Job Description: Storage Systems-Reliability and Erasure Codes

The Cloud Data Architecture team is a small, world-class team and has a long track-record of considerable success with new storage system designs, and is now engaged in researching the design of a novel optical storage system specifically designed for cloud storage workloads. This system is being designed/built from the ground up including hardware, device integration, robotics and microcontroller-based controls. A transition from research to product development is expected to occur in the next year or so, so you will be engaged in this project at perhaps the most exciting phase of its development!

The team is led by Dr. Steve Hetzler, IBM Fellow, who will be your manager/mentor. Candidates are invited to review Dr. Hetzler’s blog at http://www.drhetzler.com. This is a hands-on research team, and candidates are expected to be self-motivated, self-directing, and to have excellent teamwork and communication skills, as well as a mindset which thrives on exploring the unknown/undefined.

Responsibilities:
You will be responsible for developing software in C/C++ to implement a new class of erasure codes to improve the overall data reliability of the optical storage system. Modules will include encoding, decoding, and dealing with the subtle corner cases, which result from a deeper understanding of the device operating characteristics. An understanding of mathematical and statistical techniques and algorithms is needed. Code will be implemented in user space in Linux but a specific focus on execution performance.

Skills Needed:

- Excellent working knowledge of C/C++ programming
- Good knowledge of processor/memory architecture concepts (e.g. register sets, cache, memory bandwidth) and how compilers translate high-level C/C++ language code into machine-level instructions
- Knowledge of mathematical techniques (e.g. coding), algorithms, and how to translate them to software is essential
- Knowledge of statistics/probability and reliability concepts (e.g. Markov Analysis) would be helpful
- Self-driven, Self-motivated, Curious
- Excellent teamwork and communication is a must

Available to:

- Currently enrolled in a Computer Science/Computer Engineering degree program with strong math/algorithm interest. Recent Graduates are also eligible!

For the successful candidates, ectalent provides and pays for the following benefits:

- US visa application processing
- Air travel to/from the United States
- Free housing, fully-furnished, with all utilities paid.
- Competitive intern salary
- Health benefits, including medical & dental insurance
- Onboarding orientation to help you get going in the United States quickly
- Cultural program to introduce you to US culture and the best California has to offer
- Career coaching
- Networking and social events
- Ongoing mentoring in partnership with your manager helping you learn & contribute your best

IBM is mainly thinking of students in their 4th year at the University (it could also be 3rd) or Master students.

If you want to apply, send your detailed CV including your grades before December 15 to rel.int@fib.upc.edu, with subject: IBMRESEARCH.