Position Overview

The Scientific Computing Expert leads the technical aspects (code development, parallelization, optimization, and user support) of scientific computing activities and numerical simulation optimization in condensed matter physics at Institut Néel (60% of the time) and the Laboratoire de Physique et Modélisation des Milieux Condensés – LPMMC (40% of the time).

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Main Responsibilities

• Assist researchers in the design and development of physics simulation codes

• Assess the quality and efficiency of newly developed or existing codes

• Propose technical solutions (algorithm selection, compilation optimization, parallelization, etc.) to bring codes to state-of-the-art performance

• Adapt codes to the target computing architectures

• Monitor technological developments in emerging methods and platforms (e.g., machine learning, TensorFlow)

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Associated Activities

• Contribute to national and international research projects and related publications

• Participate in research valorization activities

• Ensure knowledge transfer, technical expertise sharing, and best practices among researchers: contribute to training users in high-performance computing, disseminate and promote developed methods and tools

• Interact with high-performance computing infrastructures, particularly the research support unit “Grenoble Alpes Research Infrastructure for Intensive Computing and Data – GRICAD”

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Required Skills

General, Theoretical, or Disciplinary Knowledge

• Advanced knowledge in physics, particularly quantum mechanics; specialization in theoretical or computational physics would be an asset

• Advanced knowledge of applied mathematics and numerical methods (linear algebra, numerical integration, etc.)

• General knowledge of hardware architectures, distributed systems, and operating systems

• General knowledge of software quality tools that enhance user interfaces

• Ability to identify appropriate numerical, optimization, and programming methods, as well as validation tests adapted to scientific problems

• General knowledge of scientific computing libraries (LAPACK, BLAS, or equivalent)

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Operational Skills

• Expertise in programming for high-performance and parallel scientific computing (development and porting across architectures)

• Knowledge of optimization techniques across different HPC architectures

• Proficiency in at least one compiled language (Fortran or C/C++), as well as one scripting language (Python or Julia)

• General knowledge of accelerators and associated programming languages

• Proficiency in Unix/Linux environments

• Mastery of project management methodologies

• Autonomy and initiative

• Strong communication skills, teamwork abilities, and effective interaction with users and developers

• Technical English proficiency sufficient to understand documentation and communicate with international researchers (B2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)

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Work Environment

Institut Néel and the Laboratoire de Physique et Modélisation des Milieux Condensés (LPMMC) are located on the same scientific campus in Grenoble and maintain numerous collaborations. Both research units operate high-performance computing servers (>600 cores available, >5 TB RAM), fully managed by their network administrators, who ensure their proper functioning and evolution.

The Scientific Computing Expert will report hierarchically to the Head of the IT Department (1 Senior Research Engineer, 3 Research Engineers, 2 Assistant Engineers) at Institut Néel. Annual performance reviews will be conducted by this supervisor, with the possible assistance of a representative from LPMMC.

Institut Néel includes approximately twenty theorists and a similar number of students, postdoctoral researchers, and experimentalists engaged in modeling, primarily in condensed matter physics. A majority of them rely heavily on high-performance computing tools.

LPMMC is a laboratory of theoretical physicists whose research focuses on condensed matter physics, quantum physics, and statistical physics. Among its 15 permanent members, about half use advanced numerical methods, including quantum Monte Carlo, partial differential equation solvers (e.g., Navier–Stokes), DMRG, and exact diagonalization techniques. At LPMMC, the Scientific Computing Expert will report functionally to the Laboratory Director.

Training will be provided if necessary upon appointment.

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