Systems Technician

IMDEA Software Institute (Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies in Software Development Technologies) is a non-profit research institute promoted by the Regional Government of Madrid, Spain. The Institute's goal is to perform the research of excellence required to devise methods that enable the cost-effective development of software products with sophisticated functionality and high quality, i.e., secure, reliable, and efficient.

The IMDEA Software Institute is committed to excellence in research and to foster technology transfer to the industrial sector. The Institute attracts talent from all over the world and has built a truly international environment.

The IMDEA Software Institute is located in the Montegancedo Science and Technology Park in the outskirts of the vibrant city of Madrid, Spain.

More information about the Institute can be found at:

The IMDEA Software Institute is looking for a talented and enthusiastic Senior IT Engineer.

The Senior IT Engineer will be responsible for leading and managing the Software Heritage mirror that IMDEA Software is committed to install and maintain. Software Heritage was created at INRIA in 2016 and aims to build a computing repository that contains the source code of all free and open-source software produced by humanity. This makes it freely accessible to the entire scientific community and, by extension, to society as a whole, supporting national and European open-science strategies and enabling open access to the software outputs of scientific and technological projects.

Additionally, having access to this code allows experts in each field to improve or reuse it. Finally, due to the knowledge embedded in software and its importance for the functioning of modern society, UNESCO has classified it as part of humanity's cultural heritage.

To carry out this project and ensure, on the one hand, the preservation of the stored code and, on the other, agile access to it, it is necessary to have geographically distributed replicas of the main archive's contents (known as "nodes"). These nodes not only provide a backup copy of the main archive but also offer virtually all of its query and access functionality. IMDEA Software is committed to create a Software Heritage node, which would be the first one on Spanish territory.

Each node consists of computer equipment (servers and storage systems) and software of great technical complexity, very different from the servers and software normally used in scientific computing. For this reason, the full-time dedication of a highly qualified technician with knowledge of the necessary technologies to assemble and deploy these nodes is required.

The selected candidate will be in charge of this node which includes computer equipment (servers and storage systems) from the definition of needs, its installation and maintenance.

The responsibilities for the candidate include, but are not limited to:

• Definition of node requirements and the necessary infrastructure
• Procurement of equipment and infrastructure through public tender
• Integration with the global Software Heritage infrastructure
• Management of security and data integrity
• Monitoring and maintenance of the node
• Preparation of technical documentation
• Collaboration with the Software Heritage Community
• Optimization and Scalability
• Legal and Compliance Oversight
• Internal support and Training

Candidates should meet the following requirements:

• M.Sc. or B.Sc. degree in Telecommunications, Computer Science or related discipline.
• At least 10 years of proven experience as a systems engineer.
• Strong knowledge of Linux operating systems, including the configuration of files systems and storage systems (ceph, zfs..).
• Advance network administration (routers, DNS, NAT, firewalls, etc)
• Knowledge of Spanish public procurement procedures.
• Proven experience in security technologies in service provider environments.
• Fluent in English and Spanish speaking, writing, and reading.

Besides the requirements stated above, some additional capabilities / knowledge will be a plus:

• Experience working in an academic environment.
• Ability to meet strict deadlines and work under pressure.
• Capable team player.

We offer a permanent contract. IMDEA Software considers the capabilities of its staff as the most valuable asset and pays special attention to their training. We offer flexible working conditions to reconcile personal life with work. The Institute is goal-focused, and the evaluation of performance is based on personal goals and team achievements.

The selected candidate will work with outstanding professionals in a dynamic, international environment, with constant interaction with cutting-edge technologies that foster learning new skills and acquiring new capabilities. The candidate will collaborate with experienced senior engineers from the team to gain expertise and independence.

The starting date will be as soon as possible once the selection process has been completed.

Interested applicants should apply online using the secure application form at:

Please select the option: Other and reference code: other-sysadmin-swh.

The application should include:

• A short CV (maximum 4 pages), written in English.
• A short introduction letter (maximum 1 page), written in English.

Applications should be received by November 28th, 2025. Applications will be reviewed as they arrive.

The recruitment process will comply with the IMDEA Software Institute's OTM-R Policy (Open, Transparent and Merit-based Recruitment).

For enquiries about the position, please contact Antonio Fernández ().