HPC Container Platform Consultant (SC Cleared) - Principal Consultant (Contract)

An SC-cleared HPC specialist is required to support a high-profile engineering programme within a globally recognised UK manufacturer operating across aerospace, defence, and mission-critical power systems.

The focus is modernising how HPC and HPC/ML workloads are built, packaged, and run using MPI-optimised container approaches - with pragmatic, implementable outcomes.

What you'll deliver:

Rapid review of current HPC estate, workflows, and priority use cases (workshops + technical deep dives) Containerisation capability sessions focused on real HPC and HPC/ML workloads (not generic platform advice) Guidance on MPI-ready container images, build tooling, and repeatable operational patterns Scheduler/runtime alignment and deployment approach (batch, interactive, data science workflows) Clear recommendations and next steps; produce a short written report where required Core technology focus Slurm job scheduling MPI and performance-aware containerisation (HPC-first constraints) Apptainer / SIF images with OpenMPI (plus viable alternatives) Podman / Buildah tooling and secure build practicesEssential criteria (must have)

Active SC Clearance Must meet programme nationality/eligibility requirements (sole nationality required; no dual nationality; no OCI) Hands-on experience operating in Beowulf-style cluster environments Excellent practical knowledge of Slurm and job execution patterns Strong understanding of best practices for MPI-optimised container images (build, run, troubleshoot, performance) Desirable experience Ability to run structured interviews/workshops with customer engineering teams Awareness of SDLC considerations in research/HPC environments Familiarity with Jupyter (Hub/Lab/Notebooks) supporting data science workflows on shared compute Strong working knowledge of MPI patterns and real-world operational constraintsContract Details:

£600 - £700 Per Day Inside IR35 Hybrid Working Contract Initially 3-Months with Lengthy ExtensionsNice to have:

Singularity / SIF format and common HPC workflow patterns CFD tooling exposure (e.g., OpenFOAM) Docker and image lifecycle governance Kubernetes used as an HPC runtime environment (where appropriate) Run:AI and GPU slicing concepts