HPC Systems Specialist – Graduate Apprentice

Location: United Kingdom

Grade UE04: £26,093 - £28,778 per annum

College of Science & Engineering / Edinburgh Parallel Computing Centre (EPCC)

Full-time: 35 hours per week

Fixed-term: 24 months

 

Be part of something bigger – where you’ll do meaningful work and be rewarded and recognised.  

 

The Opportunity:

This is a fantastic opportunity to complete a graduate apprenticeship at a dynamic organisation that is at the forefront of technology innovation. EPCC is the first UK National Supercomputing Centre and provides research supercomputing and data science services for academic, public and industry sectors. At our world class 38MW data centre, the Advanced Computing Facility (ACF), we host and manage high performance computing systems including ARCHER2, the UK’s current national supercomputing service, and the diverse collection of AI, data science cloud and storage capabilities that form the Edinburgh International Data Facility and Safe Haven Services.  

EPCC has a long and successful history of providing graduate apprenticeships and is committed to providing training, development and coaching to enable apprentices to succeed in their studies and early careers.  Our apprentices join the small and friendly Systems team within EPCC that provides infrastructure deployment and support, system administration, cybersecurity and operations functions.  

We welcome applications from all candidates who:

• Are eligible for the graduate apprenticeship scheme and able to complete a degree in a relevant subject within the two years of this apprenticeship (https://www.apprenticeships.scot/become-an-apprentice/graduate-apprenticeships/)
• Have a keen interest in emerging computer technologies, and an enthusiasm for broadening knowledge about computing, IT, data centres, networks, cybersecurity, etc.
• Have a demonstrable understanding of system administration and support in a networked environment, and interest in developing skills in, e.g., Linux server administration, virtualisation, containerisation, shell scripting, slurm, Ansible, Kubernetes, Wazuh.  
• A commitment to providing outstanding service to users and colleagues, resolving queries and incidents and driving continual improvement in operational processes, including use of automation.

 

To date, we have offered graduate apprenticeships in collaboration with Napier University (see https://www.napier.ac.uk/study-with-us/apprenticeships but are open to exploring options with other institutions.

This post starts in August 2026 and is full-time (35 hours per week), including a day per week study allowance/university attendance with the remainder of the time based at the ACF and the Bayes Centre in the University of Edinburgh’s central campus. We are open to considering requests for hybrid working or flexible working patterns where there is a requirement.

 

View the full job description

 

How to apply

 Please include the following documents in your application:

- CV

- Cover letter, including details of the institution with which you intend to study for your degree

 

As a valued member of our team, you can expect: 

• A competitive salary. 
• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work. 
• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits. 

Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality. 

Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages.

The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. International applicants will therefore be unable to apply for and secure a Skilled Worker visa. They will only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.   

 

Key dates to note

The closing date for applications is 22^nd May 2026.

Unless stated otherwise, the closing time for applications is 11:59 pm (UK time). If you are applying from outside the UK, the closing time shown on our adverts will automatically adjust to your browser’s local time zone.

About Us

As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.

About the Organization

Since our inception in 1990, we have gained an international reputation for leading-edge capability in all aspects of high-performance computing (HPC), data analytics, and novel computing.

We host and manage an extensive collection of HPC systems that includes ARCHER2, the UK's National Supercomputing Service.

Our skill set extends beyond our 150 staff to embrace world-class multi-disciplinary capabilities, reinforced by deep ties with industry and academia. We also share our skills through our highly regarded training activities, including MSc and PhD programmes, and our public outreach work.

This is a fantastic opportunity to complete a graduate apprenticeship at a dynamic organisation that is at the forefront of technology innovation. EPCC is the first UK National Supercomputing Centre and provides research supercomputing and data science services for academic, public and industry sectors.