Core IT Systems Group Head

**Reference**

2025-FIX-03

**Deadline**

24/06/2025

**Division**

Computing
- Institution

ALBA is the Spanish synchrotron light source, a large research infrastructure operating ten beamlines, complementary facilities, and an Electron Microscopy Center, this last in partnership with other institutions. Currently constructing multiple more beamlines, expanding the Electron Microscopy Center, and integrating advanced data analytics, it sums up a wide range of infrastructures geared toward finding solutions to societal challenges.

Located in Cerdanyola del Vallès (Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain), it is funded by the Spanish Government (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación) and the Catalan Government (Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament de Recerca i Universitats). The synchrotron light produced by 3 GeV electrons is used by thousands of researchers to analyse and understand the properties and functionality of matter, spanning a wide variety of fields, such as catalytic research, health, energy production/storage, environmental research, communication technologies, or cultural heritage.

Located close to Barcelona in a natural park and well connected by car and public transportation, with excellent connectivity to the world and an employer who understands the importance of life-work balance.

Facing an upgrade to ALBA II, a 4th generation facility, which will increase dramatically brightness and coherent flux, ALBA is in a phase of growth and dynamics. Being a part of the ALBA team will promote your career and will give you the opportunities to explore new territories.

For more information, you can take a look on our history watching this video:

- Tasks

The IT Systems Section is composed of 10 engineers and 2 technicians. The engineers hold various roles, including 1 Section Head, 2 Group Heads, and 7 Systems Administrators. All team members contribute to the design and implementation of new projects, as well as the operation of the existing IT infrastructure.

IT operations are managed following ITIL principles, using a service catalogue in which all the services are clearly defined and organized into five categories: Service Management, Machine and Beamlines, Data processing, IT Operation and Infrastructure, and Digital Office.

The open position is for the Core IT Systems Group Head. He/she will be responsible for ensuring the management of services within IT Operations and Infrastructure and the Digital Office category. He/she will work in coordination with the Scientific IT Systems Group Head, who oversees the IT infrastructure for the accelerators, beamlines, electron microscopes, laboratories and other scientific instruments at ALBA. The two group heads collaborate closely and assist the Section Head with strategic decision-making.

Key responsibilities of the Core IT Systems Group Head comprises:

- Leading IT operations and user support activities, including proposal and follow-up of section goals, key projects and contributions to conferences, trainings and external events.
- Coordinating the teams of the different services under her/his accountability, proposing and implementing projects for their continuous improvement.
- Overseeing procurement processes required to acquire the IT equipment necessary to support the services under her/his responsibility.
- Prioritizing projects, services and maintenance tasks across a subset of the section's customer units and technology areas.
- Acting as the primary contact for internal customer units and external collaborations.
- Providing technical leadership to other engineers and technicians in the group, including mentoring students.
- Collaborating as a team member by taking on responsibilities from other IT Systems staff, as needed, depending on varying workloads.
- IT Operation and Infrastructure: Data storage cabins, tape libraries, configuration management software for Linux and Windows, wired and wireless networking, remote access, server and container hosting, either on prem or in the cloud, and AAI systems.
- Requirements

Applications that do not present the aforementioned or required documentation during the selection procedure will not be accepted.

Formal Education:

- University degree in Computer Engineering, Physics, Telecommunications, Mathematics or Engineering degree guaranteeing similar technical capacities as Computer Engineering university degree will also be considered

System administration:
The position requires speaking and writing English fluently (equivalent to C1 level).
- Selection Process Development

The selection will be carried out through the competition-opposition system.

As a first phase, an analysis of the curriculum will be carried out (assessment of previous experience and / or scientific history, degree, training and other professional information relevant to the position). Career breaks or variations in the chronological order of CVs will be regarded as an evolution of a career, and consequently, as a contribution