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@ripe.net> 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.