we read it this way (9)
This role is posted at two levels (525.2 and 525.3) with separate pay bands ($43.55–$53.36/hr and $52.23–$63.97/hr respectively); the overall range of $43.55–$63.97/hr is reported here.
The DOE Q-level clearance is a hard gate; Q-level is equivalent to a Top Secret clearance in the DOE system (not TS/SCI), so the clearance requirement is set to TopSecret.
Degree requirement is None: the JD accepts an Associate's degree OR 'equivalent combination of technical training and experience.'
LLNL is located in Livermore, CA, which falls within the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara CBSA (41940).
The role is explicitly full-time on-site (swing or owl shift); remote work is not available.
Advanced Linux certifications/training and data center/desktop support experience appear under 'Qualifications We Desire' (preferred), not the primary requirements block.
The role is classified as 15-1244 (Network and Computer Systems Administrators) because the primary day-to-day work is operating, monitoring, troubleshooting, and maintaining HPC infrastructure built by others — not writing or shipping new software or automation code. 15-1231 (Computer Network Support Specialists) is noted as a runner-up given the significant networking and customer-support emphasis.
Ignored 1 non-technology phrase(s) as skills (responsibilities/concepts, not named tools): Linux administration.
Requires a Top Secret clearance — the cleared population is a small fraction of this occupation, so the real candidate pool is materially smaller than the estimate below, which does not model clearance.
Read the full posting
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