Software Engineer in AI and Security

Payroll Title: Applications Programmer 3

Job Code: 007300

Job Open Date: 10/31/2024

Application Review Begins: 11/18/2024; open until filled

Department Code (Name): COMS (COMPUTER SCIENCE)

Percentage of Time: 100%

Union Code (Name): 99 (Non-Represented)

Employee Class (Appointment Type): Staff (Career)

FLSA Status: Exempt

Classified Indicator Description (Personnel Program): PSS

Salary Grade: Grade 22

Pay Rate/Range: The budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $90,000 to $110,000/year. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience; the budget for the position; and the application of fair, equitable, and consistent pay practices at the University. The full salary range for this position is $77,000 to $139,200/year.

Work Location: HFH 2114

Working Days and Hours: M-F; 9 am - 6 pm

Benefits Eligibility: Full Benefits

Type of Remote or Hybrid Work Arrangement, if applicable: Hybrid possible

Special Instructions:

For full consideration, please include a resume and a cover letter as part of your application.

Department Marketing Statement:

The Computer Science Department has developed a strong curriculum which offers programs leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, and Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering at the undergraduate level, and Master of Science and Ph.D. in Computer Science at the graduate level. Our 41 permanent faculty are committed to excellence in teaching and innovative research programs at the leading edge of computer science. Our programs are comprised of a dynamic environment for research, a state-of-the-art teaching program, and a first-class faculty. Our degree programs help students become computer professionals who are prepared for long-term careers in information technology. Our graduates work in a spectrum of settings, from Fortune 500 companies to start-ups, as well as in government and universities.

Benefits of Belonging:

Working at UC means being part of this vibrant institution that shines a light on what is possible. People make UC great, and UC recognizes your contributions by making this a great place to work. Excellent retirement and health are just one of the rewards. Learn more about the benefits of working at UC

Brief Summary of Job Duties:

The ACTION Institute is a newly launched NSF AI Institute led by UC Santa Barbara's Computer Science Department and encompassing 11 other US universities, including Purdue University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and UC Berkeley. Directed by Professor Giovanni Vigna, ACTION is working at the intersection of artificial intelligence and computer security on tools and techniques for designing, building, and validating secure and trustworthy software systems. The ACTION Institute hosts the annual iCTF, a computer security exercise that draws participation from hundreds of Capture the Flag teams from around the world. With more than twenty faculty and at least twice as many graduate students, and a multi-campus computing infrastructure, the ACTION Institute is a complex organization. The Software Engineer is responsible for the design and implementation of a testbed infrastructure for enabling the various research activities of the institute, as well as a broad scope of services in support of the ACTION personnel. The primary duties are (1) Develops and designs a globally accessible test environment; 2) Helps maintain, develop, and customize several research projects across the institute, including developing, testing, and documenting software. The Software Engineer has a critical impact on the success of the current research of the ACTION Institute. Analyzes and addresses a diverse scope of issues and determines solutions in a time-critical manner. Under the guidance of the lab faculty, is involved in goal setting and prioritization of the technical infrastructure, and defines tasks to meet the technical goals of the research underway. Is also responsible for determining and acquiring the hardware and software needs of the institute and operating with a designated budget for this purpose. May help support the efforts of select computer security exercises.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Experience with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and other cloud computing providers.
• Experience with Kubernetes.
• Experience with Linux server administration.
• Experience with Ansible/Puppet/Chef.
• Experience with Git/Jenkins and other Continuous integration systems.
• Thorough experience with identification and use of code libraries and open-source forums.
• Knowledge of secure software development.
• Advanced skills associated with software design, modification, implementation and deployment, including object-oriented programming concepts.
• An ability to understand the needs of a research group (e.g., the SecLab), and how the existing computing infrastructure can support those needs.
• Demonstrated ability to develop conversion and system implementation plans, as well as creation of feedback mechanisms.
• Fluency with common programming tools and languages: Python, C/C++, Java, Javascript, and SQL.
• Ability to develop scripts to automate tasks. Experience with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and other cloud computing providers.
• Demonstrated software repository skills.
• Demonstrated testing and test planning skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate technical information to technical and non-technical personnel at various levels in the organization.
• Self-motivated and works independently and as part of a team.
• Able to learn effectively and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated broad problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Terraform.
• Experience in a research lab environment and familiarity with trends in computer and network security.
• Experience with computer security exercise (e.g. Capture the Flag) and with software decompilers such as IDA and angr.
• Master's Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field.

