ACTION Institute Software Engineer
 University of California - Santa Barbara | |
 United States, California, Santa Barbara | |
| 1021 Anacapa Street (Show on map) | |
 Nov 06, 2025 | |
|
Apply for Job Job ID
82341
Location
UCSB Campus
Full/Part Time
Full Time
Add to Favorite Jobs Email this Job Job Posting Details (External)
Position Number: 41137769 Type of Remote or Hybrid Work Arrangement, if applicable: N/A - in-person position. Special Instructions: For full consideration, please include a resume and a cover letter as part of your application. 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:
Preferred Qualifications:
Special Conditions of Employment:
Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: 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 % TIME 60%Essential Functions and Duties Order of Importance Function Duties % TIME 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 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. | |