JOB EVALUATION RATIONALE

For all roles proposed for allocation to the Managerial/Administrative and Specialist Job Family Framework

Post number
Job/role Title / Computer Officer (Particle Physics Group)
Budget Centre / School of Physics and Astronomy
Existing Grade
(where existing role)
Framework Used / Specialist Roles
Job summary (including purpose) / To contribute to the achievement of the research group’s strategy by administering distributed computing hardware and software and also to administer local computing farms, personal computers and infrastructure
Evaluation Rationale / Proposed level/grade / Reasons
Knowledge / 6 / Will be required to have a through understanding of Linux concepts and implementation and a strong understanding and experience of computer networking, in particular TCP/IP protocols, etc along with a first degree in physics or computer science. This demonstrates that they will need to have specialist knowledge of computing practices, methods and procedures gained through extensive experience.
Will be required to provide problem solving to users as part of the ATLAS Distributed Analysis Team as well as to the Birmingham ‘Tier 2’ site in the GridPP world-wide distributed computing network so will demonstrate their ability to resolve problems and suggest solutions in their area.
Skills and experience / 6 / Will be required to have experience of Linux concepts and implementation, computer networking (in particular TCP/IP protocols) and programming experience in object-orientated languages (ideally C++ and Python). This would demonstrate proven practical and technical experience of their own area.
Will be required to provide new development and bug fixing for the ‘Ganga’ distributed computing interface; commissioning of new hardware and administering current hardware; and contribute to general system development and management, etc, which demonstrate the post holders ability to test and implement new approaches, services or systems.
Is required to have a physics or computer science degree so shows that the postholder will have a technical qualification (or equivalent).
Communications / 6 / Will be required to liaise with senior systems administrator and research-users on all aspects of particle physics computing support in Birmingham so will know what the customer requirements are and will then be required to contribute strongly, in consultation with senior systems administrator and other senior colleagues, to decisions on all aspects of system hardware and software development which will ensure that that solutions are being developed to meet the needs of the customers.
Will be providing support to all distributed computing users in the international ATLAS collaboration so will be providing specific support and advice.
Dealing with problems / 6 / Will be able to develop and implement improvement programmes within their area as will be responsible for proving new developments and bug fixing for the ‘Ganga’ distributed computing interface. Also the work involved with the ‘Ganga’ distributed computing interface also demonstrates that the postholder will need to proactively anticipate and identify problems as they will be required to provide new developments and bug fixing.
Organisational skills / 6 / Will be required to take full responsibility for the delivery of large fractions of the programme, sometimes including managing contributions from small teams of PhD students and postdoctoral RA’s so will need to be able to manage their own time and sometimes small project teams to meet a particular projects needs.
Will have to prioritise tasks to minimise user impact and maximise system efficiency over short and long term timescales so demonstrating the ability to prioritise needs to ensure continuity of service.
Will be providing support to all distributed computing users in the international ATLAS collaboration so may be providing technical guidance to junior team members.
Responsibilities / 6 / Will be responsible for providing a high level and range of technical support to a number of activities. These include the ’Tier 2’ site in the GridPP world-wide distributed computing network, ‘Ganga’ distributed computing interface, ‘Tier 3’ farm, etc.
Will provide problem solving to users as part of the ATLAS Distributed Analysis Team;liaise with senior systems administrator and research users on all aspects of particle physics computing support in Birmingham and provide support to all distributed computing users in the international ATLAS collaboration so will be liaising with staff and technical colleagues to anticipate and understand need/ provide advice/ guidance.
Will be responsible for monitoring and ensuring efficient functioning of the hardware relating to the Birmingham ‘Tier 2’ site so is ensuring quality in their work area.
Overall proposed band or grade / 6

Prepared by (signature and name in block capitals): Alison Bannister

Date:24/04/2013

Checked by College Head HR (signature and name in block capitals):