NCC Job Opening - Manager Systems and Software

[Carol Orange <]

            RIPE: Coordinating the Internet in Europe.


Due to the continuing explosive growth of the European Internet 
there is an immediate opening at the RIPE NCC for a full time


	       		M a n a g e r 

         S y s t e m s    a n d    S o f t w a r e


The RIPE NCC provides coordination services to Internet service
providers in Europe and the surrounding area.  We play a key role in the
distribution of the Internet address space and provide information
services which are vital to the operation of the Internet.  The
reliability of our systems is essential.  Major tools like the RIPE 
database software are being used by Internet registries worldwide, as
are our information services which allow access to the substantial 
RIPE document store. In order to cope with the explosive growth of 
the Internet we aim to keep automating all processes as much as 
possible.  To this end we aim to provide tools for our customers 
which will allow a quick and easy interface to NCC services. 

The NCC computing environment is based on UNIX and X-windows using SUN
Microsystems and PC hardware platforms.  We are currently deploying
industrial PC based servers in our computer room environment with PC
based workstations on staff desks, all running BSDI BSD/OS 2.1.
The SUN platforms running SunOS 4.1.3_U1b are being phased out.
All systems are connected by multiple 10Mbit/s Ethernet segments using
mostly 10baseT.  The NCC has multiple connections to the Internet.  
Many of the tools used by the NCC have been developed in house for 
specific applications.  We mostly build our software from existing 
UNIX tools using PERL. 

The systems & software department develops, maintains and supports NCC
software tools and operates the NCC computing infrastructure.  It also
supports NCC staff with expertise and performs some of the technical NCC
activities.  Currently the department has two engineers, with
another being hired. 

The manager systems & software will be responsible for this department
and will report to the NCC manager.  In addition to managing the
department, she will be expected to participate in software development 
and system management tasks as necessary.

The position provides an opportunity to work at the heart of the European 
Internet industry.


Duties

The responsibilities of the Manager Systems and Software are:

   - to manage the Systems & Software department
   - to assure systems availability and performance
   - to provide software development and maintenance
   - to help identify possible improvements in automation
   - to coordinate activities with other NCC staff
   - to support a number of technical NCC activities 
   - to report to the NCC manager 

The specific duties of the Manager Systems and Software are:

   - to plan and guide systems management and maintenance
   - to plan and guide software development and maintenance 
   - to participate in systems management 
   - to participate in software development and maintenance 
   - to plan purchasing of hard and software 
   - to organise and participate in after hours coverage 
   - to coordinate externally contracted technical projects 


Qualifications

   Essential Qualifications

   - management experience
   - experience programming in the UNIX environment
   - experience with UNIX systems administration
   - ability to lead a technical team 
   - knowledge of written and spoken English
   - good communication skills
   - desire to work in an international environment

   Desirable Qualifications

   - Bachelors/Masters degree preferably in Computer Science
   - background in computer networks (preferably Internet) 

We hope to find an experienced technical manager to fill this 
position, however software engineers with a strong desire to 
become managers are also welcome to apply. Female applicants 
and applicants from all European countries are explicitly 
encouraged to apply.  


R I P E

RIPE (Reseaux IP Europeens) is a collaborative organisation open 
to all European Internet service providers.  The objective of 
RIPE is to ensure the necessary administrative and technical 
coordination to allow the operation of a pan-European IP network.  
RIPE does not operate a network of its own.

RIPE has been functioning since 1989.  Currently more than 350 
organisations participate in the work.  The result of the RIPE 
coordination effort is that the individual end-user is presented 
with a uniform IP service irrespective of the particular network 
his or her workstation is attached to.  In December 1995, there 
were 2206360 hosts registered on the networks coordinated by RIPE.  


R I P E   N C C

The RIPE Network Coordination Centre supports RIPE activities 
which cannot be effectively performed by volunteers from the 
participating organisations.  In addition to supporting RIPE 
activities in general the NCC provides the following services 
to network operators:


        o NETWORK MANAGEMENT DATABASE
          containing information about address space, routing,
          DNS domains and contact persons

        o REGIONAL INTERNET REGISTRY
          a clearing house distributing IP address space

        o RIPE INTERNET ROUTING REGISTRY

        o RIPE DOCUMENT STORE

        o RIPE INTERACTIVE INFORMATION SERVICE


A detailed description of these activities can be found in
the RIPE NCC Activity Plan (document ripe-133).  This
document can be obtained from the RIPE document store.

The RIPE NCC is currently staffed as follows:

 one NCC manager
 one business manager
 one registration services manager
 five junior hostmasters (some part time)
 two network engineers
 two administrative staff

The NCC is funded by all Internet service providers in Europe 
who operate local Internet registries. NCC staff are formally 
employed by TERENA.


TERENA

TERENA is the European Association of research networking
organisations and their users.  TERENA has been created by a
merger of the RARE and EARN associations. TERENA carries out
technical activities and provides a platform for discussion
and education to encourage the development of a high-quality
computer networking infrastructure for the European research
community.


Conditions

RIPE NCC personnel is employed by the TERENA association under 
their standard employment conditions.  The salary will depend 
on qualifications and experience.  Costs of relocation to the 
Netherlands will be met.  The appointment will be for one year 
with possible extension.


Location

The RIPE NCC is located at the Scientific Center
Watergraafsmeer (WCW) in Amsterdam.  The offices are
situated at NIKHEF, the Dutch National Institute for Nuclear
Physics and High Energy Physics.


Further Information

For further information about the RIPE NCC, please see the RIPE 
document store at

                    http://www.ripe.net/
                    ftp://ftp.ripe.net/
                 gopher://gopher.ripe.net/
                  telnet://info.ripe.net/


For further information about this position please contact:

Daniel Karrenberg
RIPE NCC Manager
Kruislaan 409
NL-1098 SJ  Amsterdam
Netherlands

Tel.: +31 20 592 5065

<Daniel.Karrenberg@localhost


How to Apply

Applications, including a CV and references should be submitted 
in confidence to the address above and should be received no 
later than Wednesday, April 17, 1996.