"eResearch Solutions Engineer"

About our team/Mō te tīma

The University of Otago, New Zealand’s oldest university, is seeking an eResearch Solutions Engineer to join the Information Systems Group in Dunedin.

You will collaborate with skilled colleagues within a supportive, values driven culture and contribute to the ongoing development of the University’s digital capability. The team has a key focus to ensure it deliver solutions that meet the diverse needs of academic teaching and research which are secure, scalable, robust and in alignment with IT architecture principles.

The role/Te mahi

As an eResearch Solutions Engineer, your role will involve working extensively with Linux in the Red Hat ecosystem and include opportunities to engage with SQL databases, web servers, version control systems and configuration management tools. We architect and maintain mid-level HPC systems and access platforms, and work closely with academic staff to facilitate their research.

We are seeking someone who is comfortable working in a command line environment and can educate themselves and stay up to date with new software and IT systems.

Key tasks of the role include:

• Collaborating with IT colleagues to implement and manage innovative, future focussed and scalable research and teaching infrastructure services and systems.
• Advising, configuring and supporting research data storage, management, and transfer solutions to support researchers in achieving their research outcomes.
• Undertaking configurations, installations, upgrades, decommissioning, testing, maintenance and administration of servers, operating systems, networks, associated layered software technologies and related products hosted by the research/teaching discipline/portfolio.
• Providing level 2 and some level 3 support and troubleshooting to researchers, including postgraduate students and teaching staff to minimise down time.
• Providing consultation and advice to researchers and teachers outlining suitable available IT services, infrastructure and tools and help provision where needed.

You will work collaboratively with academic departments and the wider Digital Division teams to help understand where existing services can be leveraged and identify opportunities to develop new services that will benefit the University of Otago community.

Your skills and experience/Kā pūkeka me kā wheako

The ideal candidate will be self-motivated, detail orientated, and able to dig down into the depths of complex problems while maintaining awareness of the IT environment. You will work with a team spread across a number of University Departments and directly engage with research groups.

Previous experience working with and supporting software on research compute platforms in the areas of bioinformatics, data science and biostatistics would be advantageous.

Successful candidates will also have:

• Previous experience in a medium sized environment supporting Linux server operating systems, including installation, configuration, troubleshooting and upgrades.
• Experience with and knowledge of infrastructural systems such as cluster computing, containerisation platforms or research and teaching computing environments.
• Knowledge of system and directory security (e.g., intrusion detection systems); data backup/recovery; and disaster recovery processes.
• Knowledge of programming/command scripting languages such as Powershell, Python, PERL, PHP, shell scripting.

Further details/Pūroko

This is a permanent, full-time (37.5 hours week) position, based in Ōtepoti, Dunedin.

We offer competitive salary, five weeks’ annual leave, a 6.75% superannuation scheme, and the ability to achieve real work/life balance. More information regarding employee benefits can be found here.

The University of Otago is a workplace that values and utilises diverse and inclusive thinking, people and behaviours. This means that the contributions of staff with diverse backgrounds, experiences, skills and perspectives are valued and respected.

You must have the right to live and work in New Zealand to apply for this position.

For further information, or to discuss the role in confidence – please contact Dave Roberston via the contact details below.

Application/Tono

To submit your application (including CV and cover letter), please click the apply button.

Applications quoting reference number 2600296 will close on Sunday, 8 March 2026.

Applications may be reviewed as they are received, the University reserves the right to close this vacancy at any time.

Additional Information

Contact: Dave Roberston

Position details: Job Description

Further Information: Department Website

Location: About Dunedin