Special Conditions of Employment:

• This is a Career position with an end date due to funding. Position is funded by an extramural research grant with an expected end date of April 2026, but with potential for continuation through April 2028 and beyond. May be required to work evenings and weekends depending on the needs of the Institute.
• Satisfactory conviction history background check
• Position is funded by federal contract/sub-contract and requires E-Verify check.
• UCSB is a Tobacco-Free environment

Job Functions and Percentages of Time:

• 60% GATE DevOps - Develops, customizes, and maintains the cloud-based software infrastructure used for testing the research of the ACTION institute and provides services to the researchers making use of the testing environment. As technical lead for ACTION's computing infrastructure, interacts with faculty, graduate students, information technologists, and researchers from all partnering campuses. Develops and configures interfaces to allow researchers to easily and reliably access resources within the infrastructure. Assists with implementation of changes in development, maintenance, and system standards, and in the creation of software specifications. Regularly reports progress on projects. Implements tools and technologies to provision and configure software within the cloud infrastructure with a focus on increasing the efficiency and elasticity of deployed instances without sacrificing quality and performance. Troubleshoots environments as problems arise, tests fixes, and performs follow-ups to ensure problems have been adequately resolved. Identifies, documents, automates, and engineers processes for repeated and distributed tasks. Negotiates, develops, and executes moderately complex test plans. Monitors and employs source code control techniques and configuration management. The research needs served by the infrastructure may extend beyond the immediate personnel of the Institute, as a number of projects involve close collaboration with research labs from a potentially expanding number of campuses. Understands and applies industry practices, community standards, and department policies and procedures relating to work assignments.

• 25% Software Development for Research Support - Plans, designs, develops, modifies, debugs, deploys, evaluates, and documents new Python-based components for research in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Reviews code submitted through GitHub and integrates pull requests. Analyzes existing features and works to formulate logic for enhancements. At times, will perform complex data analysis and test/debug complex software. Designs and implements software packaging using standards and creates and maintains CI/CD pipelines. Due to the subject matter under study in the ACTION Institute, the candidate will need to enforce complex programming security practices. The task will require some familiarity with the latest trends in computer security research, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Being proficient in Python is a requirement. Being proficient in the deployment of cloud-based infrastructures is a requirement.

• 10% iCTF Security Exercises - Assists with the development, design, and implementation of the annual International Capture the Flag (iCTF) security exercises, including support for challenges, websites, databases, and interfaces.

• 5% Hardware and Software Acquisition - Interfaces with SecLab engineer and coordinator regarding making purchases, and demonstrates competency in selecting appropriate software and hardware to meet the research goals of the Institute. Maintains the log of existing supplies and equipment and works with responsible department and campus agents to ensure proper purchasing and disposal of research materials. Adheres to the procurement procedures and requirements of the university, and any Small Business Subcontracting plan put in place through extramural funding requirements. As needed, assists ACTION researchers with installing, patching, and updating software acquired for research. Tracks the expiration of various licenses, warranties, and service agreements.

UC Vaccination Programs Policy:

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccinations Programs.
As a condition of Physical Presence at a Location or in a University Program, all Covered Individuals* must participate in any applicable Vaccination Program by providing proof that they are Up-to-Date with any required Vaccines or submitting a request for Exception in a Mandate Program or properly declining vaccination in an Opt-Out Program no later than the Compliance Date (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.). Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

For more information, please visit:

* UC Santa Barbara COVID-19 Information - https://www.ucsb.edu/COVID-19-information
* University of California Policy on Vaccinations - With Interim Revisions - https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/5000695/VaccinationProgramsPolicy

*Covered Individuals: A Covered Individual includes anyone designated as Personnel or Students under this Policy who physically access a University Facility or Program in connection with their employment, appointment, or education/training. A person accessing a Healthcare Location as a patient, or an art, athletics, entertainment, or other publicly accessible venue at a Location as a member of the public, is not a Covered Individual.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Statement:

UC Santa Barbara is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.
For the University of California's Affirmative Action Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20.
For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination.

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